Latest news with #Didier
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Japan Today
How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ Jeremy Didier had taken her son to a psychologist for a possible ADHD evaluation when she spotted an article about women with the condition. As she read it in the waiting room, she thought to herself: They're describing me. 'Lots of risk-taking, lots of very impulsive behavior growing up,' Didier said. As the magazine described, she'd excelled in school but gotten in trouble for talking too much. She'd amassed too many speeding tickets as an adult. She turned to her husband and said, "I think I might have ADHD.' Didier is now the board president of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a nonprofit advocacy and support organization. Her realization mirrors the experiences of other adults who wonder if they have ADHD after a child's diagnosis. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity or a combination of the two. Common symptoms such as trouble concentrating or sitting still can create challenges at work. People with ADHD are often passed over for promotions, said Andrew Sylvester, a psychiatrist at UCHealth in Longmont, Colorado. Difficulties with attention may lead the mind to drift during meetings, and cause someone to miss important discussion nuances. The disorder may interfere with organization, planning and remembering details. Yet some adults think of having ADHD as a source of personality strengths and ways of thinking that benefit employers. Diagnostic manuals may call it a disorder, but it also can be a superpower, they said. 'Our brains work differently and so we're more likely to be able to think outside the box and come up with different things, and sometimes that's because we've had to do that in order to to survive,' Didier said. Here are some ways to cope with and channel ADHD in the workplace. Getting diagnosed with ADHD doesn't always lead to a quick fix. While doctors often recommend medication and therapy, not everyone can take medication, and those routes don't necessarily eliminate all symptoms. Didier floundered with a messy house and lots of yelling as she and four of her five children were diagnosed with ADHD. She experimented with medicine, diets and reward charts, and discovered what helped her the most: a community of parents who had children with ADHD. 'There's nothing like talking to other people who are going through what you're going through to help you feel ... that you're not alone,' she said. Didier eventually became a social worker and now runs support groups for adults with ADHD, teaching skills they can use at work. Some organizations have employee resource groups organized around neurodiversity to provide camaraderie and support to adults with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other conditions. People with ADHD often struggle with executive function, which Didier describes as 'your brain's GPS' for navigating your day. Executive function is a set of mental skills that includes making plans, managing time and flexible thinking. It also includes working memory, which helps us keep track of what we're doing. To keep from getting derailed, experts recommend breaking large tasks into chunks, writing detailed to-do lists and taking breaks. Personal chef Bill Collins, 66, who was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, writes structured lists when he's making a meal for a client. He creates categories for kitchen areas — counter, stove and oven — and then lists tasks such as 'chop carrots, boil water for pasta' underneath each category. Then he numbers each task so he knows exactly what to do, where and when. 'That's how I got around my unknown ADHD early on, just making lists,' Collins said. 'If it's something I don't want to do, I put it at the top of the list so I can be done with it." Another technique is called 'body doubling,' which involves a pair of work colleagues meeting over Zoom or in-person to focus on completing projects. The two may choose to perform separate tasks — one might build a presentation deck while the other files tax reports — but help each other stay accountable. 'You're just sitting there during that dedicated time, getting things done,' Didier said. Insurance company Liberty Mutual provides an AI tool that helps break down large projects into manageable tasks and provides reminders about deadlines, to help employees with ADHD stay focused and organized, said Head of Benefits Verlinda DiMarino. Meetings can be difficult for people with ADHD if their minds drift or they feel an urge to get up out of a chair. They also may struggle with impulse control and find it hard to wait their turn to speak. Nicole Clark, CEO of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, a mental health practice in Stuart, Florida, suggests asking for meeting topics in advance and writing up talking points. If you think of questions during the meeting, write them down. Some employers use a voice-to-text service, projecting what a speaker is saying on a screen, which helps people with attention difficulties stay focused, Clark said. Sylvester, the psychiatrist, recommends practicing active listening by repeating in your head what someone just said, or taking a brief time-out from a meeting to reset. Tell them, ''I need five minutes. I'll be right back.' Get up and walk out. Do what you need to do,' he said. Mariel Paralitici-Morales, chief medical officer of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, who has ADHD, sits close to whoever will be speaking to help sustain attention. 