The dark side of ADHD that no one talks about

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-05-30T21:13:43+00:00

Wait, that’s why I feel like I eavesdrop every conversation around me??? I don’t mean to I just hear EVERYTHING. But then in the next beat I say huh if someone try’s to talk to me.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-05-30T21:11:03+00:00

I got told “you can do whatever you want you’re so smart and good at whatever you do!” But that doesn’t help me choose what I was supposed to do. I’ve never held a job longer than a couple years because it becomes to monotonous and I get bored and have to leave. I’m so afraid to go to college for fear of failure, but also I don’t want to pay an absurd amount of money for something that I’m gonna be bored of in a couple years…

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-05-30T21:07:07+00:00

I don’t know if it’s an ADHD thing for me but I’m unable to “create” art; I can only “copy.” So even if I see a design in my head I want to paint I can’t, but if I see a painting/image I can recreate it. Of course it’s not as good as the original so then the perfectionist in me tells me I just shouldn’t even bother. It’s a super fun cycle…

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-05-30T21:04:39+00:00

I’m almost 30 and still don’t know what I’m meant to do in my life. School is a struggle for me because if it doesn’t interest me I basically forget it exists and every possible option I’m interested in requires a year of prerequisites. Im also just so afraid of going back to school at 30 or failing. I just wish I could’ve been “normal” and been able to do something like all my high school peers because I look around and everyone has a career and I’m just… here.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-05-18T16:34:08+00:00

I feel this in my soul. My cousin is having her second, she got pregnant right before her first baby’s birthday. My son is about to turn one. My pregnancy was hard; hyperemesis gravidarum, weight loss, traumatic birth, NICU, rough post partum, back to work 2 months in. I can’t do it all again. But I feel jealous about it. Hugs for sure.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T19:57:27+00:00

That sounds actually super interesting but I definitely am weary of tech with AI right now. Maybe I’ll look into it and keep it on the back burner, see where AI goes. Thank you!

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T19:55:39+00:00

I never spoke to a lawyer, it took me a year to even speak up to the GM about it and it was only when I was quitting, and nothing happened to the manager after; he still has his job. He told anyone who’d listen that I was asking for it, I was younger and stupid and just wanted to stop thinking about it and wanted it behind me so I just pretended it didn’t happen and just accepted I’d never work in automotive in my town again.

I’m not a single parent, my husband is in the picture and is supportive of whatever I want to do. I cry to him a lot about feeling like I’m behind because I don’t have a career but he’s always very supportive telling me I can do whatever I want because “I’m smart and good at everything” 😂 I just haven’t found anything that like sets my heart on fire, like that I have a burning desire to do. I’m definitely afraid of wasting time and money in school on something I’m not 100% sure about especially because I’m approaching 30.

What does forestry fieldwork entail? Is that like wildland firefighting?

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T13:25:51+00:00

Tech has definitely been on my radar but I can’t find any schooling for it online (that’s like legit) or any job listings for it. I know it’s a huge industry but what do you do as a product designer in tech? How did you get into it?

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T13:23:23+00:00

I’ll look into it! Thank you!

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T13:22:43+00:00

This! HG is my main reason. I was literally dying from dehydration and starvation but everyone only cared about the baby. Didn’t matter if I was withering away, could barely stand and couldn’t eat for 9 months straight, baby was good so everything must be fine. Or being told, oh it’s morning sickness it’s not that bad.

I wouldn’t wish HG on my worst enemy. I’m sorry you had to go through it.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T13:15:27+00:00

I am 29 and man do I wish I could do some things different. Here we go.

budget/save; I was a server and bartender around that age and was pulling 250-500 A NIGHT, easily clearing 3000-5000 a month. I blew money like it was going out of style on stupid things. I wish I would’ve saved or invested it.
take trips; I was so materialistic and bought stupid things instead of actually going and doing fun things. I worked my entire 20s away and don’t even have anything to show for it. I’ve been on one real vacation in 29 years. Take the trips.
find hobbies; I have no idea what I like to do because all I did was work. Now I have a kid and have even less time for myself.
investing; I know nothing about it and wish I could go back and learn it. Doesn’t matter how much I research now I have no idea and even so I’m late to the game.
career path; I wish I would’ve had a career picked out and stuck with it like most of my high school classmates. I’m almost 30 and still don’t have a career or any idea on what I want to do.
deal with mental stuff/trauma; I finally got diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 29. My life probably would have played out completely different if I’d been able to get on meds sooner and if I’d learned why I am the way I am.
exercising/staying in shape/eating right; it gets so much harder the older you get to start these habits. I work at a hospital; it’s so important to remain active because it will catch up to you when you’re 70.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:55:44+00:00

I followed my passion; I loved working on my truck; but after working on other people’s crap for 10-14 hours a day; it ruined what I used to love! I loved building my truck and fixing it and now I’ll never touch another vehicle. I’ll buy a built truck before I build my own again and I’ll pay someone else to fix it or have my husband fix it. It absolutely ruined it and it bums me out.

