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Capgemini I joined sometime back at D1 level , I do technical work most of time like coding, dev,testing etc.
I have worked a lot in my 14 years and still have required skills needed for the work. I don't have energy to slog any further. Moreover I get anxiety when I see junior level people doing same work as me and earning more or same.
I feel cannot sit longer hrs due to back issues and other health issues and family commitments.
Can I change to management side without risking my job .
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Additional Posts in Lawyers with ADHD
BARBRI or THEMIS?
Conversation Starter
One of the most helpful bits of advice I have received on this topic is to write down the actual task or problem, and then write down what I am perceiving it to be. So for example, the actual task may be to turn around some quick corrections and send a polite cover email, and that will take maybe 30-45 minutes. But that day it may feel like the task is to redeem yourself and prove you belong, but that that’s impossible because you’ve already screwed up by delivering something less than perfect (and you’re pretty sure you’ll probably screw this up too, or the next one, no matter how much time you spend double checking, because your report cards were right—you’re smart but you just won’t focus and apply yourself). A high level of anxiety and difficulty may be a very rational response to the threat you are perceiving, especially if you are sensitive to rejection to begin with. So step one when a task is really hard for me is to figure out how my perception of the task is different from the real task, and then to be realistic with both my solutions for the real task and for the perceived threat. There are lots of realistic strategies from there—breaking things down, flow time method, body doubling, chunking, two minute rule, positive exposure, therapy—but I personally couldn’t make progress with RSD kicking my [backside] until I split things up like that and came at it with from both sides.
Also, I drag reference materials into an appointment in my calendar next to the meeting so I’m not scrambling through the file or my inbox for them before a call.
Especially my pre-prepared post-call email to the client confirming what we discussed. Keeps my ADHD brain organized.
Pro
You can use it to inform a couple things about yourself: (1) you have overcome adversity. After all, you became an attorney despite having a neurological disorder that you apparently didn’t know much about. (2) you must work very hard to avoid rejection or failure. At least I know I do. So I know I am a very hard worker and strive for perfection.
Other than basically everything else, we make for great associates for that reason. If you can get past the careless errors, inattention to detail, poor organizational skills, inability to manage deadlines, procrastination, poor impulse control, and disdain for anything we find boring…
I’m kidding. Hopefully most of us have found ways to deal with the above so as to minimize or eliminate these symptoms. For me, it’s medication, and it works wonders. But it didn’t get rid of my drive for success.
Sorry, I turned off my notifications and keep missing your responses lol.
I’m the same way though—I seem to only be able to run on stress, which takes a lot out of you. Hope you’re able to catch up on some sleep!
This resulted in a pay cut, but I actually just opted to go to hourly (expectation is now 1500 versus 1900), just so I can give myself the rest/breaks I need in between all of the stress.
I have learned not to take it personally when I am - or think I am - being called out, or when I screw up. I'm only human, I can always try again, and I am grateful for these "learning experiences." Before, I would just get angry and discouraged.
I highly encourage you to continue your research on ADHD and all it’s components - I can assure you will continue to learn so much more that helps you connect dots, explain other emotions, feelings, etc. and give you clarity and reasoning as to the “why.”
Learning more about ADHD helped understand myself better, and has allowed me to give myself grace and compassion for all things I thought were “wrong” and “different” with me. 🙏🏼❤️
Are there any resources that you would recommend?
Oh, so there it is. I know that there is a medical explanation about how exaggerated I feel about small failures. I thought I was just being a perfectionist in selected areas, but there it is, I am not. Is anxiety a sign too? Because I feel uneasy most of the time.
Oh. So this is why I get overly emotional when confronted with failure or when things don't go my way. Thank you for sharing, OP! Also, the comments above are very insightful.
Knowledge of rejection sensitivity disorder has helped me maintain a more accurate perspective in personal relationships and business friendships.
Chief
Unsure if you’re a painfully shy ADHD (that’s me) or an outgoing ADHD, but have you considered improv or theater? I did it a bit in high school and have taken several CLEs on acting for lawyers (both negotiating and trial) and I’ve found it to be an amazing help for this condition.
I’ve learned to think of myself as a polished gemstone. There are many different facets, a single facet isn’t who I am, but in its entirety.
Who I am as a lawyer is different than who I am as a spouse, as a parent, as a child, as a friend, as a neighbor. Very few of these facets intersect. I’m quite literally playing a different role for each. It’s silly, and just reframing the things we already do, but it’s been so amazing.
When I thought of myself as “just a lawyer” and my entire identity was wrapped up in that definition, then anything work related would have a PROFOUND effect on my life as a whole (and the lows didn’t offset the highs). But now? Not only does any negative emotion from work NOT spill over into my other lives, it’s been blunted. Oh the lawyer character I play got yelled at or criticized? Ok, he should make some tweaks.
Chief
Tyler Durden was right…
Chief
Another game changer that helped me with a bevy of ADHD related symptoms. Have you heard of brilliant-conman syndrome?
Chief
Research helps. Therapy helps. But the most helpful has been silly adhd memes on social media. By volume I’ve learned more there than by the other 2. But it’s just a jumping off point. Like a blog on a law firm website explaining a concept you’re not familiar with- it gives you the magic words to go do your own research later
I truly think RSD caused me problems as a trial attorney (criminal). I would feel my body just flood when my objections would be overruled and the judge would make a negative comment. It started to get so bad I didnt want to try cases.
Chief
Idk how healthy it was, but I conditioned myself to avoid the freezing when getting yelled at or something going the wrong way. (I still needed to do a lot more work to cope, but it stopped the “fight/flight response.”) Take with a big grain of salt:
As a 2nd year, some friends and I were getting flabby from not enough exercise, too much work, too much takeout, and not enough sleep. We did a boot camp course for 6 months. Dawn workouts 4x a week with a legit former army drill sergeant. Nicest guy I’d ever met in my life. We were all a bit overwhelmed by the stress of psychotic partners yelling and screaming at us and the paralysis that followed and we wanted to fix it. It took a lot of cajoling (and a hefty upcharge) but we got “the full metal jacket.” The screaming and profanity (and TBH mental abuse) that followed was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I don’t think he ever reused the same slur/insult. It was the worst 6 months of my life. But… I can’t argue with the results. At the end I was in phenomenal shape and there was nothing anyone could say (at any volume) ever again that would make me freeze.