'Having something in my hand helps,' said Paralitici-Morales, who sometimes holds a fidget spinner. 'If we have to talk, I found it's easier for me to be the first one and break the ice" to keep herself from second-guessing what she planned to say. People with an ADHD diagnosis can request accommodations at work through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noise-canceling headphones may help. Consider asking for the ability to take a break every 20 minutes, Sylvester said. 'Set a timer for five to 10 minutes. Get up and walk around. Make some coffee. Go play with the dog,' he said. 'When that timer goes off, go back to a 15 to 20 minute hard productivity cycle.' Employees can also request a flexible schedule or ability to work from home, which can enable time for therapy or self-care. Antoinette Damico, 23, who coordinates events at an executive search firm in San Francisco, said she practices meditation, writes daily goals in a journal and stays off short-form media to improve her concentration. Having ADHD can be an asset in the workplace, and many CEOs and entrepreneurs are neurodiverse, Didier said. 'We bring all kinds of unique talents to our workplaces. Hyper-focus, lots of energy, resilience, the ability to multitask,' she added. 'There's something about people with ADHD that seems to unmask or give us a greater capacity for creativity and innovation.' Damico also thinks her ADHD provides some advantages. When she's interested in a topic, she can be extremely focused, reading extensively and talking about the topic nonstop, a trait others with ADHD report. 'It can generate a real passion in you that is a bit unique," she said. "It really creates this grit in me in terms of when I really want to accomplish something, there's this boost of energy.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The colour and vibrance of Kolkata is going to stay with me: Didier
As Didier Talpain, the Consul General of France in Kolkata prepares to bid farewell to the city after an impactful tenure of nearly four-years, we look back at him as not just a diplomat, but a passionate advocate of cultural exchange through music. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a city where conversations often begin with a melody, his dedication to bridging cultures has painted a vibrant picture of his time here and his hopes for Kolkata's musical future. Now as he heads back to Paris, he leaves behind a legacy rooted in both diplomacy and music. Ahead of his final concert in the city as a conductor, we caught up with him on Wednesday to talk about his musical journey, and the lasting memories of the city he takes with him. Music is a genuine catalyst in starting cross-cultural dialogue Music transcends languages and borders and if you are in Kolkata, you know it is easier to start a conversation over music than anything else. Calling music a means and a catalyst in bridging cultures, the consul general said, 'Music is the only art form where the emotions directly hit the brain. When you appreciate architecture, you do it after seeing and analysing it-you put a lot of filter, but music reaches the brain directly from the ears. If you like it, you like it, no matter if you understand the language or not.' Finding an audience for what he loves the most While Kolkata's love for music is profound, the Western classical genre is still a niche. 'We have done more over 15 concerts in the city in a span of three years, in collaboration with Alliance Francaise Du Bengale. Kolkata has a niche for Western Classical music. Maybe there aren't many who understand and like this genre but music is a lot like grammar, if you know the grammar once, you know all languages,' said Didier who has conducted concerts globally, including Jordan and Kazakhstan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On a parting note The Consul General has grown fond of the culture and colour of the city. 'Kolkata is a melting pot of cultures and colours which looks great to a musician and a diplomat's eye,' said Didier. When asked about his vision for the city, the musician in him took over and said, 'I wish the city continues to love and appreciate Western Classical music. You never know, Kolkata might host its own Opera someday.' I've conducted concerts globally and would characterise the local talent here as curious. They study music, understand its nuances. It is a two-way learning process Remembering the first time he saw Durga Puja pandals in the city, he said, 'When I explain to people in Europe, I tell them that Durga Puja is a mix of Christmas and Rio Carnival.'