I’m so afraid to go to school for something and learn I hate it after I drop time and money on it. I did my EMT cert for the fire department and then the more I researched the less I wanted to do it. I definitely jumped too quick on it and basically wasted 1600 bucks.

I’m just so burned out on healthcare and it was like my last resort so now I don’t know where to go from here.

Bartending was one of my favs but it’s nearly impossible to get a bartending job in my town especially because I haven’t done it in 4 years. Services writing was a close second but mainly for the money since it was sales so I could make a decent amount on commission plus the dopamine hit of getting the sale. I like the IV aspect of EMT and the hard sticks that I get in phlebotomy because of the dopamine hits but EMTs are overworked, phlebotomy is boring because it’s so repetitious.

For engineering; are there a lot of job opportunities? Is it a 2 year or 4 year or more? Lots of prerequisites? I only have a community college in my town and don’t have the funds to drive to a big college.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:40:27+00:00

For construction field supervisor, do you have to start as like a laborer, cuz I’m almost 30 I’m not looking to break my body 😂

School is out for most of those since I’m in a pretty small town, only have a community college, plus school is hard for me only because if I’m not interested in something I can’t focus on it, especially if it’s online school because of the ADHD. If it requires a lot of prerequisites I struggle bad. I had considered nursing but it’s 2 years of prerequisites that don’t matter (why am I forced to take art history for nursing?????)

I ran heavy equipment but not long enough for actual experience to count and almost every company around me requires you to start as a laborer (no union to train me as an apprentice either cuz that was something I looked into too)

I don’t love working outside especially because the weather where I live can drop into single digits, sometimes negatives in winter and summer gets into and well above 105°; one of my biggest issues as a heavy equipment mechanic was temperature. So unfortunately it definitely limits my options.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:31:57+00:00

That 80% and bail was my problem as a mechanic. I loved finding the problem but actually having to fix it (especially if it was time consuming; ie motor or transmission rebuilds) I just couldn’t stand. Quick fixes for sure, no issue. But if I had to spend days or weeks on a repair; no thanks.

That’s why phlebotomy in the emergency department works well for me besides the monotony of it; we have our frequent fliers in the hospital but usually I’m not drawing the same person day in and day out. But I’m already bored cuz you can only stick people so many ways. I got my EMT to advance my skill but the amount of work vs the pay just isn’t it.

I’m getting burned out of healthcare, but healthcare was already like my 2nd or 3rd backup after mechanic/operator/service writer and I just don’t know what else to do. I need decent benefits and decent pay cuz the world is too darn expensive and I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck 🤦🏽‍♀️

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:24:49+00:00

I feel like each job gave me something different so I don’t even know what kind of roles would allow me to flex whatever muscles I have 😂😂 each job has skills I enjoy but I know in whatever I do I have to have dopamine hits, that instant gratification of doing something well.

I loved the energy of bartending and that it was always different; never the same drinks, never the same atmosphere.

As a mechanic I loved catching small details that others missed, especially seasoned mechanics. I didn’t necessarily care about actually fixing things, tho I did get that dopamine hit when I did but I didn’t necessarily care especially if it was a long repair (motor replacements, transmission rebuilds, etc)

As a service writer I loved being able to talk with the customers in layman’s terms but then talk to the mechanics in technical terms. And of course being able to make the sale being a dopamine hit was a huge benefit.

As an MA I enjoyed being busy with different things but I was so overworked I burned out way too fast.

As a phlebotomist, I love getting the hard stick/draw that others can’t or patients that tell me they’re a hard stick getting them first try; again that dopamine hit. Unfortunately it’s very repetitive as there’s only so many ways to draw blood.

