OMG...are you serious? I am appalled that you actually work in a mental health environment and are being treated this way. Personally, it sounds to me like your co-workers/boss need some educating on adult AD/HD. To answer your question, NO you are not being too sensitive. You took a "chance" in sharing something very personal and private with your boss. Unfortunately, your boss is lacking in understanding and empathy towards you. AD/HD is what it is. You are not using it as a crutch. I personally would take offense to this kind of statement. I am 43 years old and just started on medication 3 years ago. I've spent my entire life feeling "different" because I knew my symptoms impacted those around me. I remember as a child annoying my classmates because someone tapping on a pencil bothered me, or a quiet whisper sounded deafening and was so distracting to me. I'd been in/out of therapy....finally, as an adult, my stress level got to a point where I became unproductive at work and couldn't concentrate to complete a single task. I spoke to my doctor, I was started on Vyvanse and to this day, I am a different person. I don't know how I did it all those years without medication. It was so reassuring to have confirmation that what I was feeling wasn't just something I made up in my head. I really did have AD/HD....and was "officially diagnosed" at age 40. Again, it seems to be that you are going to need to educate your co-workers and boss. As you are required to be in an office space with 5 others, I can only hope that in time they will respect you and be willing to work toward developing a friendly and productive work environment that benefits everyone- not just you. Good luck!

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No, you aren't being overly sensitive. If you were on crutches and your boss said not to use them as an excuse not to do jumping jacks, you wouldn't put up with it. ADHD is a recognized diagnosis and allows for accommodations. No boss should say be allowed to say that and his/her supervisor needs to be informed. If you know what some of the areas you need help in are (and it would appear that you do), you can make up a list with accommodations you would like to see and present them to human resources. Obviously, they should be well thought out and be able to be provided. Finally, as a 58 year old on Strattera (diagnosed about 10 years ago), I find the meds comment an insult. The meds help me stay on task and, as my wife says, gives my brain that split second so that I don't always say what is on my mind (especially when I am ticked off).

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But it does prompt an interesting question as to why your boss would say that. Not the kind of comment I would expect from someone in the MH field.

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You are taking medication prescribed by your physician, it's none of your boss's business. PERIOD. And if He/she says ONE MORE WORD, threaten a LAWSUIT. That is harrassment. You are protected. For heaven's sake!

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Your not being too sensitive. I can't believe this would happen to someone in the Mental Health field. I should though as I was having trouble with an unfair boss and I went to talk to a person in this field to get an idea of how to deal with this person. It took a lot for me to do this as it was a small place and I thought this would get to my boss. I decided to trust and this was a mistake. Not only did this person betray the trust and told my superior he put me down for being on medication. I never tell employers or any workers that I take meds for ADD as I don't trust any one any more to not hold things against me in the work place. I hope this works out for you. It is really rough that people don't understand if they don't have this, what it is like in our world. I feel I am on another world and probably always will. I don't know how your work place would be if you put a harassment suit on him but do what you feel you should. I think all of us can relate to unfair treatment, just know that you weren't wrong but life is not always fair.

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As someone else here mentioned, your employer is legally reguired to provide you with "reasonable accomodations." I wasn't sure from your post whether your boss ultimately approved your request to take your Adderall (or why you needed permission), but allowing you to take your legally prescribed meds certainly falls under reasonable. So may allowing you to wear headphones or earplugs to help you stay focused in the busy office. I recommend doing some research into the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADHD accomodations, then trying your boss again. If you go in with confidence and knowing that he's legally required to at least permit your meds, he might react differently. You could even print out some fact sheets about adult ADHD for him to look at. Another option might be to ask to have an HR representative in the room as well -- their main responsibility is to stop the company from being sued!

