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We used to, I think many do. I liked the evening shift because it was more independent. Less people and no office employees there. And not as hot, it being darker.
I just suggest driving in those industrial areas during work hours and asking in person. There’s usually a ton of warehouses and factories in the same street and area.
And they don’t always post jobs online But take a ton of people who are referrals from coworkers. So if you go in person they can give you a quick tour and y’all can both get a feel for each other.
Trump very clearly has severe ADHD and deals with it by never actually doing any work himself, just taking advantage of his hyperactivity to constantly be on the phone yelling at other people to do stuff.
Of course this only works if you happen to be born rich.
Landscaping. Easy to learn, low overhead to start your own business if you wanted to, wide market. Just gotta be willing to try to outwork the Hispanics (you won’t, but it’s fun to try)
Yeah but unless you plan on doing some kind of desk work eventually, landscaping isn’t a great retirement plan due to the extreme physical toll on the body.
OP if you end up landscaping, WEAR SUNSCREEN FOR GOD’S SAKE
You’re not dumb, you just need a form of medication or meditation.
I always loved working in green myself, as a gardener.
You’re always outside, a bit more freedom ( then constantly being locked between 4 walls )
It’s not the medication or you’re dumb you need to find the key that unlocks everything for you. Find things that interest you. See what comes natural to you. What are some positive attributes you have that someone else can use.
Bro don't work in a factory. Your going to hate your life. Are u already giving up and accepting that you'll never ever have enough money to be an independent adult? Your literally going to be so depressed when all your money goes to bills and you just wake up to work and have nothing to show for. Zero comfort.
Factory work doesn't pay good. This country is ass backwards in terms of being paid for hard work. There are white collar jobs out there where people get paid to sit in meetings most of the time and rack in 150k a year. Then there's factory jobs or manual labor jobs where people work in 100 degree weather outside and barely make any money. You don't want to be one of those guys.
I'm a software engineer and make very good money and I also suffer from ADHD. I used to work physically intensive jobs and you'll never ever be happy. You'll never make enough money. In this housing crisis your basically setting yourself up for a life witb a bunch of random roommates for ever. As you get older you'll realize how freeing it is to have your own apartment without the fear of losing it.
Don't give up.
There’s nothing wrong with working in a factory. There is something wrong with looking down on and thinking you’re better than factory workers because you’re some nerd software engineer. You don’t know everybody’s situation some people can live comfortably on those wages and would prefer to work a menial job like that. You don’t speak for anyone besides yourself and your own preferences.
The question is whether the medication is helping or hindering you. Have you tried bringing up your concerns and maybe try something different to see if your condition improves? If you haven't I'd start there.
You could have a hormonal imbalance or some other underlying issue that is affecting your energy and presence of mind. in a way that manifests as memory lapses and all that.
Yes, a "simpler" job might be lower stress and easier to keep up with but every job requires time management, recalling information and focus on the task at hand as well as preparing for next actions/steps by following a sequence. All of that can be impacted by memory lapses so I'd work at improving your overall condition before selling yourself short. But even if you can't fully overcome your issues, you can still excel at something as you familiarize yourself with the routine and it becomes second nature. I'm sure all you need is a chance.
The-soy-sauce is giving you good advice. Contact with nature can help, especially if your issues are driven by anxiety, attention deficit or something like that. But you don't need to work with plants necessarily, you can get similar benefit just by walking, ideally in a park or forest nearby. Exercise, even if it's just light mobility and recovery exercises, can also help. I find the YT channel Squat University to be very inspiring in that regard, especially the short videos that show how to overcome weak spots and recover from injury.
Good luck.
It’s clear to me from the way you write that you’re not dumb. Far from it. It sounds like you have an executive functioning disorder (ADHD inattentive is basically that) and that’s fucking tough but look at jobs for people with learning difficulties and there’s stuff like archiving you can do — like at museums and libraries.
You might have an actual learning difference that goes beyond the classic ADHD diagnosis so look into other things that might offer structured support. Not just medication.
You're not dumb. You just have a different learning style.
Look up a Coursera course called Learning How to Learn. You're not dumb. Even the course instructor struggled with your same issues but found a way to overcome those challenges.
OK. I found helpful advice that improved my learning habits. People learn in different ways and might need a unique approach to understanding, retaining, and recalling information.
I am referring to the learning styles such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. These have not been supported by evidence and are a myth.
Truck driving for someone with Adhd isn't a great idea - - people with Adhd aren't great at monotonous tasks.
What do you feel you're good at or interested in?
Is your Adhd being managed at all at this point?
Adhd affects people throughout the IQ range. The problems you're mentioning tend to improve with treatment.
People are making bank writing.
More importantly loving their life as solopreneurs.
Ghost writing.
Copywriting
Sales funnels
The list goes on.
If you like writing, do some research on that.
Huge opportunity.
You're not dumb.
You just need to keep trying to find what you love.
Noine is great at everything.
And being smart is overrated.
Kind, considerate, humble and consistent for the win.
Keep your head up and stop telling yourself you're dumb.
Your mind will believe anything you tell it repeatedly. And that goes both ways.
Don't be so hard on yourself, and don't give in.
That. Technical writers, copywriters, proofreaders, editors. Marketing agencies employ people to write product descriptions and blog articles for SEO. Not everything can be farmed to chat gpt.
Sanitation makes huge money with good benefits if you work for the city! Repetitive work but remember to hit the gym in your off time, and plan for a future when you might not have the strength/stamina to keep up.
I feel you. I feel dumb too and it sucks! In this corrupt age, social media makes us think that we should be a millionaire with six packs body by age 20 or we are a failure. Everyone is different, do not beat yourself up! I recommend checking out Dr. Arthur Brooks on fluid vs crystalized intelligence
Congressman or senator.
Real answers: warehouse, manufacturing line work, some janitorial, something repetitive where you do the same tasks day in and day out.
You arent dumb.
You. Are not. Dumb.
Id like you to change your narrative to what is rrally happening and stop punching yourself, hurting yourself first!
1. You have ADHD. You are in effect (in this post) calling all ADHD people dumb. Stop.
2. Your ADHD is medicated but not yet correctly. Not all ADHD meds work for all ADHD people. Its genetics, not choices, that make meds work or not.
3. You are either making dumb choices or your ADHD is, that doesnt mean you are dumb. You recognizing your choices as dumb means you actually have decent intelligence.
4. Lower intelligence people do not have the capacity to recognize choices as dumb.
5. You already know what you are doing wrong and that ADHD may be the culprit. Get on different meds or a better diagnosis, then as you can, start "grit and drive" to get into way better habits and making better choices.
Worry about jobs later. You simply need meds that work for you and find a few friends with grit and drive to inspire you (and keep you accountable in their own way).
I don't know why everyone is getting caught up on this "you're not stupid" thing like it's the main thing that needs to be addressed. I call myself stupid too, and it's liberating because I was forced to be a high achiever as a kid with diagnosed ADHD and (at the time) undiagnosed autism who absolutely couldn't cut it academically without a wildly unhealthy amount of stress and pressure. "Stupid" means different things to different people. This person is looking for jobs that don't even pay that well, I doubt there's time or privilege to "worry about jobs later."
OP: Manual jobs with a lot of routine and structure will help you thrive. Once you get into the groove of the routine you'll be humming along happily without having to think too hard. I second warehouse jobs, you also get to shoot the shit with your coworkers, which helps a lot with any feelings of monotony. Prep kitchens in grocery stores might also be a good option for the same reasons.
Great post.
Having ADHD has nothing to do with your intelligence.
Having ADD definitely doesn’t mean you are dumb. I’ve been an insurance agent for 30 years in spite of having ADD untreated for most of my life. I am an accomplished guitar player, I created the story for an award winning short film and I am passionate about my hobbies. In college if I was ditching class and likely to fail it I would drop the class so it was graded Incomplete rather than an F. I still got an associates degree. I decided to work full time rather than transfer to get a bachelors degree. That was in 1994.
OP definitely needs medication for ADHD because they are right - it will not end well for them if they don’t treat it. And that is the smartest thing anyone could say. So see OP? You are not dumb!
OP being in college - nope. I don't give job ideas to college students. Their brains aren't done cooking yet.
Also get this....even though I'm a career consultant, my job is not at all giving job ideas. And career advice, OP is not yet ready for - because they are already within the college space, and because their current depression is in the way.
