ADD or a poor work ethic?

[chockfullofthat]

I hardly ever get shit done at work.  I can go an entire week or more without contributing a single thing to my job.  I think it has something to do with not being very active, completely uninterested, and maybe being a little burnt.  Insert adderall, I not only work hard at my current job but I even continue this speed-fueled ethic after work by looking for better jobs for example.  I don't do this often and I've never legally obtained the stuff, but I'm thinking it might be a good idea.  I guess the point of this thread is...do you think ADD is a real thing or is it basically an excuse to take speed in order to suceed and is it worth it?

[Cthulhu!]

You don't have ADD.

[chockfullofthat]

How long can you go without getting shit done and not worry about getting fired??  Are you Peter from Office Space?

Yes I am Peter from Office Space.  I have to do a monthly report with projects that I've been working on but I'm not sure if anyone reads it or cares.  Last month I put one "project" on the report that took me 10 minutes.  My excuse will be that fact that I did go on 5 customer visits where I pretty much just listened to the salesmen talk to each other about things that didn't concern me.  The new guys answer all the phone calls and 90% of customer e-mails.

[Bronson]

Try not ejaculating.

[Zurg]

man, it sounds like we have the exact same job. i think HATE nailed it with unchallenging/ uninteresting part. I dont have too much trouble focusing usually, but ive been slacking so hard recently at work.

[chockfullofthat]

Ya...HATE is probably right.  My option is #2 until I can do #1.  I have a phone interview on Thursday and I'll probably take an aderall before that to guarantee that my brain and mouth are able to serenade Mr. interviewer with a siren's song of perfect responses.  I'll have to do the final interview natural because I have to get it out of my system before a possible drug test.

[cool spot]

Man, I hate to say something you've probably heard a shitload of times before- but right now you're like every kid in school who is really smart but doesn't do their work/does the bare minimum and yet continues to hear how they have "potential."  The reason why you're struggling is because you're not challenged.  You don't have ADD, you just aren't challenged and that eventually leads to not giving a shit.

This can be kinda tough, because it totally depends on whoever you work for, but you probably have four options-

1.  Quit and get a more challenging job.  It's scary with the economy out there, but it might be worth it to get some job satisfaction.

2.  Just accept that your job isn't challenging and deal with it.  Downside to this is that you might get depressed or you might end up slacking so hard you do get fired.

3.  Do the ritalin thing or whatever- but that won't make the work any better, it'll just make you a bit more focused on doing what sounds pretty mundane.

4.  Talk to your boss.  Ask for harder/different work.  Ask for a promotion.  Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of the women.

quoted for conan reference.

but yeah. start looking for shit you actually want to do. might even be within your own company. i've been pretty lucky changing my work environment so it suits me, and i've only worked for this place for 3 months.

[fulfillthedream]

I am diagnosed with ADHD and I can work fine at school or my job (busing at a cafe). The thing is when I do school work I can be easily distracted by the internet, especially with work that involves using a computer. When I write papers, use on-line data bases for research I find my self constantly looking at facebook, slap etc. yet when I am in a quite space and am just reading or doing something without a computer I am fine. Although I still have to turn my phone on silent and put it away because a text/call can distract me. At work its fine cause I work in a face paced job. I have no problems with organizing, managing time etc.

I really feel that ADD and ADHD are blown out of proportion. Yes some people are really hyper active and need medication but in this day and age I know so many people who will cram when it comes time to study and will just pile up a shit ton of school work before its due, pop an adderall and pull an all nighter.

A lot of time people really just need a different environment to get things done. My roommate can study and read with loud music in his room yet I can't get down like that. Everyone has a different method of working effectively.

[chockfullofthat]

I am diagnosed with ADHD and I can work fine at school or my job (busing at a cafe). The thing is when I do school work I can be easily distracted by the internet, especially with work that involves using a computer. When I write papers, use on-line data bases for research I find my self constantly looking at facebook, slap etc. yet when I am in a quite space and am just reading or doing something without a computer I am fine. Although I still have to turn my phone on silent and put it away because a text/call can distract me. At work its fine cause I work in a face paced job. I have no problems with organizing, managing time etc.

I really feel that ADD and ADHD are blown out of proportion. Yes some people are really hyper active and need medication but in this day and age I know so many people who will cram when it comes time to study and will just pile up a shit ton of school work before its due, pop an adderall and pull an all nighter.

A lot of time people really just need a different environment to get things done. My roommate can study and read with loud music in his room yet I can't get down like that. Everyone has a different method of working effectively.

Well try working at a job with a computer right in front of you the entire time and loud ass bitches to your left who ramble about the Food Network and their shitty boyfriends.  You say you are diagnosed with ADHD but do you really have it?  At your job you can't fuck around because you need to clean the tables.  It just makes me wonder if it's a real thing...and it makes me wonder how much ass I could kick if I took it for 4 years or so.

[mcpeepants]

My cousin was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago. He has always been super hyper, talked a million miles an hour, couldn't focus for shit and it wasn't until about a year ago that he started taking adderal. I noticed that he's a little less hyper and able to concentrate more, but it isn't a night and day difference.

I'd definitely recommend against going to any interview on anything. It'll most likely be bad even if you get the job, because if you set their expectations of you rather high and if you can't live up to them...

It sounds like you have a pretty good head on your shoulders, so I'd say just go as "yourself" and you should be fine.

[sleepypancakes]

Man, I hate to say something you've probably heard a shitload of times before- but right now you're like every kid in school who is really smart but doesn't do their work/does the bare minimum and yet continues to hear how they have "potential."  The reason why you're struggling is because you're not challenged.  You don't have ADD, you just aren't challenged and that eventually leads to not giving a shit.