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

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I appreciate your responses. Very helpful and supportive. To hopefully clear up some confusion, I work in a jail and the policy manual states that all prescription meds have to be cleared and approved because of the tight contraband regulations. I suppose I could have gotten away with not bringing up the meds but I felt that I had an opportunity to explain a frustrating situation to my boss. But once again, I feel like I have compromised myself. Here's a more detailed layout of the unfolding events. I had completed my internship on the jail's mental health unit 4 years ago. I got along with everyone and the work was manageable. However, I was only there for two days a week. So anyway, I got a job there in mid-February. For one thing, I had forgotten how disorganized it was. Another thing is that having only been there two days a week, I guess it didn't bother me that much. Now, being there 40 hours per week, the disorganization certainly stands out more. Plus the workload is huge. I love that part of it. But there are a lot of paperwork details that are very challenging. Part of my job is assessing/evaluating potentially suicidal inmates. Traditionally, the other workers carry around Steno pads to log their inmate encounters and general day-to-day tasks. I HATE STENO PADS. I get confused by them because if I use both sides of the pages, I forget which way to flip the pad to turn to the next page! Anyway, since I have only been diagnosed with AD/HD for 3 years, I have been learning that it is alright and also good to come up with my own ways of organizing. For example, I use a three-ring binder instead of a Steno pad. But I am also left-handed, so the rings get in my way. I created Excel spreadsheets to use as daily-tracking and reverse the way they are put into the binder (open the binder cover from right to left, as if reading a book backwards). So if I open from right to left, I can write and track my daily contacts much easier. When I turn the binder over, and open the "normal" way, that is where I keep all my cheat sheets and jail procedures and job-specific details. Then I bought an accordion type folder with tabs, where I can file and track my daily paperwork. Then I cut a manila folder in half and stapled it inside my binder cover, to use as a pocket. These "tricks" I use are like quirks to my colleagues. They seem to be pretty confused by that. Okay, so I went on a tangent. Anyway, I think that although I was a little uncomfortable with the overall change in environment, I was somewhat comfortable with being with people I knew years back. But that level of comfort back-fired. Here's another tangent: For the past 4 years I have been a clinical therapist with my own office. I was in a position of diagnosing mental health problems and providing therapy. I was also diagnosing children, teens, and adults with AD/HD. Because I was becoming so familiar with it, it was becoming easier to pick out. It also helped that the Psychiatrist was also AD/HD so he generally accepted my diagnoses and medicated accordingly. I was comfortable in my own setting, with dim lights, rugs, water/rock fountains, etc. But my caseloads were getting too big. Now, I am working in the clutter, with florescent lights, and lots of noise. Also, the mental health staff are used to "treating" mental health clients in a different way. They are more about medicating and stabilizing. The diagnoses are practically moot and therapy is non-existent. So I was quickly challenged with "mis-diagnosing" and/or caring too much, which frustrated me. My "expertise" was quickly brought down to their "level". I have learned to not over-talk and get too specific about diagnostic criteria. Plus I was making repeated paperwork mistakes, which is understandable for being new, but also understandable for being AD/HD, because of the "stupid" mistakes which also frustrated me. So I suppose between my frustration, confusion, and semi-comfort level with my colleagues, I let out my frustration. I challenged my boss for being "inconsistent" because she rarely explained a task the same way twice. And anytime, I made a mistake, she would begin her sentences with, "Remember, I told you to.....?" Then I would say, "If I remembered, I would not have gotten it wrong". At least she doesn't begin sentences that way anymore, but she called me on "insubordination". So anyway, that's when I showed her the medication policy and discussed my meds and AD/HD. All in all, I think I am adjusting better and my anxiety is decreasing (I also carry my Ativan with me). But I appreciate your support regarding my rights. I have been writing down things that I find "offensive" and/or discriminating. I am not aiming nor hoping to file a report to Disability but now that I know more about my rights, I know what to look for. Thanks again.