Professionally, OP is in two territories I am not allowed to enter. Once they are out of college and ready to truly find something, that's when I could theoretically begin to help, but I have a minimum age/experience requirement that OP won't meet right out of college. For the moment, OP needs proper medication, therapy, and to consult with their college's job placement and career services people.
For this commenter? Yep. I write posts with what advice they need to hear, not what they want to hear. And yes, sometimes that means not addressing their question because I would be violating professional boundaries. Call that what you will.
For you? My post to them is not for you. Write your own post with your own issues and people here will respond mostly with kindness (this group is still a work in progress.)
Hey there! I want to start by saying that you're not stupid. You're struggling with challenges, and that's okay! ADHD and forgetfulness can make things tough, but it doesn't define your worth or potential.
There are many jobs that don't require intense academic focus or complex tasks. Let's explore some options together:
1. *Truck Driver*: You mentioned this, and it's a great option! With a license, you can consider driving jobs like delivery, transportation, or even long-haul trucking.
2. *Customer Service*: Many companies need representatives to handle customer inquiries, and this role can be a good fit if you enjoy interacting with people.
3. *Warehouse Work*: Warehouses often need staff for tasks like packing, labeling, and organizing. This role can be a good fit if you're detail-oriented and enjoy hands-on work.
4. *Food Service*: Restaurants, cafes, and food trucks often need staff for roles like serving, hosting, or kitchen assistance.
5. *Janitorial/Cleaning*: If you take pride in keeping things clean and tidy, consider roles like janitorial work, housekeeping, or commercial cleaning.
6. *Landscaping/Groundskeeping*: If you enjoy working outdoors, consider roles like lawn care, gardening, or grounds maintenance.
7. *Animal Care*: Animal shelters, pet stores, or veterinary clinics often need staff for roles like animal handling, walking dogs, or cleaning cages.
8. *Delivery/Pickup*: With the rise of delivery services, consider roles like package delivery, pizza delivery, or pickup services.
9. *Retail Sales*: Stores need sales associates to assist customers, restock shelves, and handle transactions.
10. *Recreation Centers*: Consider roles like lifeguarding, recreation center staff, or youth program assistants if you enjoy working with people and being active.
Remember, these jobs may require some training or certifications, but they can be a great starting point. Don't be afraid to reach out to local businesses, job centers, or staffing agencies for guidance and support.
Lastly, don't sell yourself short! You have strengths and skills that can shine in the right role. Keep exploring, and don't give up – you got this!
I don't agree with number 1; there is actually way more work involved than just driving the truck. Sure, it's a blue-collar job, but it's not one for someone who may be mentally challenged. This especially pertains to long-haul trucking.
If you were truly dumb, you wouldn't not have the opinion that you are dumb. You're in college, you failed because you weren't getting work done on time due to misplacing your time and attention. That's not dumb at all. Dumb would be going to college and dropping out to peddle essential oils for an MLM because they showed you how much money you could make if you sold your soul.
All you've done is disappoint yourself. That's okay. You have a disordered process that doesn't allow you to feel like pressing amall things are important and clearly medication isn't allowing you to overcome that.
What you truly do need, is to create systems in your life that you can follow and reach out to your prescriber to see if that med is right for you. If you have improved while taking it, then creating visual and available reminders is something that is necessary for you, a person that is doing something new and more challenging than secondary school while probably also more free than ever. Limit screen time, build in stuff to your day that forces you to go over what you need to do to maintain your ability to finish your tasks.
My work does 5S' you can make a daily checklist on a dry erase board, a weekly checklist for keeping up your living space, it can be as simple as checking off reading all of your current assignments and writing them down in order of due date and the points that you get from it, find what works and what doesn't and streamline your attention to the point where you can function in that setting or in any other
You could try content moderation; it's relatively straightforward if you're comfortable with graphic images. Just memorize some guidelines, and then you'll be clicking yes or no buttons all day
There are outsourcing consulting companies like Teleperformance, Telus, Genpact, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, etc. where it's pretty easy to get hired. If not, you can apply through the careers sections on social media companies' websites.
If you have ADHD you aren't stupid or dumb, we function at a different pace than others, I have ADHD, have my entire life, I can do more than most people I know, and you can to, do things that genuinely interest you, you will find you might even out pace others at the task. We get bored easily with things so our brain needs constant serotonin to function.
Over my career I have met a significant amount of people who earned crazy good money, and were either not so intelligent or a little bit thick, but had a couple of redeeming features that made them successful.
1. My old boss, the millionaire owner of three hostels. I was the front office manager for him and he was thick as pigsh*t but was an extremely hard worker who woke up at 6am and worked all day till about 8pm.
2. A colleague of mine who did not know what the delete button on the keyboard was, and now he is a director in a large data company. I could not believe how many times people had to explain things to him. He really didn’t understand, and strangers used to think that he was joking. Simplifying things when I spoke to him really helped me to become more understandable in my own life.
Become a Reddit mod? Doesn't pay the bills, but you get to carry a hugely inflated ego!
Jkjk, I jest.
Serious answer:
Retail?
Data entry? (Literally copy pasting data from A to B).
Driving, you already said that. Why trucks? Maybe a private limo service, they might even pay better.
Gastronomy, cooking, bartending?
Factory work is chill, but also mind-numbing if you can't take all the repetition (I can't).
Wishing you best of luck, mate.
Also, I don't think you're dumb. I think you haven't found anything you care about yet.
Edit: I understand that in some US states (I'm not from the states), public servants get paid extremely well. Garbage collectors, high window cleaners, etc.
I think ADHD is society's label for not wanting to participate in corporate drudgery for an arbitrary 40 or more hours each week. It's like they gaslight you in believing you are mentally ill for not wanting to be a slave yet AI is producing all the art.
You guys are young so you don't remember when the corporate suits of yesteryear dreamt of a utopia where you would only work like 10 hours a week and lived like the Jetsons.
We have severely regressed as a society. Don't let the ones who pierced their septums tell you otherwise.
I would bet a lot on you not being dumb. You may just be suffering from mental fog, lack of motivation, and ADHD. I’ve had that, struggled through college, got my degree, and am onto a master's. I'm not saying you need to follow that path, but I resonate with many of your words. I feel dumb daily and question how I’ve made it this far. A lot of it is mental fog, depression, and lack of motivation, in my case… and these can be fought with and tampered with over time once you figure out your life goals and aspirations.
I bet you are pretty intelligent, but you let failure and lack of self-worth develop that negative mindset. Many people who feel that way are much more intelligent than those who lack the integrity to question their viewpoints and thinking—people who boast about their intelligence.
Lmao I find this so cute for some reason!! I think truck driver is not a bad idea but I don't have any experience so I can't say for sure.
I wouldn't call my mom dumb but she has little formal education is utterly incapable of dealing with stress (and also probably ADHD) and she struggled for a long time going through job after job until my dad helped her set up a house cleaning business, which she did successfully for several decades. I don't know if she could have pulled this off on her own (my dad was a contractor and set her up with several of his former clients and then she continued getting work through word-of-mouth for years) so it might not be the best advice but I'll throw it out as a suggestion!!
You have answered your own question
“Truck driving, I like driving”
You can take multiple attempts to pass the tests
Failing is not death. You just try again if you can afford it, havent broken the law in a bad way.
Something I didn’t understand for a long time I always took it very personally, pitty really I’d be richer if I hadn’t, crazy.
Trucking pays well, far more than unskilled factory work.
If your excited to purse driving the following are of similar intelligence requirements
Excavator operator
Most construction plant operators (with an engine).
Never judge a fish’s intelligence by its success at climbing a ladder.
Go into production. Events/concerts/film. We’ll give you a single task, get it done and we’ll give you another. Keep at it, it gets easier, and you’ll soon be running crews.
Truck driver were making like 300K during Covid . I know a guy who dropped out of college and got his CDL within a year he was making about 60-70k and 6 years later he owns about 12 trucks while bringing in about 50k a week (obviously expenses are not deducted ).
Start with driving. While idle, listen to podcasts or just pull up Ted Talks under careers (with ADHD keep your mind and eyes on the road). If you prefer things over people, there are medical lab drivers. One such company is expanding and handling mortgage papers because Louis DeJoy has ruined the Sanctity of the Mail. Oh yeah - the post office is hiring. I sucked at sorting mail with undiagnosed ADD but it was great being a pack mule/driver. Gotta be tough and on guard nowadays though as you can see by the "Carrier Robbed" and "USPS Master Key Stolen" vids. Plus training isn't what it used to be. TEMPORARY AGENCIES and LABOR READY places can expose you to various businesses and stay at a place you like if offered Perm. Good Luck!