This can be kinda tough, because it totally depends on whoever you work for, but you probably have four options-

1.  Quit and get a more challenging job.  It's scary with the economy out there, but it might be worth it to get some job satisfaction.

2.  Just accept that your job isn't challenging and deal with it.  Downside to this is that you might get depressed or you might end up slacking so hard you do get fired.

3.  Do the ritalin thing or whatever- but that won't make the work any better, it'll just make you a bit more focused on doing what sounds pretty mundane.

4.  Talk to your boss.  Ask for harder/different work.  Ask for a promotion.  Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of the women.

The secret to life provided first by Conan, then by Hate

[fulfillthedream]

Expand Quote

I am diagnosed with ADHD and I can work fine at school or my job (busing at a cafe). The thing is when I do school work I can be easily distracted by the internet, especially with work that involves using a computer. When I write papers, use on-line data bases for research I find my self constantly looking at facebook, slap etc. yet when I am in a quite space and am just reading or doing something without a computer I am fine. Although I still have to turn my phone on silent and put it away because a text/call can distract me. At work its fine cause I work in a face paced job. I have no problems with organizing, managing time etc.

I really feel that ADD and ADHD are blown out of proportion. Yes some people are really hyper active and need medication but in this day and age I know so many people who will cram when it comes time to study and will just pile up a shit ton of school work before its due, pop an adderall and pull an all nighter.

A lot of time people really just need a different environment to get things done. My roommate can study and read with loud music in his room yet I can't get down like that. Everyone has a different method of working effectively.

[close]

Well try working at a job with a computer right in front of you the entire time and loud ass bitches to your left who ramble about the Food Network and their shitty boyfriends.  You say you are diagnosed with ADHD but do you really have it?  At your job you can't fuck around because you need to clean the tables.  It just makes me wonder if it's a real thing...and it makes me wonder how much ass I could kick if I took it for 4 years or so.

I really think I don't. In some cases people notice I have hyper personality but I think thats just how I am, really energetic and now a days that can pass off as ADHD. I really think a lot of people diagnosed with it don't really have it. But yeah I don't know how I'd handle my self in a situation like yours being in a distractive atmosphere. For studying and reading I need to put my self in the campus libraries quite section with ear plugs because the slightest noise can distract me (doors opening, chairs moving etc).

You ever tried ear plugs at work to drown out the distraction around you? I have to have em on during exams I take.. and everyone looks at me like I am crazy but hey that is what helps me work.

[lampshade]

My first year college roommate was all into the ADD/Ritilin/Adderol thing.  He would say that he couldn't pay attention in class or write papers, but he could easily watch 2-3 movies in a row, watch a full baseball game, or play video games for hours.  School/work can be boring and tedious. 

It seems like the true measure of the disorder is if you can do things you like for extended periods. 

[Omamori]

Anyone have this problem:

I have trouble reading, I'll read a few sentences then day dream about something while reading the rest of the page but not comprehending the material. Sometimes I have to read a page multiple times before moving on, this puts a strain on my reading assignments. Unless it's something really interesting, I can't focus.

[nice weather]

Yea same here. I get caught on single words or impressions and zone out hard, even with recreational reading. Up to 6-7 pages before I realize sometimes. Blows my mind.

[realitycontrol]

Anyone have this problem:

I have trouble reading, I'll read a few sentences then day dream about something while reading the rest of the page but not comprehending the material. Sometimes I have to read a page multiple times before moving on, this puts a strain on my reading assignments. Unless it's something really interesting, I can't focus.

both to crass and nice weather, i have this to. that being said, i dont really feel that having this experience constitutes ADD/ADHD. sometimes you just have to mellow out and keep reading until you are actually comprehending the material.

there is a lot of money to be made in Big Pharma, sometimes i worry with how quick people get diagnosed with these "disorders".

[Alan]

Same here. But it usually happens if I'm reading on my bed so I just figured it's because I'm too comfortable...

[nice weather]

I wasnt saying it's ADD, just a nuisance that sometimes takes the fun out of reading a book. I need about 25 minutes until I can stay with it, so that usually ruins reading on public transit etc.

[steve]

Expand Quote

Anyone have this problem:

I have trouble reading, I'll read a few sentences then day dream about something while reading the rest of the page but not comprehending the material. Sometimes I have to read a page multiple times before moving on, this puts a strain on my reading assignments. Unless it's something really interesting, I can't focus.

[close]

both to crass and nice weather, i have this to. that being said, i dont really feel that having this experience constitutes ADD/ADHD. sometimes you just have to mellow out and keep reading until you are actually comprehending the material.

there is a lot of money to be made in Big Pharma, sometimes i worry with how quick people get diagnosed with these "disorders".

[/b]

who doesn't have these conditions? lucky motherfuckers... If i'm interested in something, I can devote endless focus to it, if i'm bored, that's a wrap. Taking speed, for most of us, is the easy way out of a tricky situation. A friend of mine just got a script for adderol yesterday, she's 24. It helps her stay focused she says, makes her day better. I just want to say "no shit... that's what drugs do."

be careful with it. speed kills sleep, sex drive, appetite, muscle function... we're not Neal Cassady. 

[Sleazy]

if you can slack at your work eventually you will loose your job and you might find yourself out of your league when your next job requires you to work.

my advise, find a coffee that you like and then find a job that you like. it's better to put the work in upfront to find something that stimulates you and that you will kill it at than to pass the days feeling guilty about slacking at work while you wait to inevitably get laid off.