Adhd and work

[Tallis33]

I am an elementary school teacher and have been for ten years. Luckily for me, my silliness and hyper stuff is usually great and gets the kids engaged. However some times it also makes me scattered. Today is one of the days I am hyper and scattered and can not stay with a complete thought. It means once my hyper focus kicks in on something here soon (usually happens when I am in this state) I will create some way cool, above and beyond lesson or activity.... But it hasn't kicked in yet... So... How do yall handle days where the focus isn't available, you can't sit sitt/are hyper, and just can't, well, human?

[BlessedLady]

Are you talking medication? One of my closest friends was a elementary school teacher. She taught classes for gifted students call Discoveries. When she was finally correctly diagnosed and properly medicated in her mid 40's. Teaching because easier for her.

[Tallis33 in reply to BlessedLady]

I started meds recently and we are still figuring out the dose. The current one is too low and will be adjusted on Friday. Even though this dose isn't where it needs to be yet, it has made an amazing difference. Teaching is way better. Today the meds didn't work for several hours after taking them. I am hoping the dose change will help with this.

[Gettingittogether]

Same question: do you take medication? So that's step 1 to avoid the problem in the first place.

You really want to become a student of your own mind. And try to notice the patterns--like you're doing here.

I'm also a teacher and there are several things I do when my mind is an untamed lion and I'm in a bit of a panic. Traditionally I panic and start talking faster and working really hard to make things interesting. Not the best. Exhausting.

Now, I try to slow down, just slow, slow slow down. Let my brain come up with some kind of assignment for them that requires them to do some work. And for the past five years I'd say, I now go fully transparent: as in I tell them I'm not feeling well. I don't say anything about ADHD. I'll say I got a headache and not feeling well, not able to concentrate well (which are some of my ADHD symptoms at my worst).

Once, I tell them how I'm feeling, I swear the pressure shifts. Not just with them but with me. I have permission to come up with something super super simple for them to do that does not require my best concentration. The first time I got transparent I was terrified. Always my students have responded well. Once you admit you're not concentrating well that day, "not feeling well," then it's like the pressure lowers on yourself and your brain can find an activity that matches your concentration level.

If you've got any break time, you might try to meditate. You probably need a focus calming meditation in your arsenal of ADHD survival tools. I've sometimes used my lunch break to go to my car and sit and meditate. My mind gets clearer. I gain some focus. I feel less scattered, more concentrated within myself. The next class is always better.

If you've got any kind of break time, I really recommend going off by yourself, sitting alone in a room if you have to--to regather your focus. But even then see if you can simplify the class plan. Whenever I've just pushed through a deep lack focus, I'm exhausted--for days it seems. And I feel inauthentic and phony doing so. I'm pretending I believe in what I'm doing in the moment. I don't like that, and I don't think students like that. And it sucks the joy out of teaching.

Good luck.

[Tallis33 in reply to Gettingittogether]

I started meds recently and we are still figuring out the dose. The current one is too low and will be adjusted on Friday. Today the problem was the meds not kicking in for a while and starting my day all off.

Do you use a guided meditation or sound or just sit quietly?

[STEM_Dad in reply to Gettingittogether]

I have inattentive ADHD, with no hyperactive traits, but I have also found that when I become anxious about something my inattentiveness gets much worse.

I will lose focus frequently, get distracted, go off on a tangent. This used to happen a lot more frequently before I was on medication.

I have found that admitting that I got distracted or lost focus as soon as I realize it helps me not to become anxious, and helps me to return my focus back to the task at hand most of the time.

I agree with what others have said about mindfulness, and I've also gotten help from cognitive behavioral therapy.

Sometimes, I feel that I can even take just a few moments to practice mindfulness can help me improve my focus just enough to do the next thing. I just pause and close my eyes (if the situation permits), breathe in slowly from my diaphragm, hold the breath a few seconds, and breathe out again. Others may notice what I'm doing, and if I think they did, I just say something like "I just needed a moment to collect my thoughts".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a teacher, but I am a parent, and I have been a trainer to others in most of my jobs. I believe that it's actually good to show that it's okay to show humanness in whatever role you're in. You don't have to pretend to be perfect.

When you have a struggle or make a mistake, admit it. By being honest and demonstrating how to reset, by showing a little vulnerability, your are teaching a bonus life lesson: "It's okay to be human. You don't have to act perfect. Everybody struggles with things in life sometimes."

The opposite is trying to act like you're not what you actually are, and other people (especially many children) automatically detect insincerity. It's far better to be genuine (in a way that's appropriate for the situation, of course).

I'll never forget one time that my 9th grade algebra teacher had filled half the blackboard while talking through a lesson, suddenly stopped, stepped back, and then after a pause said, "That's not right... Hold on guys."

He erased it all (which I think was supposed to be the next day's lesson), and started over with the correct lesson for the day. He maintained his composure, showing that making mistakes was just a human thing, nothing to be ashamed of. I forget what the math lesson was that day, but that simple life lesson has stuck with me.

[Chickadee1 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Really like your reply here STEM Dad - I struggle with perfectionism and not wanting people to see my mistakes - my counselor tells me it is OK not to be perfect - you can't be - perfection isn't humanly possible... thanks for the reminder that it is OK to make mistakes and when you do being honest about them is the best policy...you don't have to "look perfect" to be a good person.. or good at your job or respected...

[STEM_Dad in reply to Chickadee1]

I've also found that when you keep making mistakes and can't figure out why, it might require the help of a professional. After 3 decades of the same old struggles, I finally got assessed for and diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. (And that's what brings me here. 😁)

[Gettingittogether]

I do a breath-focus meditation. Just trying to pay attention to my breath--particularly the exhale. I sometimes imagine an invisible stream of exhaled breath coming out. My mind will jump around of course. Oh, dang, gotta see the car mechanic! I note that and go back to concentrating on the out breath.

What you need to know is that it doesn't matter that my mind scatters and I lose focus on the outbreath. Just doing the meditation brings focus and de-scatters my brain. Sometimes I'll catch myself ruminating for minutes--and then I come back to the breath. Just that I'm trying to follow the breath only--and not think!--is what brings the clarity. The feeling is like that of a headache clearing up. Even 5 minutes of this helps--20 to 30 minutes can produce amazing effects.

You want to talk to your provider with your timing issues. Share EVERYTHING with the provider, no matter how small. You're not the only person who feels their meds take too long to kick in--there are solutions to that. Some people get up a bit early ... or get up to go to the bathroom and take their med then and then an hour or two later, get up. Or you might need a fast-acting immediate release med to start your date. I imagine you're on an extended release med. Talk to your provider. You can combine them. A small dose of quick release and then later in morning take the extended release.

Right now I'm on immediate release Ritalin and I really like it. That was after years of being on either extended release Concerta (Ritalin) or Adderall or Vyvanse. I'm a decade plus into my treatment. So I have systems that remind myself to take the second immediate release pill. I couldn't have followed through at the start of my treatment, too spacey at that point.

But share ALL of this kind of thing with your provider. That's what they're there for--to think and use their expertise (they've deal with hundreds of patients and every kind of scenario). They're not just there to sign to a prescription pad.