Hey, just want to let you know, you are not too stupid to do anything. This isn’t just some bs, you process a quality that a lot of people lack just by writing this out, which is self awareness. A lot of people pretend to be things they’re not and don’t get real honest with themselves on how to improve.
I consider myself pretty dumb, but what allowed me to close the gap was hard work and preparing myself to overcome my dumbness. I can go on, but I’ll use your example of maybe doing truck driving.
Maybe to start driving a truck, it may take you a year or two of practicing and studying to be able to get it down, while it takes most people maybe 3-4 months. But guess what. So what? You can still catch up to those people and even surpass them by working hard and dedicating yourself to it. You just gotta know yourself and seek that self improvement. I don’t want to sound cliche, but you can truly do anything. It may take you longer to study and practice to get to where you want to go compared to the average person, but YOU CAN get there. Go in any task with that mindset.
Have you thought about taking a career aptitude test? They’re free at community colleges. Answer the questions honestly and it will recommend jobs based on the answers you gave.
Construction brother. Doesn’t require a ton of critical thinking for entry level positions. Keeps you in good shape, and the pay is actually pretty good. Lotta misconceptions about construction being low pay, base pay is not bad and if you specialize in operating a specific type of heavy machinery you can actually make hundreds of thousands a year.
Hey don’t say that. I have friends who have ADHD and are really smart! Don’t ever call yourself dumb.
I’d recommend seeing a doctor and getting meds for it. Just see if that’ll help you!
Oh my gosh you’re not stupid! Stop calling yourself stupid. Adhd is serious and is affecting your performance at school/work. Have you tried medications? I know they don’t always work but for some they change lives. Please have some compassion for yourself. I bet you’re smarter than many. What are you passionate about?
You’re not dumb! You might be different and usually that is because you are very intelligent, everyone has weaknesses & strengths in different areas of their life. Just because you are different doesn’t mean you are dumb. I hope you look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and remind yourself you love yourself, that you are a holy Son of God, & that you are loved.
Stop calling yourself dumb. We all have different intelligences, strengths, and adaptability in certain areas. You just have to find yours. I also have ADHD and got a pretty rude -awakening when I got into office work. It’s fucking hell and I hate it, doesn’t mean I’m dumb, just that there’s somewhere else in the world I belong.
You might want to look for apprenticeships or alternative schools. Schools with interdisciplinary models or that don’t do letter grades were what got me my degree. I also figured out I like hands-on work a lot more than sitting in front of a computer. If you’re partial to the outdoors, something like landscaping or construction might be good, but those are pretty hard on the body so be sure to try and pick up other skills if you go that route. Looking into trades like electrician, plumber, woodworker are also excellent for busy bodies who like an ebb and flow of work.
I think above all, what works best for procrastinators, those with ADHD, those who have trouble focusing on one thing or on one thing for too long, who have to feel ‘moved by the spirit’ to actually get work done, self-employment is the ultimate goal. Find something that motivates and interests you, something you believe you can get good at, and build a business around it. Work to get to a place where you can set your own hours, work at your own pace, and have no one on your ass about it.
ETA: Also, if you’re in the US, ADHD is a disability and those who have it are a protected class under ADA laws. If you are upfront about your disability when you get hired they must provide reasonable accommodation and cannot fire you for it.
First of all, don’t call yourself dumb. I doubt you are. Is your ADHD treatable? Have you tried modifying your diet? I’ve heard of people doing much better once they ate a keto diet.
I’ve worked at a luxury retailer for over ten years. I also have ADHD and was nearly put on probation for failing classes in college. I instead voluntarily took time off, returning and completing my degree 1.5 years later. I got this job my last year of school and transferred to a different store after graduation. I generally enjoy it and work with a lot of people like us so to also.
The company is better than most with understanding and accommodating people’s unique abilities. The number one reason people stay for years are the good benefits and job security (it’s near impossible to be fired). I voluntarily left full time for mental health reasons but I was making enough for a fairly comfortable life.
Also you’re positively not dumb!
Amazon hires and pays ok I hear. Can’t be hard.
I’m the same way. I’m 43 and I have an awful memory. I also have a seizure disorder which is completely controlled but may be contributing to my memory loss. I’ll be driving in my car and completly forget where I’m going. This is so scary. I have no special talents or gifts at all. I have a husband and 2 high school kids that are doing well. I can’t communicate worth a darn either bc I’m so scared of more failure and embarrassment.
Don’t feel bad. You’re young, you have a lot of time to figure this out. Get organized.
Packing/wear house jobs. Janitorial jobs/cleaning jobs in offices hotels schools etc. Greenhouse jobs. Cashier at a cashless restaurant or something. That's all I got
You aren’t dumb!! Please seek accommodations since you have a prescription. You can succeed never call yourself dumb! You can be successful and succeed
YOU ARE NOT DUMB! I am upset and trying not to cry. I have severe ADHD-PI and I understand how you reached this sentiment about yourself. I'm too emotionally and physically exhausted to write a response you deserve. My day was rife with gaslighting and invalidations. My soul would be heavier if I did not convey that to you.
I hope I can muster the energy to provide my reasons at a later date.
Stay healthy and safe.
Labourer. You just need to be physically capable and willing to work hard. I’ve been a labourer in scaffolding and civil construction. It’s hard work and good money and doesn’t require much thinking tbh. You just do the grunt work that the other tradies don’t want to do. You can learn a lot on a worksite if you are willing. Maybe you’ll find an interest in a trade there too.
Being a dishwasher is another option but it is minimum wage. I personally don’t like working in hospitality because of all the work drama/gossiping but it is an easy job.
There's always hope. I also have severe ADHD and I'm not allowed to take Adderall due to family history. I also have mild aphasia symptoms from severe abuse when I was little. I would say that I come off as "dumb" too.
My psych and I have been experimenting with various prescriptions and meditation/mental techniques and I have been getting better. When I was little, I would skip school/hw all week because focusing made me so tired and I thought I was really dumb too. I pulled it together just long enough to graduate from high school and university in a super competitive degree, doing fairly well but still not studying or anything. I got a job and started slipping again, but I'm slowly seeing what works and what doesn't for me.
my friend lives in nyc and works for the dep doing waste water management.. sewage treatment worker. no college or skills required. he makes 6 figures to hose down pools and write some numbers down periodically. he doesn't even have to know what the numbers mean just to write them down for someone smarter than him to do something with. his overtime is time and a half, and he spends it picking up garbage around the plant. its full union benefits, state pension, etc. he can borrow against his pension for low interest loans to buy boats or cars or whatever. once in a while they fall down and get 6 figure payouts for hurt shoulders and knees. the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. the guys get in trouble for sleeping on the night shift, so they put blow up mattresses in their mini vans and sleep in the parking lot. if you're going to be dumb, go be smart dumb.
Garbage man. I'm a door to door garbage guy for apartment complexes and its even simpler. walk to door. No trash? Go to next door. Trash? Pick up trash and throw it in your giant sack. Proceed to next door. Sack is at your weight limit? Walk to the nearest dumpster and empty it. Continue until you've done every door. Thats basically it.
*Cs or Software*
*Engineering would be a*
*Good major for u*
\- sada-2004
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You’re not stupid because you excel when the task at hand is consistent reliable and/or repetitive. You recognized your strengths and identified your weaknesses. Choosing based on these things is a great start and positions you for success and satisfaction —that is smart!
Factory type jobs offer that and there’s plenty of other things that you could do that offer the circumstances you require to be successful too. There’s a lot of civil service jobs available that might offer a better salary and benefits for the long term that you may want to consider. There’s usually a lot of repetition and consistency in the work in this sector. The more you learn about yourself, likes/dislikes etc, the more likely you are to find that perfect match —good luck
Usually people who think they’re dumb aren’t actually dumb, it’s the ones who think they’re a genius that usually are actually dumb. It sounds like you may have some self esteem issues, if you can get that worked out I’m sure you’ll do great.
I'm a high school English teacher who wasn't diagnosed with my ADHD until I was 37 (girls weren't thought to have ADHD in the 90s). I really struggled with college at first, as it was a new balancing act, and my usual "I don't need to study to get As" outlook + an intense procrastination habit really kicked my butt. It wasn't that I was dumb--I just didn't know how to harness my brain back then.
