Trouble getting motivated finding a job...

Welp, for starters, unless the job really sucks it’s best not to quit *until* you have a better one…
and I found a very visible write-on wipe-off board with whatever I did towards the job direction from day to day (week to week, month to month) helped.
ah, but that’s right, I was going to try to remember to do a bit of yoga before surfing on the priority list.. gonna do it now ;)

uh :? not sure I get the second part of you’re message…yes, I do know its not good to quit a job until you have another one….BUT, I still do it! why, probably cause of the disability!! you know, having ADD/LD makes you do things things..and yes I quit because the jobs really DO SUCK…anyone else??

Second part was to say that I understand the difference between knowing what you *should* do and doing it — because here I am, surfing… when I was going to NOT do that and stretch out the aging body parts instead, hoping to Get Centered, Focused… sigh :)
But — the other thing I try to remember before giving up is that sometimes it just takes 500more attempts than most people to get a ‘habit’ going, and trying and succeeding for a little is better than not trying at all. So even when I don’t feel like I”m making anyh progress, I try to arrange the parts that refuse to budge so theyre at least facing theright direction == there’s always gravity.

<<do anyone of you have this problem? I get so caught up with the Internet(so many things to read, all my hobbies, etc) and listening to music I get sidetracked when I need to really be looking for a job..I haven’t had much job luck the last two years(so I’m EXTREMELY Frustrated as well!!)..>>

Hi Cameron,

What you’re describing sounds exactly like ADHD but of course, I am not a medical professional. Have you been evaluated for it? If not, perhaps something for you to consider?

Regarding the issues you raised, I identify somewhat because I am also unemployed. What happens to me is because I am extremely frustrated at my inability to figure out what I like and can do, as a diversion to avoid facing my problems, I will surf the internet. But when I had some objectives in mind, it is easier to stay focused although I still battle the “distracted mind” syndrome.

Does any of this strike a chord? If yes, unfortunately, I don’t have any solutions because right now, I am very frustrated at the lack of suitable employment services for adults with ADHD/LD.

If it is simply a case of staying focused even though you know what you’re trying to do, then my question would be “How do you keep track of what you’re supposed to do?” I personally use the computer and a palm pilot for when I am away from it.

This one program I use is both for the desktop and palm and has a datebook, to do list, and a place for contacts. What’s cool about it is you can use icons to distinguish various tasks and also use various filtering options. So when I am really distracted, I’ll simply set the program to the one task that I must do before anything else. It really helps.

Of course, not everyone is high tech so that’s why I didn’t go into too many details.

Hope this helps.

PT

Nice message PTI! I appreciate it…this is the stuff this forum needs! messages are really lacking…..anyway, yes I’m also “ADD” although, I believe LD/ADD are the same bascially….I’m failry computer literate, but not really…I actually got a full time job recently(VERY low paying for my age, that’s for sure)at a Mental Heatlh Hospital, as a Mental Health worker…it might be a stepping stone for a higher paying position..I have a LOT of empathy towards people who have disabilities(especially really serious stuff like Schizophrenia) so I belive this might be a good change of career for me(my backround is in the computer industry, selling)….but, I probably will need to go back to school to at least get a 2 year vocational degree to help get a license so I can make more money….I HATE school, and this is a big problem for me…

PTI, what makes you not want to start looking for a job? is it that you’re job history is bad??(mine is HORRIBLE, I have to lie pretty good on my resume, I haven’t had a decent full time job in like 2 1/2 years!) I DO understand about lack of motivation…especially when the weather is nice…you have the internet, and hobbies!! it sucks big time, trying to stay focused…I know that I have a lot of hobbies and I get REALLy distrated and impulsive with all those things..I’m a Music fanatic, Sports fanatic, love to Fish, man………………..

Thanks Cameron. I too get discouraged sometimes at the lack of helpful messages on this forum. But in glancing over the most recent ones, there seem to be alot of helpful posts. So I guess it all evens out in the long run.

I forget, have you attended school recently or not?
Even if it has been recently and you still have that bad taste in your mouth, going back to school in the mental health area might be different since hopefully, you now have motivation from being in a field that you like.

Why didn’t you like school? Depending on your answer, there might be ways to deal with the negative factors you encountered the last time.

Regarding my own situation, actually, at my last full time job, I was there for over four years and only got laid off due to financial difficulties the company was having. Since that time, I have done temp work while trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. With only a few exceptions, I have gotten good ratings on my assignments. Before my LD/ADHD diagnosis, my work history wasn’t as great although fortunately, I don’t think I have been fired as much as other people with these conditions have been.

