ADHD at Work
08/14/08 - 09:43 AM
 RSS Feed

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a mental disorder usually associated with children, but it also affects millions of adults and can take a toll on daily activities such as work.

“For 28 years of my life, I kind of considered myself lazy, procrastinator,” noted ADHD patient Brian Rice.

It wasn’t until last year that Rice learned there was a reason for his behavior.

He is one of the nine million adults in the U.S. with adult ADHD.

Most are undiagnosed and untreated.

The disorder can have a negative impact on daily life.

“Individuals with adult ADHD are twice as likely to use substances, twice as likely to smoke cigarettes, more likely to be unemployed or underemployed, also more likely to be divorced or separated,” explained psychiatrist Dr. Len Adler.

A recent international study by the World Health Organization found that untreated adults with the disorder are less productive at work.

“On the average, ADHD adults had 22 days of time out of role per year. The out of role corresponds to time that you are not doing your responsibilities,” said Dr. Adler.

Brian Rice works from home designing websites and recently started working with an ADHD coach who has given him advice that’s changing the way he works.

“I got rid of the post-it notes and I have a big white board. That kind of helps me to keep everything organized,” he said.

It’s advice that’s helping him become more productive and confident so he can function in spite of his diagnosis.

This entry has been viewed 221 times.