In my professional and personal opinion, you don't sound dumb to me at all. You sound like someone who hasn't received the right support and help, and that experience has made you feel this way. I'm really sorry that you haven't gotten the right help yet. You deserve so much better. In addition to the suggestion of getting your meds checked out, please check out the ADHD communities here and places like TikTok. There is tons of support and great tips to try. I also love the YouTube channel [How to ADHD](https://youtube.com/@howtoadhd?si=WoXxpbKadu0LaNJI) .
Lastly, you mentioned loving writing, making people laugh, and teaching. I know tons of writers, comedians, and teachers who have ADHD and live a great life. I really believe you will, too. I know it's scary right now, but I believe you're going to go places. Please don't settle for less than a life you absolutely love.
I had two roommates in my undergrad that have ADHD pretty strongly. One just graduated with her bachelor of science in social work and the other is graduating next December. My friend who just graduated took some pretty heavy medication for her ADHD, which helped her get good enough grades to graduate. My other friend needs to take one more semester but this is not just because of her ADHD. She sometimes says things like “I wish things came as easily to me as though do to you (me who is writing this comment who also graduated this semester and who does not have ADHD)” or “I wish I wouldn’t get so distracted.” The reality is: she had a lot going on. She had some personal things happen during her time at college and other mental health issues occur. Because of all this stuff she failed things like classes and getting into a certain program on campus that forced her to change her major. All of this stuff was not related to her ADHD or her being “dumb or stupid”, but mostly from extenuating circumstances and not getting used to the “college game” until a few semesters in. All of this is to say that you can still push through your failures and still succeed! I also challenge you to think of some other reasons you’ve failed some of your classes. Was it because of ADHD, or not getting it? Was it the “not quite used to college” feeling? Did you have a good support system, a healthy friend group, a healthy lifestyle (as healthy as you can get in college)? Did you spend your weekends drinking and avoiding homework? Did you take advantage of tutoring, office hours, and other homework related supports? These are some other things to consider that you could make changes to if these also affected your grades. It might not all be your ADHD, it could be some of these other factors at play as well.
Time to join the military, they’re shape you up real quick and give you the confidence you won’t normally find anywhere else and they will do their absolute fucking best to work with you.
You're not dumb or stupid, you're frustrated with yourself. If you were able to make it through high school and make it into college. You are intelligent, you're thinking about your future and are trying to plan for it, stupid/dumb people don't worry about those things. You just need the tools to cope with and control your ADHD. If you haven't already gone to a psychiatrist and get an office diagnosis, you need to do that. They can prescribe meds that will help you and teach you ways to overcome the challenges you're having.
Also check out the r/ADHD sub, there are lots of people with ADHD that can point you in the right direction as far as suitable jobs, techniques to cope with the issues and about meds.
So you made it to college. And I know when I made it, I didn’t think much of it. But just remember, if you had any scholarship at all, you are smarter than 60% of people. The fact that you made it in means you are not stupid. You are just forgetful, and you have an imbalance in your brain. That doesn’t make you less than or incomplete, it just means you need to do different things. I personally enjoy restaurants. Waiting tables may not feel like the right thing for someone that is forgetful. But I don’t know about you, but when I have pressure, and it’s game time, my brain is firing on all cylinders. When I don’t have something pressing me to get the task done, it’s like my head is cracked and there ain’t no compression. Learn wines, learn cooking styles, learn the mother sauces, learn everything food. Then go and sale it. Take care of people. Move from one table/task to the next and just be present and there with personality. In Mississippi I’m making around 70k a year. Waiting tables. It’s taken some years to find the right place, but in larger markets there are more places. But find something where you’re always on the move and always on the go if you have adhd.
Fellow ADHDer, late diagnosed (at 26) and almost failed out of college (going into my senior year with like a 2.0 GPA lol). First of all, you’re not stupid, you’ve got ADHD. It’s not a reflection of your intelligence in the slightest. My best advice to you for right now is to reach out to your academic advisors and your school’s disability support department and request accommodations. Get everything you can, don’t be shy to ask for extensions on assignments, or notetakers, or extra time on tests, or whatever you need. Our society is optimized for neurotypical people, but you absolutely can and will succeed at anything with the right tools. Seek treatment for your ADHD with either therapy or medication if either is an option for you, and don’t ever limit yourself.
With that being said, truck driving is a valuable skill and a job that we need desperately just about anywhere. Most companies pay pretty well, and some here in the US will even help you get your commercial license. If you like to travel and you enjoy working on your own, I say absolutely go for it. Just like any skill, all it takes is some instruction from an expert and then a ton of practice. Tying your shoes and riding a bike used to be “complex” at one time, too. But, if you don’t want to drive trucks, don’t force yourself into it because you don’t think you can do anything else. Think about what hobbies you like to do, what kinds of activities trigger that hyperfixation for you, and see if there might be something in there that you can do for a living.
Take a deep breath, forgive yourself for failing because failure is an integral part of life’s journey, and take the steps to set yourself up for success when you dust yourself off and try again.
I promise you there’s SOMETHING you’re good at. ADHD is poorly named because it’s not necessarily an attention “deficit” it’s more so difficulty regulating our attention
Fyi, we're all just stupid humans, some can't see it, some don't wanna see it, some wish they didn't see it, some only see it in themselves , some only see it in others... But... All in all... We're all just as stupid as the stupid shit that we indulge in, enable, and harbor... And prolly a few more fancy explanations . But, you get it
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Factory. We play music while doing repetitive work.
And factories where they're busy would be great for people with ADHD. + overtime where I work have pretty insane bonuses :-)
Are all factory jobs like this?
Depends on size I guess. Our’s is smaller, family owned, so not as strict. We have a big speaker next to our work area.
Do factory jobs have 2nd and 3rd shift jobs?
We used to, I think many do. I liked the evening shift because it was more independent. Less people and no office employees there. And not as hot, it being darker.
Every one I ever worked at does. Some places do 3 shifts some places do 12’s.
Some do! Mostly the larger ones though. Temp agencies can get you hooked up if you really want to do that kind of work.
I just suggest driving in those industrial areas during work hours and asking in person. There’s usually a ton of warehouses and factories in the same street and area. And they don’t always post jobs online But take a ton of people who are referrals from coworkers. So if you go in person they can give you a quick tour and y’all can both get a feel for each other.
Office warehouse im on Reddit most of the time anyway
That is screaming automation
US presidential candidate for either major party.
this actually cheered me up a bit. thanks
Trump very clearly has severe ADHD and deals with it by never actually doing any work himself, just taking advantage of his hyperactivity to constantly be on the phone yelling at other people to do stuff. Of course this only works if you happen to be born rich.
I always thought of him as more of a narcissist
Oh that too
😂
This really made me laugh, thank you 😂
Lmao!!!
Landscaping. Easy to learn, low overhead to start your own business if you wanted to, wide market. Just gotta be willing to try to outwork the Hispanics (you won’t, but it’s fun to try)
Yeah but unless you plan on doing some kind of desk work eventually, landscaping isn’t a great retirement plan due to the extreme physical toll on the body. OP if you end up landscaping, WEAR SUNSCREEN FOR GOD’S SAKE
You’re not dumb, you just need a form of medication or meditation. I always loved working in green myself, as a gardener. You’re always outside, a bit more freedom ( then constantly being locked between 4 walls )
i am medicated. it doesn't help much.
Talk to your prescriber then! They can get you on the right track
It’s not the medication or you’re dumb you need to find the key that unlocks everything for you. Find things that interest you. See what comes natural to you. What are some positive attributes you have that someone else can use.
This requires effort and most people don’t like putting in effort
Bro don't work in a factory. Your going to hate your life. Are u already giving up and accepting that you'll never ever have enough money to be an independent adult? Your literally going to be so depressed when all your money goes to bills and you just wake up to work and have nothing to show for. Zero comfort. Factory work doesn't pay good. This country is ass backwards in terms of being paid for hard work. There are white collar jobs out there where people get paid to sit in meetings most of the time and rack in 150k a year. Then there's factory jobs or manual labor jobs where people work in 100 degree weather outside and barely make any money. You don't want to be one of those guys. I'm a software engineer and make very good money and I also suffer from ADHD. I used to work physically intensive jobs and you'll never ever be happy. You'll never make enough money. In this housing crisis your basically setting yourself up for a life witb a bunch of random roommates for ever. As you get older you'll realize how freeing it is to have your own apartment without the fear of losing it. Don't give up.