My problem is I have been mostly in low level jobs and I am getting tired of them. Also, they are getting to be alot more demanding calling on alot more of my weaknesses. But that’s all I seem to be qualified for as I never worked in the field my degree is in and really, I have no interest in working in it even though every job counselor I see keeps suggesting it.

I did start an assistive tech graduate program a few years ago and did very well in the intro course. But I dropped out of the program because it just seemed to me you couldn’t get into the field unless you were already an SLP, OT, or Special Ed Teacher. Even if I wanted to get into those fields, which I don’t, they would be very difficult for me.

I also have an interest in possibly getting into computer tech support. But again, it seems like you have to be a rocket scientist to get into the field. Even though I can solve alot of computer problems intuitively, I still have other difficulties in areas that you have to be skilled in such as knowing MS Office very thoroughly. Due to my visual spatial dfficulties, Power Point is very hard and so is Access.

What I might do is volunteer and see if maybe I can possibly get into the field that way. I may still have to go back to school but at least, if I was in the field, that might make things easier.

It just seems the dilemma that people with LD/ADHD have is we have strengths and weaknesses in the same area. In this changing economy where a worker is expected to be versatile and flexible on a dime’s notice, that makes it tough for folks like us. No one is addressing those issues. Of course, your mileage may vary .

This is probably way more than you wanted to know:)) I was reading another post of yours in which you mentioned starting a business. If I had the resources, I would start a service that helps people with LD/ADHD find suitable jobs. The services out there right now are atrocious and disgraceful.

Lack of funds isn’t the problem as people would lead you to believe. Instead, we continue to spend dollar after dollar and keep doing the same old things that don’t work. I am not one of those anti-government folks but because of my experiences, I understand why alot of folks despise it.

Anyway Cameron, I hope the mental health field continues to be satisfying for you. You sound exactly like the type of person this field needs.

PT

Nice message PTI! I appreciate it…this is the stuff this forum needs! messages are really lacking…..anyway, yes I’m also “ADD” although, I believe LD/ADD are the same bascially….I’m failry computer literate, but not really…I actually got a full time job recently(VERY low paying for my age, that’s for sure)at a Mental Heatlh Hospital, as a Mental Health worker…it might be a stepping stone for a higher paying position..I have a LOT of empathy towards people who have disabilities(especially really serious stuff like Schizophrenia) so I belive this might be a good change of career for me(my backround is in the computer industry, selling)….but, I probably will need to go back to school to at least get a 2 year vocational degree to help get a license so I can make more money….I HATE school, and this is a big problem for me…

PTI, what makes you not want to start looking for a job? is it that you’re job history is bad??(mine is HORRIBLE, I have to lie pretty good on my resume, I haven’t had a decent full time job in like 2 1/2 years!) I DO understand about lack of motivation…especially when the weather is nice…you have the internet, and hobbies!! it sucks big time, trying to stay focused…I know that I have a lot of hobbies and I get REALLy distrated and impulsive with all those things..I’m a Music fanatic, Sports fanatic, love to Fish, man………………..[/quote]

I have a different take on it. It is NOT ADD that is causing you to bounce from job to job. It is fear of failure and discovery.

ADD is very rare.

Nice to k now somebody here has THe ANSWERS!!!

Sometimes (rarely perhaps … but then, it doesn’t matter how rare it is if its you) it really isn’t fear — it’s reality.

After a while the fear works against you, too… but boy, it took me a while to learn to smikle sweetly when somebody said “oh, you could be as organized as you need to be, if you had to.” Of course I could…, except there is absolutely no evidence to support that.

[quote=”Sue”]Nice to k now somebody here has THe ANSWERS!!!

Sometimes (rarely perhaps … but then, it doesn’t matter how rare it is if its you) it really isn’t fear — it’s reality.

After a while the fear works against you, too… but boy, it took me a while to learn to smikle sweetly when somebody said “oh, you could be as organized as you need to be, if you had to.” Of course I could…, except there is absolutely no evidence to support that.[/quote]

Sue I’m glad I could help and I’m glad you agree. I think more work needs to done investigating the psychological condition of ADD and LD patients.

With the currrent clinical and diagnostic void all patients have to rely on is conjecture and half-baked theories which then result in convienient but inaccurate lables.

I have spent years flipping from contract job to contract job, staying only because I knew the end was near. I lack internal organization and to get something done is twice as hard for me than it is for many people without my particular profile. I now at 52 have a permanent job teaching young adults with LD, and not a month goes by that I want to fly out the door and be gone, but I have a child to support and old age to consider. For me the problem is not ADHD, the problem is having to pull together in a systematic way an inormous amount of information, respecting time lines, and protecting myself from others who see my potential and want to load me up with more responsibilities. For those wo share my disability, work is hard and frustrations are continual.