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I have had so many encounters with the same issue it is almost routine....I even made myself my own T-Shirt. Your job has no business judging or making rude judgements about something they seem to know very little about (Sad to say about professionals working in the mental health field). I am a teacher. I teach students from all ranges of disabilities: ED, ADHD, OCD, OD, Asperger's and Autism, You name it I got it! I have ADHD (and I am sure a few more I was not diagnosed with but deal with) and have taken meds since I was 7 (I am in my thirties now) My students even know I take medication (they even remind me when it is time too) and they NEVER make rude comments. To read and know that ADULTS are are acting younger than my students (who vary from 4th to 6th) is saying a lot about the failing judgements of people who should know better but don't. The reason that your boss reacted that ... and the other one .. way is because people have this idea that ADHD/ADD is not a clinical diagnosis, a significant deficit. They believe we just don't know how to behave. I try not to blame them for their ignorance, instead I simply say "It won't be a problem unless it is made into a problem" (depending on the boss :) ). But honestly, that is what they believe. They see children with ADHD behave "inappropriately" (that is mild for some) and they feel us adults are the same. However, if we were I would like to know "How did I ever graduate with honors from a university and how am I holding a career, tutoring, working a second job and getting my Masters in a year instead of two IF I USED MY ADHD AS AN EXCUSE or I WAS A BEHAVIOR PROBLEM or I WASN'T GROWN UP?" You are not being to sensitive. they are being insensitive. I just smile and curse them with ten children just like me :) (That was to make you smile a bit - because I know this is tough:) ) But really I do simply state Not to worry it hasn't yet and then I don't ever mention it again (to my boss or collegues). As for the "person" who said we should grow up: Maybe she needs to look in the mirror and repeat that to herself ten times. You could also consult your human resources (or whatever union you may have). This way you know what to do if it continues and feel as though someone has your back.

Good luck and if you would like me to send your boss a pair of "crutches" let me know. ;) :)

P.S.: I just got done with my goal review (which was horrid) and one of my goals was teach organization skills...lets just say I didn't folow through with the exact procedures I wrote up......here is the kicker: The other LD teacher laughed and said "how does she expect you to teach organization skills when you can't even keep yourself organized!" (I agreed! :) )

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Good point that many don't know that ADHD is a clinical diagnosis. But what makes matters even more difficult is that ADD, otherwise, the layman's term for Adult ADHD, isn't even a formal diagnosis! Yet. I think that as time goes on, it will be. More and more people are coming up ADHD, either because we are becoming the new "norm", or researchers are finally realizing that childhood ADHD doesn't just go away. With regard to Human Resources, I am at a dead-end. First of all, it was actually the HR woman who made the "crutch" remark. The other thing is...now here's the kicker... the HR woman is my boss' supervisor. And because she is new, she told me that she looks to my supervisor for guidance! My supervisor has been there for over ten years.

Again, thanks for replies and support! I feel like I waited "too long" to intereact with a group. Is there a common forum/topic where you all interact on a regular basis? I have a lot on my mind (I'm sure you know what that's like!) My wife of 14 years, I think, is just starting to "get it". But sometimes I think she is just pretending to, in order to appease me. I think she also thinks I use ADHD as an excuse sometimes. The truth is, it may sort of be like that. I have been diagnosed for 3 years. It's still new to me. New as a formal diagnosis. It's kind of exciting to have a name for it and learn about it/me in a whole different way! So while it may seem like excuses, it's more like "hey, I did what I did because that's the kind of thing we do when we're ADHD! And because I am ADHD, I will probably do it again. Because I'm ADHD!" And two days later, forget we had this conversation! I believe my wife loves/likes me for aspects of my personality, which I believe, in large part, is my ADHD-related personality. But neither of us were called to label it that way, until a doctor actually labeled it. I imagine it's got to be strange for her to grapple with. But really, I'm not that much different than I was prior to the "label" other than that, because I am paying more attention to my behavior, I am either making improvements or I am becoming frustrated because I am more aware of my "quirkiness". I think what my wife doesn't realize is that the one main thing I don't do anymore is lie so much! If she thought I was perfect before, it was because I was so good at covering my mistakes and manipulating situations to prevent them! Now, I am "out there", guiding her through my thought processes, as I try to organize and simplify. Anyway, back to my response to some of the comments: I think that educating my boss and co-workers is a great idea. However, we don't work with kids and they don't support adult ADHD. I have actually, privately, diagnosed a few of my inmate/clients with ADHD but I won't announce it. With regard to people tapping pencils, there are some noises that drive me nuts that at other times will put me to sleep! With regard to making requests at work, I might do that after I am there longer. I don't know though. It seems so taboo to have a "problem" in the work world. ---- I liked the comment about the crutches and jumping jacks. It always helps to have analogies and metaphors to explain myself. With regard to immaturity, ADHD adults can tend to have "immature" qualities. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It just hurts when we are misjudged and not appreciated for being "young at heart". But being ADHD is not about a refusal to grow up. It is easy to get caught up in the semantics of it, i.e., my original title "Am I being too sensitive?", when I know that "our" sensitive ways are one of our good qualities, thanks to ADHD!