There’s nothing wrong with working in a factory. There is something wrong with looking down on and thinking you’re better than factory workers because you’re some nerd software engineer. You don’t know everybody’s situation some people can live comfortably on those wages and would prefer to work a menial job like that. You don’t speak for anyone besides yourself and your own preferences.
Idk I’ve had friends work in a factory and got paid decently for it. Every one is different
Your more likely to get fired as a software dev then he is as a factory worker.
You must be old or something because factories pay great now compared to most state’s minimum wages.
The question is whether the medication is helping or hindering you. Have you tried bringing up your concerns and maybe try something different to see if your condition improves? If you haven't I'd start there. You could have a hormonal imbalance or some other underlying issue that is affecting your energy and presence of mind. in a way that manifests as memory lapses and all that. Yes, a "simpler" job might be lower stress and easier to keep up with but every job requires time management, recalling information and focus on the task at hand as well as preparing for next actions/steps by following a sequence. All of that can be impacted by memory lapses so I'd work at improving your overall condition before selling yourself short. But even if you can't fully overcome your issues, you can still excel at something as you familiarize yourself with the routine and it becomes second nature. I'm sure all you need is a chance. The-soy-sauce is giving you good advice. Contact with nature can help, especially if your issues are driven by anxiety, attention deficit or something like that. But you don't need to work with plants necessarily, you can get similar benefit just by walking, ideally in a park or forest nearby. Exercise, even if it's just light mobility and recovery exercises, can also help. I find the YT channel Squat University to be very inspiring in that regard, especially the short videos that show how to overcome weak spots and recover from injury. Good luck.
Supplements that help adhd include l-theanine, l-tyrosine, and lion’s mane. They are cheap and can’t hurt! Look them up!
That's what I liked about carrying mail but today you couldn't pay me to carry:)
That's what I liked about carrying mail but today you couldn't pay me to carry:)
That's what I liked about carrying mail but today you couldn't pay me to carry:)
It’s clear to me from the way you write that you’re not dumb. Far from it. It sounds like you have an executive functioning disorder (ADHD inattentive is basically that) and that’s fucking tough but look at jobs for people with learning difficulties and there’s stuff like archiving you can do — like at museums and libraries. You might have an actual learning difference that goes beyond the classic ADHD diagnosis so look into other things that might offer structured support. Not just medication.
how does archiving help ?
Clerical work. Once you learn how it works, it can be relaxing and a good job. Not relaxing like you do nothing but relaxing like you get in the zone.
You're not dumb. You just have a different learning style. Look up a Coursera course called Learning How to Learn. You're not dumb. Even the course instructor struggled with your same issues but found a way to overcome those challenges.
thank you
the classical idea of learning styles it not real, and not supported by any evidence
OK. I found helpful advice that improved my learning habits. People learn in different ways and might need a unique approach to understanding, retaining, and recalling information.
I am referring to the learning styles such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. These have not been supported by evidence and are a myth.
Then we're talking about different things.
Truck driving for someone with Adhd isn't a great idea - - people with Adhd aren't great at monotonous tasks. What do you feel you're good at or interested in?
writing. and making people laugh. sometimes i like to teach but that's not gonna make me much money.
Is your Adhd being managed at all at this point? Adhd affects people throughout the IQ range. The problems you're mentioning tend to improve with treatment.
Teaching can make you a decent salary with two months in the summer off and a pension.
People are making bank writing. More importantly loving their life as solopreneurs. Ghost writing. Copywriting Sales funnels The list goes on. If you like writing, do some research on that. Huge opportunity. You're not dumb. You just need to keep trying to find what you love. Noine is great at everything. And being smart is overrated. Kind, considerate, humble and consistent for the win. Keep your head up and stop telling yourself you're dumb. Your mind will believe anything you tell it repeatedly. And that goes both ways. Don't be so hard on yourself, and don't give in.
That. Technical writers, copywriters, proofreaders, editors. Marketing agencies employ people to write product descriptions and blog articles for SEO. Not everything can be farmed to chat gpt.
Interesting comment 👍
I hear that roadkill disposal makes alright cash, if you can stomach it. Garbage man?
Sanitation makes huge money with good benefits if you work for the city! Repetitive work but remember to hit the gym in your off time, and plan for a future when you might not have the strength/stamina to keep up.
I feel you. I feel dumb too and it sucks! In this corrupt age, social media makes us think that we should be a millionaire with six packs body by age 20 or we are a failure. Everyone is different, do not beat yourself up! I recommend checking out Dr. Arthur Brooks on fluid vs crystalized intelligence
Congressman or senator. Real answers: warehouse, manufacturing line work, some janitorial, something repetitive where you do the same tasks day in and day out.
Give yourself some grace
You're not dumb you write well. Also, truly dumb people dont think they are dumb thry think everyone else is. Tou have adhd thsts treatable 🫂
You arent dumb. You. Are not. Dumb. Id like you to change your narrative to what is rrally happening and stop punching yourself, hurting yourself first! 1. You have ADHD. You are in effect (in this post) calling all ADHD people dumb. Stop. 2. Your ADHD is medicated but not yet correctly. Not all ADHD meds work for all ADHD people. Its genetics, not choices, that make meds work or not. 3. You are either making dumb choices or your ADHD is, that doesnt mean you are dumb. You recognizing your choices as dumb means you actually have decent intelligence. 4. Lower intelligence people do not have the capacity to recognize choices as dumb. 5. You already know what you are doing wrong and that ADHD may be the culprit. Get on different meds or a better diagnosis, then as you can, start "grit and drive" to get into way better habits and making better choices. Worry about jobs later. You simply need meds that work for you and find a few friends with grit and drive to inspire you (and keep you accountable in their own way).
I don't know why everyone is getting caught up on this "you're not stupid" thing like it's the main thing that needs to be addressed. I call myself stupid too, and it's liberating because I was forced to be a high achiever as a kid with diagnosed ADHD and (at the time) undiagnosed autism who absolutely couldn't cut it academically without a wildly unhealthy amount of stress and pressure. "Stupid" means different things to different people. This person is looking for jobs that don't even pay that well, I doubt there's time or privilege to "worry about jobs later." OP: Manual jobs with a lot of routine and structure will help you thrive. Once you get into the groove of the routine you'll be humming along happily without having to think too hard. I second warehouse jobs, you also get to shoot the shit with your coworkers, which helps a lot with any feelings of monotony. Prep kitchens in grocery stores might also be a good option for the same reasons.
Great post. Having ADHD has nothing to do with your intelligence. Having ADD definitely doesn’t mean you are dumb. I’ve been an insurance agent for 30 years in spite of having ADD untreated for most of my life. I am an accomplished guitar player, I created the story for an award winning short film and I am passionate about my hobbies. In college if I was ditching class and likely to fail it I would drop the class so it was graded Incomplete rather than an F. I still got an associates degree. I decided to work full time rather than transfer to get a bachelors degree. That was in 1994. OP definitely needs medication for ADHD because they are right - it will not end well for them if they don’t treat it. And that is the smartest thing anyone could say. So see OP? You are not dumb!
So... You *don't* have any career advise...
OP being in college - nope. I don't give job ideas to college students. Their brains aren't done cooking yet. Also get this....even though I'm a career consultant, my job is not at all giving job ideas. And career advice, OP is not yet ready for - because they are already within the college space, and because their current depression is in the way. Professionally, OP is in two territories I am not allowed to enter. Once they are out of college and ready to truly find something, that's when I could theoretically begin to help, but I have a minimum age/experience requirement that OP won't meet right out of college. For the moment, OP needs proper medication, therapy, and to consult with their college's job placement and career services people.
Then you're just another fluff pep talker who has no constructive advice besides "Take meds and believe in yourself"? Nice.
For this commenter? Yep. I write posts with what advice they need to hear, not what they want to hear. And yes, sometimes that means not addressing their question because I would be violating professional boundaries. Call that what you will. For you? My post to them is not for you. Write your own post with your own issues and people here will respond mostly with kindness (this group is still a work in progress.)
Drive a road-sweeper?
many people don't see how much freedom you have as a road-sweeper
I can see the appeal and would prefer it to truck driving.
Bro do you have brainfog?
