Q: I was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, though I always knew there was something wrong with me that had been holding me back from my goals. I feel better knowing that it's a physical problem, but I also feel worse knowing that it's permanent. My parents just thought I was flighty or immature and wasn't adept at handling life's situations, so, as you can imagine, I never got positive feedback for anything. The good thing about finding out I'm ADHD is that I was told I'm very intelligent.

I have jumped from job to job, mostly because the jobs were boring, but I also had trouble tolerating the incompetent people I had to work with. Should I tell people about my problem once I am hired, with the hope that they will be more tolerant, or do they have to keep me knowing I have a disability? I don't know where to go from here with this information. I don't come from a family with money who can support me, so I have to work.

A: Now that you have been formally diagnosed, you know it's not going to resolve itself. You may need medication and ongoing counseling with a specialist in ADHD so you can learn tips on how to work with and manage it. It is also far too dangerous to try to self-medicate to help the problem.

Next, you don't want to announce in an interview that you have the disorder; understand that admitting you have a disability does not mean the company has to hire you. You will be required to perform any job you are hired to do, so using your ADHD as an excuse for not finishing a job or doing it well won't work. If you also experience temper tantrums at work over others not living up to your intellectual expectations, that will be enough to get you fired regardless of your ADHD. You need a job that will match your intellect and abilities, and to do so, your mental health must be your number one priority.

Unfortunately, having a disability that requires medication and therapy may be expensive, and no one can tell yet how the new insurance plans will work or whether they will cover all that a person needs. People will begin applying in October this year, so you will soon find out. The one thing for sure is that you have to find a therapist you can work with to get an action plan started, either before you get another job or right when you start a job. Without treatment of any kind, you are going to repeat the same pattern that has held you back and stopped you from fulfilling your dreams.

WAREHOUSE MANAGER CANNOT MANAGE PEOPLE

Q: I have a manager who is careful with the merchandise, efficient in the warehouse systems and well organized in managing my small warehouse. His performance in managing employees is abysmal. He is non-communicative and passive when it comes to any confrontation. A manager under him noticed he lacked in communication and took over on an informal level. When the other warehouse employees noticed, they got jealous, starting gossiping, and the petty wars began. They came to me with their complaints, but I own the company and don't want to get involved in these petty politics. I can't afford a human resource employee, so how do I keep the peace?

A: Hire an independent industrial psychologist to interview your warehouse employees. The solution may be to re-define job descriptions and re-organize the hierarchy. Ignoring issues that you think petty or mishandling them will ultimately hurt your company. Save your time for focusing on the big picture; rely on the value of experts to help outside the realm of your experience.

Email all your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Website at www.creators.com.