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I too am astounded that people in the MH field would say such things. I'm from Ontario and I know that MANY of our health professionals are not there yet with adult ADHD. We have many that don't even like to admit that children have it either. One of our MAIN hospitals for Mental Health has people (DOCTORS & Psychiatrists) who are on the board of directors who don't believe Adult ADHD is a legitimate diagnosis! Check out totallyadd.com - it's a great website and they made a documentary about 2 years ago (called ADD and loving it?) that is FANTASTIC and it's all about adult ADHD. Maybe your co-workers/supervisors should have a "movie night" and watch this :) As another analogy: Many understanding docs like to equate ADHD to Diabetes. It is a LIFE LONG disorder. It is NOT going away, you are not going to grow out of it. The medication is necessary to help reduce the negative side effects of the disorder. No one would ever say to a diabetic that they shouldn't take medication or that they should just "Get over it" "Don't use that as a crutch" or "Just grow up". Since you mentioned where you work: About the prison population - I've heard at many conferences that the number of inmates with UNdiagnosed ADHD is probably HUGE. Obviously, this does NOT mean that if you have ADHD you'll end up prison but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the people in there DO have ADHD. Think about it, most crimes are committed on impulse - they weren't planned. Other reasons: caught up with the wrong crowd, making bad choices, "not going to happen to me", wrong place at the wrong time, "I didn't know that would happen" "I didn't know that was wrong", continuing to make the same mistakes - as in they didn't learn from their mistake the first time, "never meant for that to happen", "it was an accident".....sound familiar? I do wonder why did you have to bring your medication to work? No one would question you bringing in insulin if you were diabetic. I understand the need (perhaps) in your field to disclose any medications but I also assume you aren't walking around in the general population with Adderall in your pocket. Could you take it at home before work? I would ask your doctor about the longer lasting Adderall if that's an option. It lasts more like 8 hours instead of the short acting 4 hour version. Or there are even longer acting ones (Vyvanse lasts 10-12 hours) and I hear that there is even a patch. It's not available in Canada yet but it is in the states. I guess if you are working shifts that may be why...just wondering. One thing I would like to add to all of you is that it bothers me when people say "I'm ADHD" or "so and so IS ADHD". I'd rather people said, "I have ADHD"....you would never say "I'm cancer" or "I'm Down Syndrome". You would say "I HAVE _" It is part of you but it does not define you.

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A patch would be great! I will look into that. I understand your point about referring to ADHD as something I "have". However, I was influenced by my reading of Lynn Weiss. If I look at ADHD as something I have, then there there will always be the thought of "disorder". But since ADHD is a matter of the brainstyle that I was born with, then that is what makes me who I am. My personality is highly influenced by the ADHD I live with. I'm with ADHD. I'm ADHD. I'm also a little OCD.

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I can see both sides of a situation. I feel that people (especially just recently diagnosed) over analyze and actually overcompensate for their disability - and sometimes too much. I get so caught up - afraid to get behind - that I actually get more lost than I was before (if that makes sense). This is good - but not when it has a negative effect. It may be that because your more aware of your diagnosis the things that once seemed normal stand out. Leaving room for more self-analyzing and or worry. You may feel like you need to refine everything, but you don't - not everything. In time you learn to say "the @ # ll with it" and you understand that people can either take you for who you are and accept you or they can just go about their lives as they had before you "arrived".

I also feel that sometimes we think so much about our ADHD that maybe we do use it as an excuse more often than not. I never really used it for my own benefit but then my first year teaching at a school I was really aquainted with woke me up. I finally got an ADHD Coach and I learned so much. Instead of telling myself "this is my situation and this is what I need to do to be a success" I was too busy ranting about how I felt everyone was against me. My coach made me see the real "WHO" and "WHAT" of a problem. I would rant and rave about how everyone was against me and the question back was "so what could you have done to prevent or what can you do to ensure it doesn't happen in the future?" It all comes down what I tell my students: It doesn't matter what you have or what you did. It matters what you can and what you will do. No one out there is going to pity you and give you a break. None of my students are allowed to tell me... I have ADHD that is why I can't do it. I want to hear I have ADHD and I can do it.