NDTV
6 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
How To Manage ADHD At Work And Turn It Into Strength
New York: Jeremy Didier had taken her son to a psychologist for a possible ADHD evaluation when she spotted an article about women with the condition. As she read it in the waiting room, she thought to herself: They're describing me. "Lots of risk-taking, lots of very impulsive behavior growing up," Didier said. As the magazine described, she'd excelled in school but gotten in trouble for talking too much. She'd amassed too many speeding tickets as an adult. She turned to her husband and said, "I think I might have ADHD." Didier is now the board president of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a nonprofit advocacy and support organization. Her realization mirrors the experiences of other adults who wonder if they have ADHD after a child's diagnosis. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity or a combination of the two. Common symptoms such as trouble concentrating or sitting still can create challenges at work. People with ADHD are often passed over for promotions, said Andrew Sylvester, a psychiatrist at UCHealth in Longmont, Colorado. Difficulties with attention may lead the mind to drift during meetings, and cause someone to miss important discussion nuances. The disorder may interfere with organization, planning and remembering details. Yet some adults think of having ADHD as a source of personality strengths and ways of thinking that benefit employers. Diagnostic manuals may call it a disorder, but it also can be a superpower, they said. "Our brains work differently and so we're more likely to be able to think outside the box and come up with different things, and sometimes that's because we've had to do that in order to to survive," Didier said. Here are some ways to cope with and channel ADHD in the workplace. Finding community Getting diagnosed with ADHD doesn't always lead to a quick fix. While doctors often recommend medication and therapy, not everyone can take medication, and those routes don't necessarily eliminate all symptoms. Didier floundered with a messy house and lots of yelling as she and four of her five children were diagnosed with ADHD. She experimented with medicine, diets and reward charts, and discovered what helped her the most: a community of parents who had children with ADHD. "There's nothing like talking to other people who are going through what you're going through to help you feel ... that you're not alone," she said. Didier eventually became a social worker and now runs support groups for adults with ADHD, teaching skills they can use at work. Some organizations have employee resource groups organised around neurodiversity to provide camaraderie and support to adults with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other conditions. GPS of the brain People with ADHD often struggle with executive function, which Didier describes as "your brain's GPS" for navigating your day. Executive function is a set of mental skills that includes making plans, managing time and flexible thinking. It also includes working memory, which helps us keep track of what we're doing. To keep from getting derailed, experts recommend breaking large tasks into chunks, writing detailed to-do lists and taking breaks. Personal chef Bill Collins, 66, who was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, writes structured lists when he's making a meal for a client. He creates categories for kitchen areas - counter, stove and oven - and then lists tasks such as "chop carrots, boil water for pasta" underneath each category. Then he numbers each task so he knows exactly what to do, where and when. "That's how I got around my unknown ADHD early on, just making lists," Collins said. "If it's something I don't want to do, I put it at the top of the list so I can be done with it." Another technique is called "body doubling," which involves a pair of work colleagues meeting over Zoom or in-person to focus on completing projects. The two may choose to perform separate tasks - one might build a presentation deck while the other files tax reports - but help each other stay accountable. "You're just sitting there during that dedicated time, getting things done," Didier said. Insurance company Liberty Mutual provides an AI tool that helps break down large projects into manageable tasks and provides reminders about deadlines, to help employees with ADHD stay focused and organized, said Head of Benefits Verlinda DiMarino. Getting through meetings Meetings can be difficult for people with ADHD if their minds drift or they feel an urge to get up out of a chair. They also may struggle with impulse control and find it hard to wait their turn to speak. Nicole Clark, CEO of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, a mental health practice in Stuart, Florida, suggests asking for meeting topics in advance and writing up talking points. If you think of questions during the meeting, write them down. Some employers use a voice-to-text service, projecting what a speaker is saying on a screen, which helps people with attention difficulties stay focused, Clark