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Hey there — first off, you’re absolutely not alone. I was also diagnosed with ADHD after hitting a wall at work, and I totally relate to what you’re describing. It’s not about making excuses — it’s about understanding what’s really going on and figuring out how to work with your brain, not against it.
When it comes to explaining inconsistency professionally, I’ve found that framing it in terms of self-awareness and commitment to growth makes a big difference. Something like:
“I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD, which has helped me understand some of the challenges I’ve faced with consistency and communication. I’m actively working on building systems that support me in staying more organized and responsive, and I’m committed to improving. I appreciate your patience and any feedback that helps me align better with the team’s expectations.”
This shows that you’re taking accountability, not making excuses, and being proactive — which speaks volumes.
And seriously, give yourself some grace. ADHD brains weren’t built for traditional productivity systems — but with the right tools and support, you can thrive. You’re already doing the hard part: reflecting, speaking up, and showing up.
You’ve got this. 💪✨
I agree with this statement keep showing up and continue doing a good job, sometimes making reminders with pop ups on your phone has helped me in the past to remember what days or a certain time frame.
I'm sorry about the review and happy for you for finally getting the diagnosis. I put it off for years and attributed all my mistakes and forgetfulness to laziness. Getting a bad review is never fun, but on the bright side, now that you've been diagnosed, you can start working on fixing things. Did your doctor prescribe you medication? And if so, have you started taking it yet? My first week or two on meds was a little bumpy, but once I got used to it, it was a total game changer for me at work. I'm confident the same will hold true for you too.
Did just start trying medication although I was also not consistent with it - I think I misunderstood the way I was supposed to be taking it. Unsure of the impact thus far-it doesn’t feel like it’s making much difference
Consider working with a neurodiverse coach. I highly recommend neurodiversecoaching.com
Hi, I have ADHD too (late diagnosis) and absolutely hate providing updates - I do it but it can be the least enjoyable part of the job and sometimes hard for me to push myself to do.
The biggest thing that has helped me is automating what I can.
- Agendas? Rolling with a link to the project dashboard with the work listed where people are updating it themselves.
- Updates are all about communication and showing what you’re doing. It’s the proof. I use PowerPoint since making my updates aesthetically pleasing to look at is a big motivator for me. (I also use AI when I can)
In regards to your reviews, I’m sorry. Consistently inconsistent is rough feedback that many of us receive throughout our lives. I will say medication has been a huge thing for me. It took me a few months to get to the right dosage but my doctor is really great made sure to meet with me every couple of weeks to get me to where I need to be.
I also recommend telling your HR department. ADHD is a disability and you can ask for accommodations. For example, I get to record any meeting I’m in and get transcripts. This helps me make sure I‘ve caught everything I was supposed to. (It’s also really great to use with AI for things like meeting notes, follow ups, updates, etc. Just be sure if you’re using AI to check it’s work…)
Genuinely not sure how to turn on that capability - I didn’t know it wasn’t on? I’ll try to fix it and send you a message.
Hey, I was diagnosed a couple of years back (I knew well before my diagnosis but went to have it done because I was struggling).
What I will suggest is asking your employer to refer you to occupational health. They will assess your needs in terms of support needs at work - this could include stuff like headphones, hybrid working, additional breaks, fidgets... The list is fairly endless. But that would be my first step :)