Maybe a coach would be a good thing for you. They are there mainly for adults. :) They help relationship wise too.

Don't get to caught up in the politics of things. Do your job. Do your job the best you can (even more if you like) and then leave every night with a good conscious. The others around you will follow the lead.

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I take meds in the afternoon too so I too take mine at work. Fortunately I can ( I didn't ask permission) and it doesn't interfere with my teaching. The funny part is: that we are so use to it if I start acting goofy my students will say: Ms. ? did you take your meds? haha! Why should I hide. If I hide it what am I saying to my students?

As for people with ADHD saying "I am ADHD" - I see your point but it is the least of my worries and really shouldn't matter. What I am is everything that makes me. Sometimes I am a headache or a pain in the butt. regardless, How people introduce themselves does not change who they are. But i can see how some would take offense.

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I do wonder why did you have to bring your medication to work? No one would question you bringing in insulin if you were diabetic. I understand the need (perhaps) in your field to disclose any medications but I also assume you aren't walking around in the general population with Adderall in your pocket. Could you take it at home before work? I would ask your doctor about the longer lasting Adderall if that's an option. It lasts more like 8 hours instead of the short acting 4 hour version. Or there are even longer acting ones (Vyvanse lasts 10-12 hours) and I hear that there is even a patch. It's not available in Canada yet but it is in the states. I guess if you are working shifts that may be why...just wondering. One thing I would like to add to all of you is that it bothers me when people say "I'm ADHD" or "so and so IS ADHD". I'd rather people said, "I have ADHD"....you would never say "I'm cancer" or "I'm Down Syndrome". You would say "I HAVE _" It is part of you but it does not define you.

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I don't need the frustration. I haven't quit a job on the spot since 1996. I was fired from one job in 1985. I have had one write-up in my lifetime of jobs. I have been at this job for two months and I have been written up twice! The first one was because I got frustrated and raised my voice and my supervisor wrote me up for insubordination. I couldn't contest it. Today, on 3/21, she wrote me up for two occurences; 3/8 and 3/15. I didn't know she had a concern about either one until today. She had never even verbalized concerns. The big thing is that had she discussed her concern about the 3/8 occurence, the one on 3/15 would not have occurred! And why did she wait until today? So there I was, on the hot seat, with a vague memory about the said occurences, with another write-up. When she asked me to sign it, I said, "I quit". Perhaps it was impulsive, but I was confused and irritated. So now here I am. Life goes on though!

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I suppose you don't like quitters. Thanks for all your help.

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I also work in a law enforcement related field and have to keep my supervisor alerted to what medications I'm taking and when they change. I have my good days and my not so good days. Being female there is occasionally a pattern to this, but I do the best I can. Sometimes I slip though. I too have had 2 write ups in the past 5 months for "mouth gear slippage" issues. Nothing major at all, and I don't think they would have even caught notice except that after working several years in the same office area my supervisor and I were moved to different buildings for about 2 years and within the past 5 months we are again in the same area. I think the absence of the day to day exposure to each other has perhaps dimmed the picture of my level of normal and caused the remarks to be taken out of hand. Honestly, by the time the counseling sessions and reports were given to me I only had a vague memory of each incident! After we talked about them and about me and I think he began to see that even on medication I'm not a drone ... he tried to retract the reports but it was too late, they had already gone up the chain and been considered by his supervisor on my evaluation, which for the first time in 7 years was docked in the substandard range for conduct. I still have some hard feelings about it ... I don't hide my condition at all. Some might say I'm too open about it, but for me, hiding it is like being ashamed of something that isn't my fault, like having diabetes or having been sexually abused. We didn't ask for ADHD, it chose us! Granted, because I am so open, I think some people think I'm joking when I make a offhand remark like "well there's another banner ADHD moment for me" when I do or say something silly and realize it 2 seconds later. But, as I tell my daughter who also shares the distinction "Life around us is rarely boring"

I'm sorry you felt you had to leave, but I do hope you will find a place accepting of you in all your strengths and your quirks. Good luck!

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