said. Sylvester, the psychiatrist, recommends practicing active listening by repeating in your head what someone just said, or taking a brief time-out from a meeting to reset. Tell them, "'I need five minutes. I'll be right back.' Get up and walk out. Do what you need to do," he said. Mariel Paralitici-Morales, chief medical officer of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, who has ADHD, sits close to whoever will be speaking to help sustain attention. "Having something in my hand helps," said Paralitici-Morales, who sometimes holds a fidget spinner. "If we have to talk, I found it's easier for me to be the first one and break the ice" to keep herself from second-guessing what she planned to say. Seek accommodations People with an ADHD diagnosis can request accommodations at work through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noise-cancelling headphones may help. Consider asking for the ability to take a break every 20 minutes, Sylvester said. "Set a timer for five to 10 minutes. Get up and walk around. Make some coffee. Go play with the dog," he said. "When that timer goes off, go back to a 15 to 20 minute hard productivity cycle." Employees can also request a flexible schedule or ability to work from home, which can enable time for therapy or self-care. Antoinette Damico, 23, who coordinates events at an executive search firm in San Francisco, said she practices meditation, writes daily goals in a journal and stays off short-form media to improve her concentration. Celebrate your strengths Having ADHD can be an asset in the workplace, and many CEOs and entrepreneurs are neurodiverse, Didier said. "We bring all kinds of unique talents to our workplaces. Hyper-focus, lots of energy, resilience, the ability to multitask," she added. "There's something about people with ADHD that seems to unmask or give us a greater capacity for creativity and innovation." Damico also thinks her ADHD provides some advantages. When she's interested in a topic, she can be extremely focused, reading extensively and talking about the topic nonstop, a trait others with ADHD report. "It can generate a real passion in you that is a bit unique," she said. "It really creates this grit in me in terms of when I really want to accomplish something, there's this boost of energy."
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength
NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Didier had taken her son to a psychologist for a possible ADHD evaluation when she spotted an article about women with the condition. As she read it in the waiting room, she thought to herself: They're describing me. 'Lots of risk-taking, lots of very impulsive behavior growing up,' Didier said. As the magazine described, she'd excelled in school but gotten in trouble for talking too much. She'd amassed too many speeding tickets as an adult. She turned to her husband and said, 'I think I might have ADHD.'
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength
NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Didier had taken her son to a psychologist for a possible ADHD evaluation when she spotted an article about women with the condition. As she read it in the waiting room, she thought to herself: They're describing me. 'Lots of risk-taking, lots of very impulsive behavior growing up,' Didier said. As the magazine described, she'd excelled in school but gotten in trouble for talking too much. She'd amassed too many speeding tickets as an adult. She turned to her husband and said, "I think I might have ADHD.' Didier is now the board president of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a nonprofit advocacy and support organization. Her realization mirrors the experiences of other adults who wonder if they have ADHD after a child's diagnosis. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity or a combination of the two. Common symptoms such as trouble concentrating or sitting still can create challenges at work. People with ADHD are often passed over for promotions, said Andrew Sylvester, a psychiatrist at UCHealth, a hospital in Longmont, Colorado. Difficulties with attention may lead the mind to drift during meetings, and cause someone to miss important discussion nuances. The disorder may interfere with organization, planning and remembering details. Yet some adults think of having ADHD as a source of personality strengths and ways of thinking that benefit employers. Diagnostic manuals may call it a disorder, but it also can be a superpower, they said. 'Our brains work differently and so we're more likely to be able to think outside the box and come up with different things, and sometimes that's because we've had to do that in order to to survive,' Didier said. Finding community Getting diagnosed with ADHD doesn't always lead to a quick fix. While doctors often recommend medication and therapy, not everyone can take medication, and those routes don't necessarily eliminate all symptoms. Didier floundered with a messy house and lots of yelling as she and four of her five children were diagnosed with ADHD. She experimented with medicine, diets and reward charts, and discovered what helped her the most: a community of parents who had children with ADHD. 