r/adhdmeme • u/redvoxfox • 2d ago
original content My job, my role, my thing
Hey, things are broken! Come and fix the things. Yes, we broke it just like you said we would. But, now we really need you to fix it.
And if you could bring your weird off-the-wall dark humor for comic relief in this highly tense and trying time, "...that would be grrreat. M'kay?!"
My gig at work - for which they do pay me well. My freelance side hustle too, and my role in the family and mostly any group I belong to: I fix the things.
Feed me, help me not self-destruct, keep me hydrated and in some sort of working order, and nearby or easily reachable because the next crisis is always just 'round the bend! Then, plug me in and watch the magic!
Crisis? Trouble? "When in trouble, fear and doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." ...And call Red. He'll fix it.
Yeah, I was born for this. But I'll still roll my eyes at you while I'm fixing your things.
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u/shaliozero 2d ago edited 2d ago
At any job I usually became the one with the wonderous ability to fix things in an emergency. No matter the project, no matter whether I've ever been on the project before or not.
Just don't assign me work dedicated for multiple months or years. I'll get nothing done and become depressed.
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u/redvoxfox 1d ago
So spot on!
My wife was someone who needed and loved routine, schedule, fixed plans, repetition, sustainability. I drove her crazy! Some want, need, crave that. And I really appreciate those who thrive on that and do their thing well.
Me? That is what drives me crazy & why I'm in the career and job I'm in: Ever changing and widely different projects and requirements, flexible and changing schedules with crises and emergency possible at every step. Keeps me engaged and performing.
I can and do work the detailed rote routine but have to push myself and can be easily distracted and frustrated after the first few rounds.
The crisis, the emergency, the break, the breach, the incident, and yes, even the completely unfamiliar I've not seen nor worked before: light me all up!
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u/miscwit72 2d ago
I'm a retired firefighter and paramedic. Would you be shocked if I told you most FD's are filled with us? 😆
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u/redvoxfox 2d ago edited 1d ago
Right on! Right?!
First responders, EMS, emergency services ... filled with 'us' and people who get us.
One of my best friends in normal day-to-day life and most relationships ... serious debilitating PTSD and a bunch of its cousins, chronic pain and severe migraine. (ADHD and likely spectrum, rough abusive childhood and youth, foster program, four military deployment tours, won't say how many Purple Hearts ... Says it's a miracle there was no jail or prison.)
Won't take meds as most don't work and/or impact his ability to function. He has a small apartment where he keeps his stuff, but he 'lives' at the fire/paramedic/EMS station. And he is amazing! Competent, professional, leader, mentor, instructor, compassionate, rock solid.
Everyone I've talked to who works with him says they literally couldn't run the place and services without him. Friend says 'it' all disappears and goes away when he's on a call, in the field, working, with his team, teaching. Found his thing.
Just one of so many examples.
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u/IronicAim Daydreamer 2d ago
Not shocked at all. People with justice sensitivity are drawn to public service roles, and don't do well in the US police force.
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u/WackaRat AuDHD for the loss 2d ago
Just realised I should have been a fireman. At 50, maybe a bit late for a tryout.
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u/Harbinger_Pulsar 2d ago
Hmm... will there be chaos?
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u/redvoxfox 2d ago edited 1d ago
I have to admit, a large part of why I show up: To watch the 'show' of everyone else losing it!
Was just at a workshop for cybersecurity leaders and we all had good agreement that many of our competent talented proficient and dedicated staff, who do the meticulous honorable and reliable day-to-day work of configuration, documentation and monitoring, have no place anywhere near the SOC (Security Operations Center) during an active 'incident' because they too often freeze or lose it.
[edit: correction: They are needed for support and their expertise during active incidents - just in different non-quick-action non-front-line roles.] The crisis people who can pivot and jam in a real emergency are indeed a different breed. And those two are usually mutually exclusive. There are rare exceptions but not many.
While I know somehow with good accuracy how long this will take, 'see' the path and steps and plan to get there and just calmly lead and do the fixing and co-opt anyone who can still think straight and hold themselves together to help.
I get fondly called all kinds of things because of my dark humor and how much I laugh and joke during emergency and crisis and the chaos.
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u/Harbinger_Pulsar 2d ago
I was called "The Fixer" in high-school as a result of being rock steady whenever some drunken shenanigans went too far. No feeling like walking calmly through screaming masses to help a friend that stepped on broken glass after exiting the pool
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u/redvoxfox 2d ago
Right?! Why haven't we found a way to effectively and safely package that into a medication or therapy? Calm, crystal clear, focus for miles, all faculties and resources at ready and optimal performance ...
(To be fair, I know some who get these kind of optimal effects when they do get the right meds or other helps. I cheer for them!)
... And a way to avoid the sometimes crash afterward.
Maybe because then we'd rule the world!
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u/NightOnTheSun 2d ago
This is the one thing I can’t relate to other people with ADHD, I’m pretty dogshit in an emergency too.
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u/redvoxfox 2d ago edited 15h ago
All good! Just not your thing. Not everyone is the same with this and many aspects of ADHD. Your experience is your own and just as valid and valuable.
Do you have a 'jam' that is your thing? Mind sharing?
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u/Disastrous_Return83 2d ago
I have a placard someone gave me with the job title of “fixer of everything”.
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u/notrobertx 1d ago
God forbid you ask me to do something mundane I do every day at work but if your electronics arent working or youre trying to get something running on a Linux system, I will dedicate my entire day to watching tutorials on how to fix it while forgetting to eat and drink and wasting an entire weekend troubleshooting if I can't get it to run.
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u/Nonimouses 1d ago
I'm a maintenance tech in a factory with a rep for fixing anything, I'm terrible at planning preventative maintenance there's just no dopamine in it, but when the shit hits the fan and production stops I'm your man!
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u/qualityvote2 Quality Control Beast 2d ago edited 2d ago
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