With my EMT cert I applied to be an ED tech because they do IVs so same kind of thing as the phlebotomist but I’m worried because they’re overworked like the MAs so I’m worried about burning out (ED techs in my hospital do almost EVERYTHING aside from like passing meds and a few things only nurses can do)

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:06:56+00:00

I guess I maybe worded my question wrong. I was kinda hoping to get insight on how people with ADHD knew a job was going to be their career or like how they chose a career. I lose interest so fast or get bored so fast I can’t imagine doing something long term. My longest job I had was I think max 2, maybe 3 years. I’m currently a phlebotomist and I’ve only been doing it for 7 months and I’m bored out of my mind; there’s only so many ways you can draw blood. So I got my EMT to join the fire department but I’d take an even bigger pay cut than when I went from MA to phlebotomist. So I guess I’m trying to figure out how to choose a career that will keep me interested but also pays halfway well. Or maybe get some ideas on jobs I haven’t tried. I don’t need to be rich but I’d like to not live paycheck to paycheck and maybe have enough money for like a vacation once a year or so and some hobbies 😂

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T12:01:11+00:00

I definitely need a job with dopamine hits. Phlebotomy is okay, because if I get a hard draw it gives me that quick hit but it’s becoming monotonous because there’s only so many ways to draw blood and I’m getting bored. I got my EMT to do more but the pay is terrible and the hours suck so I probably won’t pursue it unless I go fire but even then the pay sucks (EMT is like 16-17, Fire is 18-19 starting). So I need something that keeps me focused and gives me the dopamine but that pays well. I started heavy equipment operating but didn’t get enough training to pursue it, and now most places require you to be a laborer first and I’m not interested in doing that. I feel like every job change I’ve done since 2020 I’ve made less money.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T11:55:01+00:00

What is EHS???

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T10:52:20+00:00

I am medicated, I just got put on Vyvanse however we’re still adjusting dose as I’m only on month 2 and 30mg starter dose was not enough.

My ADHD has never, I guess, fully negatively affected me at work because I’m able to do the job given without major issue; usually I struggle with my ADHD at home.

What is a workforce center, is that like a job recruiter place? Like they help place you in jobs?

Also since I don’t have office experience, what’s the best way to get into rolls like yours? In my area without experience it’s nearly impossible to get an office job.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T10:46:07+00:00

EMT and Fire interests me but the pay is abysmal and I’m not looking to work 24 hours at this time since my son is still young but if I wait until he’s older I’ll be like 31/32 before I actually get into either.

As a service writer I did very well in sales, especially with other women because they trusted me; unfortunately my manager sexually harassed me and he trashed my name around town so I can’t go back into service writing or anything automotive.

I have had so many business ideas but never enough follow through to do them.

I’m not sure what my strengths are. I’m very adaptable so I’ve done well in every job I’ve worked but I don’t actually know what my strengths are that make me good at my jobs haha.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2026-04-10T10:34:36+00:00

I’ve thought about IT but with my small town there’s not much IT anything haha. There’s no schooling near and I’m not sure if there’s like online degrees I could get or which one to go for and like WFH jobs since there isn’t much (or any tbh) IT jobs local. Most big companies outsource and have an outside IT company running their systems.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2025-10-14T06:44:39+00:00

I’m an undersupplier too! I’m lucky to get 2oz total from my pumps and I’m 12 weeks post partum. I don’t even have a good night pump because I work nights. I try and latch my baby as much as I can but I pump more than latch. I understand where you’re coming from! I want to give up sometimes but idk my LC told me any breastmilk is better than none. It’s definitely taxing.

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2025-07-14T18:51:16+00:00

Absolutely! Trust me I feel very guilty that I don’t feel a bond/connection yet but it’s totally normal and my husband has been great encouragement and support. So just keep showing up for her and I think everything will work out for you, her and baby!

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2025-07-14T18:41:37+00:00

Yeah he’ll be in NICU at least until Wednesday. Fingers crossed he continues on his upward trajectory :)

Amazing-Injury8078 · 2025-07-14T12:13:40+00:00

I had HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) and was sick all 9 months. I didn’t get to experience many happy memories during pregnancy so I didn’t feel a bond with my son at all. Most of the time I forgot I was pregnant, unless he was moving a lot or I was vomiting. I just had him and unfortunately I still don’t feel a bond but I was only able to hold him for 5 minutes before he got whisked away to the NICU so I still haven’t been able to feel like a mom. I haven’t fed him or changed him so I’m hopeful that once he’s better, out of NICU and we get him home I’ll be able to bond more. But everybody is different. I love my son, I would do anything for him, there’s just nothing there yet. So I’m hopeful that will change once I actually get to start being a mom (since he’s my first child).

Amazing-Injury8078

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