Honestly.
Here’s an story of an accountant with Attention Deficit Disorder, who got diagnosed, and tells how he dealt with it.
I have often suggested that you wouldn’t find many accountants with Attention Deficit Disorder. I’m not the only one who thinks this way. That being said, I now personally know 5 8 accountants with ADHD. ADHD is a problem at work when you’re doing something that you find boring or repetitive. It’s not that much of a problem when you’re doing things you find stimulating or exciting. Thankfully we all find different things exciting otherwise we’d all be competing for the same job.
It show’s how diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorder can make a real difference in someone’s life.
One thing I like is the title of the article “Adult attention deficit disorder is not an excuse — it’s a diagnosis.” They also give some practical ideas for dealing with Adult attention deficit disorder.
Some doctors and others have rejected ADD as a fad diagnosis.
“I feel badly about that,” Bulten said. “They are misinformed. There are pediatricians out there who don’t think it’s real, that it’s just an excuse. You wouldn’t say that about someone with polio because they limp.”
The treatment for both categories of ADD is the same: medication and coaching. The most common medication is Ritalin, which stimulates the neurotransmitters in the brain. Bill VanWoerkom, a social worker in Mason’s and Bulten’s office, helps the patients organize their lives.
“They leave here after every coaching session with a written plan,” said VanWoerkom, who, himself, has been diagnosed with ADD.
Brailey, since he was diagnosed, has taken steps to organize his life. In his home office, he keeps a large, three-month calendar on the wall with appointments color-coded.
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It’s been shown that within certain fields (think finance, RE state, and tax managers) ADD is not a crutch but actually an advantage for people who have multiple responsibilities throughout the day. Self-help gurus and doctors try to provide a helping hand that’s primarily open for your $$$, not your sanity.
The smart ones know this, and we just nod our head when doctors scold us out of politeness, though it’s unfortunate they won’t be able to put their children through boarding school like ours due to their lack of ambition by not having the ADD “crutch.”
In some fields ADHD can definitely be a competitive edge. That being said ADHD can be a gift and a problem at the same time. Not everyone who helps others does so only because they’re financial mercenaries.
If someone with ADHD doesn’t have a problem with the symptoms of the condition, no need to get any help. That being said, many ADDers are in denial or minimization about how their condition impacts their life or their family life.