Why can't I hold down a job with ADHD?
Around the three-month mark, work often loses its novelty and becomes physically and mentally painful to continue. This craving for constant newness makes sticking it out feel unbearable. Pushing through without medication can also trigger anxiety that creates even more workplace issues.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Taking ADHD medication to help stay successful at desk jobs.Did this help you?
- 2Switching to manual labor or trades like tree care where every job site and problem is different daily.Did this help you?
- 3Micro-dosing prescribed medication like AdderallDid this help you?
- 4Taking antidepressants to help with mental healthDid this help you?
- 5Getting a non-education degree first to test the field without fully committingDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I seem to have an issue holding down a job, however. It seems like every time I start somewhere new, around the three month mark, it becomes unbearable.”source ↗
“I know it causes a person to crave constant novelty and newness. I’m not sure if that’s why I have such a hard time sticking it out? Because after some time, it becomes physically and mentally painful to continue.”source ↗
“I taught for about two years off medication. It became too hard which triggered anxiety which caused even more issues.”source ↗
Where this came up
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- 2Why am I penalized for working during planning periods?
- 2How to date when teaching leaves you with zero emotional energy