'There's nothing like talking to other people who are going through what you're going through to help you feel ... that you're not alone,' she said. Didier eventually became a social worker and now runs support groups for adults with ADHD, teaching skills they can use at work. Some organizations have employee resource groups organized around neurodiversity to provide camaraderie and support to adults with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other conditions. GPS of the brain People with ADHD often struggle with executive function, which Didier describes as 'your brain's GPS' for navigating your day. Executive function is a set of mental skills that includes making plans, managing time and flexible thinking. It also includes working memory, which helps us keep track of what we're doing. To keep from getting derailed, experts recommend breaking large tasks into chunks, writing detailed to-do lists and taking breaks. Personal chef Bill Collins, 66, who was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, writes structured lists when he's making a meal for a client. He creates categories for kitchen areas — counter, stove and oven — and then lists tasks such as 'chop carrots, boil water for pasta' underneath each category. Then he numbers each task so he knows exactly what to do, where and when. 'That's how I got around my unknown ADHD early on, just making lists,' Collins said. 'If it's something I don't want to do, I put it at the top of the list so I can be done with it." Another technique is called 'body doubling,' which involves a pair of work colleagues meeting over Zoom or in-person to focus on completing projects. The two may choose to perform separate tasks — one might build a presentation deck while the other files tax reports — but help each other stay accountable. 'You're just sitting there during that dedicated time, getting things done,' Didier said. Insurance company Liberty Mutual provides an AI tool that helps break down large projects into manageable tasks and provides reminders about deadlines, to help employees with ADHD stay focused and organized, said Head of Benefits Verlinda DiMarino. Getting through meetings Meetings can be difficult for people with ADHD if their minds drift or they feel an urge to get up out of a chair. They also may struggle with impulse control and find it hard to wait their turn to speak. Nicole Clark, CEO of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, a mental health practice in Stuart, Florida, suggests asking for meeting topics in advance and writing up talking points. If you think of questions during the meeting, write them down. Some employers use a voice-to-text service, projecting what a speaker is saying on a screen, which helps people with attention difficulties stay focused, Clark said. Sylvester, the psychiatrist, recommends practicing active listening by repeating in your head what someone just said, or taking a brief time-out from a meeting to reset. Tell them, ''I need five minutes. I'll be right back.' Get up and walk out. Do what you need to do,' he said. Mariel Paralitici-Morales, chief medical officer of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, who has ADHD, sits close to whoever will be speaking to help sustain attention. 'Having something in my hand helps,' said Paralitici-Morales, who sometimes holds a fidget spinner. 'If we have to talk, I found it's easier for me to be the first one and break the ice" to keep herself from second-guessing what she planned to say. Seek accommodations People with an ADHD diagnosis can request accommodations at work through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noise-canceling headphones may help. Consider asking for the ability to take a break every 20 minutes, Sylvester said. 'Set a timer for five to 10 minutes. Get up and walk around. Make some coffee. Go play with the dog,' he said. 'When that timer goes off, go back to a 15 to 20 minute hard productivity cycle.' Employees can also request a flexible schedule or ability to work from home, which can enable time for therapy or self-care. Antoinette Damico, 23, who coordinates events at an executive search firm in San Francisco, said she practices meditation, writes daily goals in a journal and stays off short-form media to improve her concentration. Celebrate your strengths Having ADHD can be an asset in the workplace, and many CEOs and entrepreneurs are neurodiverse, Didier said. 'We bring all kinds of unique talents to our workplaces. Hyper-focus, lots of energy, resilience, the ability to multitask,' she added. 'There's something about people with ADHD that seems to unmask or give us a greater capacity for creativity and innovation.' Damico also thinks her ADHD provides some advantages. When she's interested in a topic, she can be extremely focused, reading extensively and talking about the topic nonstop, a trait others with ADHD report. 'It can generate a real passion in you that is a bit unique," she said. "It really creates this grit in me in terms of when I really want to accomplish something, there's this boost of energy.' ___