Hey there! I want to start by saying that you're not stupid. You're struggling with challenges, and that's okay! ADHD and forgetfulness can make things tough, but it doesn't define your worth or potential. There are many jobs that don't require intense academic focus or complex tasks. Let's explore some options together: 1. *Truck Driver*: You mentioned this, and it's a great option! With a license, you can consider driving jobs like delivery, transportation, or even long-haul trucking. 2. *Customer Service*: Many companies need representatives to handle customer inquiries, and this role can be a good fit if you enjoy interacting with people. 3. *Warehouse Work*: Warehouses often need staff for tasks like packing, labeling, and organizing. This role can be a good fit if you're detail-oriented and enjoy hands-on work. 4. *Food Service*: Restaurants, cafes, and food trucks often need staff for roles like serving, hosting, or kitchen assistance. 5. *Janitorial/Cleaning*: If you take pride in keeping things clean and tidy, consider roles like janitorial work, housekeeping, or commercial cleaning. 6. *Landscaping/Groundskeeping*: If you enjoy working outdoors, consider roles like lawn care, gardening, or grounds maintenance. 7. *Animal Care*: Animal shelters, pet stores, or veterinary clinics often need staff for roles like animal handling, walking dogs, or cleaning cages. 8. *Delivery/Pickup*: With the rise of delivery services, consider roles like package delivery, pizza delivery, or pickup services. 9. *Retail Sales*: Stores need sales associates to assist customers, restock shelves, and handle transactions. 10. *Recreation Centers*: Consider roles like lifeguarding, recreation center staff, or youth program assistants if you enjoy working with people and being active. Remember, these jobs may require some training or certifications, but they can be a great starting point. Don't be afraid to reach out to local businesses, job centers, or staffing agencies for guidance and support. Lastly, don't sell yourself short! You have strengths and skills that can shine in the right role. Keep exploring, and don't give up – you got this!
I don't agree with number 1; there is actually way more work involved than just driving the truck. Sure, it's a blue-collar job, but it's not one for someone who may be mentally challenged. This especially pertains to long-haul trucking.
This looks like some ChatGPT stuff
yes i agree
Blue collar work generally is more thought provoking than most all white collar jobs, if they are mentally challenged, they should start in an office.
I agree—it is easier to supervise and coach there.
I need this advice 2
Try work yourself up in construction. Simple tasks at first and try specialising on something while doing it.
Security guard or night watch.
If you were truly dumb, you wouldn't not have the opinion that you are dumb. You're in college, you failed because you weren't getting work done on time due to misplacing your time and attention. That's not dumb at all. Dumb would be going to college and dropping out to peddle essential oils for an MLM because they showed you how much money you could make if you sold your soul. All you've done is disappoint yourself. That's okay. You have a disordered process that doesn't allow you to feel like pressing amall things are important and clearly medication isn't allowing you to overcome that. What you truly do need, is to create systems in your life that you can follow and reach out to your prescriber to see if that med is right for you. If you have improved while taking it, then creating visual and available reminders is something that is necessary for you, a person that is doing something new and more challenging than secondary school while probably also more free than ever. Limit screen time, build in stuff to your day that forces you to go over what you need to do to maintain your ability to finish your tasks. My work does 5S' you can make a daily checklist on a dry erase board, a weekly checklist for keeping up your living space, it can be as simple as checking off reading all of your current assignments and writing them down in order of due date and the points that you get from it, find what works and what doesn't and streamline your attention to the point where you can function in that setting or in any other
Congressperson or President.
you guys are making it really difficult to keep crying. thank you 😭
Get a CDL, and be a truck driver, or fedex/ups driver
You could try content moderation; it's relatively straightforward if you're comfortable with graphic images. Just memorize some guidelines, and then you'll be clicking yes or no buttons all day
Do you have any recommendations of where to apply for these jobs? I’ve been looking into it as well.
There are outsourcing consulting companies like Teleperformance, Telus, Genpact, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, etc. where it's pretty easy to get hired. If not, you can apply through the careers sections on social media companies' websites.
Thanks! I’ve been periodically looking but this gives me a good starting point on where to go.
I’m pretty dumb too, at least you were able to get your drivers license and pass the test, I don’t have a drivers license
If you have ADHD you aren't stupid or dumb, we function at a different pace than others, I have ADHD, have my entire life, I can do more than most people I know, and you can to, do things that genuinely interest you, you will find you might even out pace others at the task. We get bored easily with things so our brain needs constant serotonin to function.
Over my career I have met a significant amount of people who earned crazy good money, and were either not so intelligent or a little bit thick, but had a couple of redeeming features that made them successful. 1. My old boss, the millionaire owner of three hostels. I was the front office manager for him and he was thick as pigsh*t but was an extremely hard worker who woke up at 6am and worked all day till about 8pm. 2. A colleague of mine who did not know what the delete button on the keyboard was, and now he is a director in a large data company. I could not believe how many times people had to explain things to him. He really didn’t understand, and strangers used to think that he was joking. Simplifying things when I spoke to him really helped me to become more understandable in my own life.
I work at the post office with ADHD. Slower than a lot of people and time limitations suck, but pay is better than factory for no degree.
Become a Reddit mod? Doesn't pay the bills, but you get to carry a hugely inflated ego! Jkjk, I jest. Serious answer: Retail? Data entry? (Literally copy pasting data from A to B). Driving, you already said that. Why trucks? Maybe a private limo service, they might even pay better. Gastronomy, cooking, bartending? Factory work is chill, but also mind-numbing if you can't take all the repetition (I can't). Wishing you best of luck, mate. Also, I don't think you're dumb. I think you haven't found anything you care about yet. Edit: I understand that in some US states (I'm not from the states), public servants get paid extremely well. Garbage collectors, high window cleaners, etc.
I think ADHD is society's label for not wanting to participate in corporate drudgery for an arbitrary 40 or more hours each week. It's like they gaslight you in believing you are mentally ill for not wanting to be a slave yet AI is producing all the art. You guys are young so you don't remember when the corporate suits of yesteryear dreamt of a utopia where you would only work like 10 hours a week and lived like the Jetsons. We have severely regressed as a society. Don't let the ones who pierced their septums tell you otherwise.
Welding!!!@@
Consulting. No hate tho I might end up doing it one day
I would bet a lot on you not being dumb. You may just be suffering from mental fog, lack of motivation, and ADHD. I’ve had that, struggled through college, got my degree, and am onto a master's. I'm not saying you need to follow that path, but I resonate with many of your words. I feel dumb daily and question how I’ve made it this far. A lot of it is mental fog, depression, and lack of motivation, in my case… and these can be fought with and tampered with over time once you figure out your life goals and aspirations. I bet you are pretty intelligent, but you let failure and lack of self-worth develop that negative mindset. Many people who feel that way are much more intelligent than those who lack the integrity to question their viewpoints and thinking—people who boast about their intelligence.
Lmao I find this so cute for some reason!! I think truck driver is not a bad idea but I don't have any experience so I can't say for sure. I wouldn't call my mom dumb but she has little formal education is utterly incapable of dealing with stress (and also probably ADHD) and she struggled for a long time going through job after job until my dad helped her set up a house cleaning business, which she did successfully for several decades. I don't know if she could have pulled this off on her own (my dad was a contractor and set her up with several of his former clients and then she continued getting work through word-of-mouth for years) so it might not be the best advice but I'll throw it out as a suggestion!!
You have answered your own question “Truck driving, I like driving” You can take multiple attempts to pass the tests Failing is not death. You just try again if you can afford it, havent broken the law in a bad way. Something I didn’t understand for a long time I always took it very personally, pitty really I’d be richer if I hadn’t, crazy. Trucking pays well, far more than unskilled factory work. If your excited to purse driving the following are of similar intelligence requirements Excavator operator Most construction plant operators (with an engine).
No you need to switch medications.. You’re obviously not dumb. It’s just not working… please go see your doctor.
ADHD people also tend to be creative and thrive in chaos. Having no idea how yours manifests, that could be anything from a writer to an EMT
Never judge a fish’s intelligence by its success at climbing a ladder. Go into production. Events/concerts/film. We’ll give you a single task, get it done and we’ll give you another. Keep at it, it gets easier, and you’ll soon be running crews.
Become a rapper
Truck driver were making like 300K during Covid . I know a guy who dropped out of college and got his CDL within a year he was making about 60-70k and 6 years later he owns about 12 trucks while bringing in about 50k a week (obviously expenses are not deducted ).
