Posted by jerrympls on September 23, 2004, at 22:48:01
In reply to ADD - Help - I could lose my job!!!, posted by jms600 on September 23, 2004, at 17:04:17
> Hi everyone,
>
> I really could do with some help! I am a 25 year old male and believe I have ADD. I was hyperactive as a child. Although the hyperactivity has subsided I still get terrible concentration and memory problems, which I have had for years now. At first I just though I would cope with it, but lately it has been affecting my job. Although I would consider myself to be fairly intelligent, I just struggle to retain any information. I daydream all the while when I should be concentrating and am always forgetting things. My boss at work has really been complaining at me lately because I've forgotten to do things or haven't concentrated properly on the task in hand.
>
> I have mentioned this to my doctor but he said he wasn't prepared to try me on drugs such as Ritalin or Amphetamines as no one knew there long term effects on the brain.
>
> I have been taking Gingko Biloaba and Korean Ginseng together, but I have found it to be ineffective. What else could I try? I would sooner try something natural first before I go behind my doctors back and self medicate.
>
> What about current anti-depressants? Are there any out there that can help with ADD? I think my doc would be more keen to prescribe these than Ritalin.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>Hello JMS-
As far as your job is concerned - your are protected - to a certain degree from being fired under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You need to talk to someone in your HR dept. about this ASAP. I cannot stress this enough. You DO NOT have to go into great detail about your illness or what meds you are talking, etc. But you must file with your HR dept. or Disability services that you are being seen for a chronic condition. All this takes is having your doctor filling out a form. And on the form the doctor basically just has to say you are being treated for a chronic condition that may impair some of your responsibilities at work. He doesn't even have to say he's a Psych. doc or that you're being seen my a psych doc. Once this is filed you are protected against being fired due to your "illness," PLUS your employer must work to help accommodate you at work - for ex: giving you a more flexible schedule, allowing you to work from home - even allowing you to have a separate work space at work so you can concentrate and aren't distracted by fax beeps and phone rings, etc.
Please check out this book "Working in the Dark: Keeping Your Job While Dealing With Depression" It explains all your rights and how to do what and what to say to your boss, etc.
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:394212
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040921/msgs/394366.html