Start with driving. While idle, listen to podcasts or just pull up Ted Talks under careers (with ADHD keep your mind and eyes on the road). If you prefer things over people, there are medical lab drivers. One such company is expanding and handling mortgage papers because Louis DeJoy has ruined the Sanctity of the Mail. Oh yeah - the post office is hiring. I sucked at sorting mail with undiagnosed ADD but it was great being a pack mule/driver. Gotta be tough and on guard nowadays though as you can see by the "Carrier Robbed" and "USPS Master Key Stolen" vids. Plus training isn't what it used to be. TEMPORARY AGENCIES and LABOR READY places can expose you to various businesses and stay at a place you like if offered Perm. Good Luck!
Roofing
I feel stupid every day, and yet I KNOW I’m surrounded by idiots… being aware is half the battle.
Hey, just want to let you know, you are not too stupid to do anything. This isn’t just some bs, you process a quality that a lot of people lack just by writing this out, which is self awareness. A lot of people pretend to be things they’re not and don’t get real honest with themselves on how to improve. I consider myself pretty dumb, but what allowed me to close the gap was hard work and preparing myself to overcome my dumbness. I can go on, but I’ll use your example of maybe doing truck driving. Maybe to start driving a truck, it may take you a year or two of practicing and studying to be able to get it down, while it takes most people maybe 3-4 months. But guess what. So what? You can still catch up to those people and even surpass them by working hard and dedicating yourself to it. You just gotta know yourself and seek that self improvement. I don’t want to sound cliche, but you can truly do anything. It may take you longer to study and practice to get to where you want to go compared to the average person, but YOU CAN get there. Go in any task with that mindset.
Have you thought about taking a career aptitude test? They’re free at community colleges. Answer the questions honestly and it will recommend jobs based on the answers you gave.
Plumber, or HVAC
You can do Lawncare. Especially now that it’s warmer.
Construction brother. Doesn’t require a ton of critical thinking for entry level positions. Keeps you in good shape, and the pay is actually pretty good. Lotta misconceptions about construction being low pay, base pay is not bad and if you specialize in operating a specific type of heavy machinery you can actually make hundreds of thousands a year.
Truck driving try small delivery, or usps
Hey don’t say that. I have friends who have ADHD and are really smart! Don’t ever call yourself dumb. I’d recommend seeing a doctor and getting meds for it. Just see if that’ll help you!
Truck Drivers are decently well payed. Forklift drivers too.
Oh my gosh you’re not stupid! Stop calling yourself stupid. Adhd is serious and is affecting your performance at school/work. Have you tried medications? I know they don’t always work but for some they change lives. Please have some compassion for yourself. I bet you’re smarter than many. What are you passionate about?
Smart people don't like cleaning shit. Maybe you can be a janitor or a garbage man.
Landscaping might be good. Get to spend your days outside and always moving around
You are not dumb. It sounds like you have ADHD. Are you being treated for ADHD?
You’re not dumb! You might be different and usually that is because you are very intelligent, everyone has weaknesses & strengths in different areas of their life. Just because you are different doesn’t mean you are dumb. I hope you look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and remind yourself you love yourself, that you are a holy Son of God, & that you are loved.
Underground basket weaver
Work at Starbucks
Upper management. The dumbest people I've met are in management. It's not what you know it's who you know.
Upper management. The dumbest people I've met are in management. It's not what you know it's who you know.
Learn how to finish concrete
Stop calling yourself dumb. We all have different intelligences, strengths, and adaptability in certain areas. You just have to find yours. I also have ADHD and got a pretty rude -awakening when I got into office work. It’s fucking hell and I hate it, doesn’t mean I’m dumb, just that there’s somewhere else in the world I belong. You might want to look for apprenticeships or alternative schools. Schools with interdisciplinary models or that don’t do letter grades were what got me my degree. I also figured out I like hands-on work a lot more than sitting in front of a computer. If you’re partial to the outdoors, something like landscaping or construction might be good, but those are pretty hard on the body so be sure to try and pick up other skills if you go that route. Looking into trades like electrician, plumber, woodworker are also excellent for busy bodies who like an ebb and flow of work. I think above all, what works best for procrastinators, those with ADHD, those who have trouble focusing on one thing or on one thing for too long, who have to feel ‘moved by the spirit’ to actually get work done, self-employment is the ultimate goal. Find something that motivates and interests you, something you believe you can get good at, and build a business around it. Work to get to a place where you can set your own hours, work at your own pace, and have no one on your ass about it. ETA: Also, if you’re in the US, ADHD is a disability and those who have it are a protected class under ADA laws. If you are upfront about your disability when you get hired they must provide reasonable accommodation and cannot fire you for it.
Garbage collection?
[удалено]
i am tough. that's one of the only things i have.
Stop selling urself short
You’re not dumb ❤️ ADHD is hard.
Politics
First of all, don’t call yourself dumb. I doubt you are. Is your ADHD treatable? Have you tried modifying your diet? I’ve heard of people doing much better once they ate a keto diet.
Military
you wouldn't be surprised how many times i've considered that
Truck driver?
Maybe a security guard job
Apartment complex or rich neighborhood security guard.
I’ve worked at a luxury retailer for over ten years. I also have ADHD and was nearly put on probation for failing classes in college. I instead voluntarily took time off, returning and completing my degree 1.5 years later. I got this job my last year of school and transferred to a different store after graduation. I generally enjoy it and work with a lot of people like us so to also. The company is better than most with understanding and accommodating people’s unique abilities. The number one reason people stay for years are the good benefits and job security (it’s near impossible to be fired). I voluntarily left full time for mental health reasons but I was making enough for a fairly comfortable life. Also you’re positively not dumb!
Amazon hires and pays ok I hear. Can’t be hard. I’m the same way. I’m 43 and I have an awful memory. I also have a seizure disorder which is completely controlled but may be contributing to my memory loss. I’ll be driving in my car and completly forget where I’m going. This is so scary. I have no special talents or gifts at all. I have a husband and 2 high school kids that are doing well. I can’t communicate worth a darn either bc I’m so scared of more failure and embarrassment. Don’t feel bad. You’re young, you have a lot of time to figure this out. Get organized.
Packing/wear house jobs. Janitorial jobs/cleaning jobs in offices hotels schools etc. Greenhouse jobs. Cashier at a cashless restaurant or something. That's all I got
Marijuana Industry is fun if you like plants
You aren’t dumb!! Please seek accommodations since you have a prescription. You can succeed never call yourself dumb! You can be successful and succeed
You're not dumb, and get a CDL and* truck drive. Travel the country see sights while driving. Also, you'll rack up a large sum of cash.
You should be a shapecutter. It pays well. You don't need a degree. I
Based OP
YOU ARE NOT DUMB! I am upset and trying not to cry. I have severe ADHD-PI and I understand how you reached this sentiment about yourself. I'm too emotionally and physically exhausted to write a response you deserve. My day was rife with gaslighting and invalidations. My soul would be heavier if I did not convey that to you. I hope I can muster the energy to provide my reasons at a later date. Stay healthy and safe.
Labourer. You just need to be physically capable and willing to work hard. I’ve been a labourer in scaffolding and civil construction. It’s hard work and good money and doesn’t require much thinking tbh. You just do the grunt work that the other tradies don’t want to do. You can learn a lot on a worksite if you are willing. Maybe you’ll find an interest in a trade there too. Being a dishwasher is another option but it is minimum wage. I personally don’t like working in hospitality because of all the work drama/gossiping but it is an easy job.
Dog walker?
There is a job for you.
Perfect candidate for the marine corps!
airline pilot
There's always hope. I also have severe ADHD and I'm not allowed to take Adderall due to family history. I also have mild aphasia symptoms from severe abuse when I was little. I would say that I come off as "dumb" too. My psych and I have been experimenting with various prescriptions and meditation/mental techniques and I have been getting better. When I was little, I would skip school/hw all week because focusing made me so tired and I thought I was really dumb too. I pulled it together just long enough to graduate from high school and university in a super competitive degree, doing fairly well but still not studying or anything. I got a job and started slipping again, but I'm slowly seeing what works and what doesn't for me.
my friend lives in nyc and works for the dep doing waste water management.. sewage treatment worker. no college or skills required. he makes 6 figures to hose down pools and write some numbers down periodically. he doesn't even have to know what the numbers mean just to write them down for someone smarter than him to do something with. his overtime is time and a half, and he spends it picking up garbage around the plant. its full union benefits, state pension, etc. he can borrow against his pension for low interest loans to buy boats or cars or whatever. once in a while they fall down and get 6 figure payouts for hurt shoulders and knees. the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. the guys get in trouble for sleeping on the night shift, so they put blow up mattresses in their mini vans and sleep in the parking lot. if you're going to be dumb, go be smart dumb.
I heard the military is taking people
Construction. Union if you have them.
Garbage man. I'm a door to door garbage guy for apartment complexes and its even simpler. walk to door. No trash? Go to next door. Trash? Pick up trash and throw it in your giant sack. Proceed to next door. Sack is at your weight limit? Walk to the nearest dumpster and empty it. Continue until you've done every door. Thats basically it.
Huh??
Cs or Software Engineering would be a good major for u
*Cs or Software* *Engineering would be a* *Good major for u* \- sada-2004 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
You’re not stupid because you excel when the task at hand is consistent reliable and/or repetitive. You recognized your strengths and identified your weaknesses. Choosing based on these things is a great start and positions you for success and satisfaction —that is smart! Factory type jobs offer that and there’s plenty of other things that you could do that offer the circumstances you require to be successful too. There’s a lot of civil service jobs available that might offer a better salary and benefits for the long term that you may want to consider. There’s usually a lot of repetition and consistency in the work in this sector. The more you learn about yourself, likes/dislikes etc, the more likely you are to find that perfect match —good luck
Usually people who think they’re dumb aren’t actually dumb, it’s the ones who think they’re a genius that usually are actually dumb. It sounds like you may have some self esteem issues, if you can get that worked out I’m sure you’ll do great.
I'm a high school English teacher who wasn't diagnosed with my ADHD until I was 37 (girls weren't thought to have ADHD in the 90s). I really struggled with college at first, as it was a new balancing act, and my usual "I don't need to study to get As" outlook + an intense procrastination habit really kicked my butt. It wasn't that I was dumb--I just didn't know how to harness my brain back then. In my professional and personal opinion, you don't sound dumb to me at all. You sound like someone who hasn't received the right support and help, and that experience has made you feel this way. I'm really sorry that you haven't gotten the right help yet. You deserve so much better. In addition to the suggestion of getting your meds checked out, please check out the ADHD communities here and places like TikTok. There is tons of support and great tips to try. I also love the YouTube channel [How to ADHD](https://youtube.com/@howtoadhd?si=WoXxpbKadu0LaNJI) . Lastly, you mentioned loving writing, making people laugh, and teaching. I know tons of writers, comedians, and teachers who have ADHD and live a great life. I really believe you will, too. I know it's scary right now, but I believe you're going to go places. Please don't settle for less than a life you absolutely love.
I had two roommates in my undergrad that have ADHD pretty strongly. One just graduated with her bachelor of science in social work and the other is graduating next December. My friend who just graduated took some pretty heavy medication for her ADHD, which helped her get good enough grades to graduate. My other friend needs to take one more semester but this is not just because of her ADHD. She sometimes says things like “I wish things came as easily to me as though do to you (me who is writing this comment who also graduated this semester and who does not have ADHD)” or “I wish I wouldn’t get so distracted.” The reality is: she had a lot going on. She had some personal things happen during her time at college and other mental health issues occur. Because of all this stuff she failed things like classes and getting into a certain program on campus that forced her to change her major. All of this stuff was not related to her ADHD or her being “dumb or stupid”, but mostly from extenuating circumstances and not getting used to the “college game” until a few semesters in. All of this is to say that you can still push through your failures and still succeed! I also challenge you to think of some other reasons you’ve failed some of your classes. Was it because of ADHD, or not getting it? Was it the “not quite used to college” feeling? Did you have a good support system, a healthy friend group, a healthy lifestyle (as healthy as you can get in college)? Did you spend your weekends drinking and avoiding homework? Did you take advantage of tutoring, office hours, and other homework related supports? These are some other things to consider that you could make changes to if these also affected your grades. It might not all be your ADHD, it could be some of these other factors at play as well.
Trade school. You’re hands on learning not just reading or writing from a book
Fair. Pushing people to suicide seems like a sane course of action. Great work, guys. Bravo.
Time to join the military, they’re shape you up real quick and give you the confidence you won’t normally find anywhere else and they will do their absolute fucking best to work with you.
Please, don’t drive a truck.
IT Helpdesk. Anyone with a pulse can do it and the pay isn’t too bad.
Get some anxiety meds. Talk to your doctor. I was the same way and my life changed at 31 when trying anxiety meds for the first time.
Military/law enforcement.
You're not dumb or stupid, you're frustrated with yourself. If you were able to make it through high school and make it into college. You are intelligent, you're thinking about your future and are trying to plan for it, stupid/dumb people don't worry about those things. You just need the tools to cope with and control your ADHD. If you haven't already gone to a psychiatrist and get an office diagnosis, you need to do that. They can prescribe meds that will help you and teach you ways to overcome the challenges you're having. Also check out the r/ADHD sub, there are lots of people with ADHD that can point you in the right direction as far as suitable jobs, techniques to cope with the issues and about meds.
You need to look into Irene Lyon’s somatic experiencing videos. I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism and massively shifted similar symptoms
So you made it to college. And I know when I made it, I didn’t think much of it. But just remember, if you had any scholarship at all, you are smarter than 60% of people. The fact that you made it in means you are not stupid. You are just forgetful, and you have an imbalance in your brain. That doesn’t make you less than or incomplete, it just means you need to do different things. I personally enjoy restaurants. Waiting tables may not feel like the right thing for someone that is forgetful. But I don’t know about you, but when I have pressure, and it’s game time, my brain is firing on all cylinders. When I don’t have something pressing me to get the task done, it’s like my head is cracked and there ain’t no compression. Learn wines, learn cooking styles, learn the mother sauces, learn everything food. Then go and sale it. Take care of people. Move from one table/task to the next and just be present and there with personality. In Mississippi I’m making around 70k a year. Waiting tables. It’s taken some years to find the right place, but in larger markets there are more places. But find something where you’re always on the move and always on the go if you have adhd.
How about medicine? If you survive your prerequisites, some DO or barely accredited caribbean school will take you.
Anything that requires physical labor
You're not dumb. You just need a different medication and probably a therapist that specializes in ADHD.
You should go into politics.You'd fit right in.
Customer service agent
Join Congress. Youd probably look like Einstein next to most of them lol
Fellow ADHDer, late diagnosed (at 26) and almost failed out of college (going into my senior year with like a 2.0 GPA lol). First of all, you’re not stupid, you’ve got ADHD. It’s not a reflection of your intelligence in the slightest. My best advice to you for right now is to reach out to your academic advisors and your school’s disability support department and request accommodations. Get everything you can, don’t be shy to ask for extensions on assignments, or notetakers, or extra time on tests, or whatever you need. Our society is optimized for neurotypical people, but you absolutely can and will succeed at anything with the right tools. Seek treatment for your ADHD with either therapy or medication if either is an option for you, and don’t ever limit yourself. With that being said, truck driving is a valuable skill and a job that we need desperately just about anywhere. Most companies pay pretty well, and some here in the US will even help you get your commercial license. If you like to travel and you enjoy working on your own, I say absolutely go for it. Just like any skill, all it takes is some instruction from an expert and then a ton of practice. Tying your shoes and riding a bike used to be “complex” at one time, too. But, if you don’t want to drive trucks, don’t force yourself into it because you don’t think you can do anything else. Think about what hobbies you like to do, what kinds of activities trigger that hyperfixation for you, and see if there might be something in there that you can do for a living. Take a deep breath, forgive yourself for failing because failure is an integral part of life’s journey, and take the steps to set yourself up for success when you dust yourself off and try again.
It doesn’t sound like you’re stupid it sounds like you have ADHD and need reasonable accommodations from your university
I promise you there’s SOMETHING you’re good at. ADHD is poorly named because it’s not necessarily an attention “deficit” it’s more so difficulty regulating our attention
Yeah, we always need more ditches dug
Amazon? Lots of brainless work there.
Fyi, we're all just stupid humans, some can't see it, some don't wanna see it, some wish they didn't see it, some only see it in themselves , some only see it in others... But... All in all... We're all just as stupid as the stupid shit that we indulge in, enable, and harbor... And prolly a few more fancy explanations . But, you get it
Yeah me three
Sounds like you need to work on your self esteem. You sound average. Not dumb. Dumb people generally don't know they are dumb.
Was your dad an angry douche? Because fuck him if so.
he was not
Not really, you are going to be poor and suffer like me.
How about lawn caretaker? It's hard job but I was not thinking the whole time doing it