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Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

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Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#281

Post by testmasterflex »

williamtwild wrote: post #183
borski wrote: post #150

Read up a bit on ADHD. That 'hyperfocus' that occurs either with deadlines or on a passion project is a symptom, as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - especially given your otherwise positive reviews and your ability to clear your mind and hyperfocus near a deadline, it's something to consider. I was diagnosed at 33, and it changed my life infinitely for the better. YMMV, and…

"as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - " Why is this ADHD and not just being human? This sounds so basic I have a hard time believing this is because of a condition.

Agreed. Everyone and their uncle has ADHD nowadays. All their arguments are complete BS and imo it’s derived from stressful contemporary life styles. “ADHD is wanting to do something but can’t” No, you don’t do it because it’s hard/boring/overwhelming/menial, not because you can’t. These people will pay later for the central stimulants. My friend is numb after starting with them but sure, he is productive.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#282

Post by ksaj »

borski wrote: post #189
masukomi wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's not about not getting excited. It's the result of being "not excited". Neurotypicals can work on things that are uninteresting to them. ADHD people can sit there yelling at themselves to "do the thing" that they _know_ they need to do and still be completely incapable of starting regardless of how "easy" it is to actually do it once something forces them to actually start. this video does a good job of explainin…

This, exactly. It's not about not wanting to. It's about literally being incapable of changing that, no matter how much you tell yourself and really mean to want to.

One thing I think isn't too clear with the descriptions here - sometimes it is just that hard to start things you want to do with ADHD as well.

I consider that a hallmark of the syndrome - you are REALLY interested in something, got a project fully prepared around it, and then it sits there waiting for you to do it. All that time you might research it, but it's a problem of getting started even though it is something you are wildly interested in.

Dozens of really interesting things left undone and probably never will get done.

Most of the people who don't understand ADHD and say it is similar to what they go through should be taught about this aspect of it as well.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#283

Post by ksaj »

tayo42 wrote: post #268
masukomi wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's not about not getting excited. It's the result of being "not excited". Neurotypicals can work on things that are uninteresting to them. ADHD people can sit there yelling at themselves to "do the thing" that they _know_ they need to do and still be completely incapable of starting regardless of how "easy" it is to actually do it once something forces them to actually start. this video does a good job of explainin…

Where is the line between procrastination and adhd then?

Procrastinators can get things they like to do, done.

ADHD makes even things you love and are wildly interest in, hard to follow through on.

People with ADHD are notorious for starting projects and then leaving them, regardless of how fun or cool said project was.

Procrastinators don't start new projects consecutively. One is a delay tactic. The other is outright avoidance.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#284

Post by ksaj »

IncRnd wrote: post #279
cryptnotic wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An ADHD diagnosis needs to be done by a neuropsychologist, who usually has a Ph.D. and specific board certifications. An anxiety disorder diagnosis is usually done by a psychiatrist, who is a doctor with an M.D. and specific psychiatry certifications.

Thank you. However, I'm not sure that is correct. There are several types of professionals who typically diagnose ADHD. These include: physicians (especially psychiatrists, pediatricians, neurologists), psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and other licensed counselors or therapists (e.g. professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, etc.). [1] Some examples of professionals who are capable…

That is interesting that some of them are authorized to diagnose, but can't write a prescription to control it.

I guess that's why they'll all eventually send you to a "specialist," which is another way of saying "someone authorized to medicate you for this."

I'm not sure though - physicians can prescribe Ritalin, but at least here, they always send you off to be checked out by a psychiatrist first.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#285

Post by ksaj »

conductr wrote: post #216
borski wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about not getting excited; it's about literally being unable to. Someone with ADHD can sit there and really mean to get excited, and yell at themselves to, and they simply can't do it; their brain won't let them. Someone neurotypical can usually convince themselves to at least do it, and "will" themselves into it. But you're somewhat right, and this is why getting a real diagnosis from a professional is so i…

That helps a lot. I know I'm 100% able to do the thing, I'm just a lazy bastard some days

People with ADHD have a hard time starting and then completing even things they do want to do. Everyone with ADHD has a dozen unfinished recent projects they adore, but will probably never finish.

Hyperfocus gets them started, and they go REALLY far with the project, and then it wears out, and the project is neglected thereafter. Even if the person still adores the project and hopes to finish it. Without the hyperfocus, nothing gets done.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#286

Post by jvns »

eyelidlessness wrote: post #264
stavros wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oof, this video makes me think I may have ADHD. I just cannot get boring things done, and I get more stressed the more I procrastinate, and it just spirals. What has helped me is something that the video mentions too, and that's working with a coworker. Not so much pairing (as in, looking at each other's screen), but just saying "I'm working on X now" and feeling like someone else is working on their thing alongside…

Checking in for accountability like this is a really REALLY common ADHD coping skill.

there's a site called focusmate that helps you find accountability buddies (https://focusmate.com). it's really helped me.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#287

Post by ksaj »

forz877 wrote: post #197
williamtwild wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - " Why is this ADHD and not just being human? This sounds so basic I have a hard time believing this is because of a condition.

To someone without ADHD it doesn't make sense at times. If you have certain types of ADHD and you aren't excited about something, you just have a huge resistance to doing it and you likely won't do it. Many don't even do the work with a deadline. On the flip side, when you're intensely interested, you often times are completely absorbed into it, at the expense of other human needs.

> On the flip side...

Also, when that hyperfocus runs out, that absorption is lost, possibly forever. Onto the next fleeting thing.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#289

Post by dlhavema »

astrange wrote: post #255
TrackerFF wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With ADHD, for many it's nigh on impossible to get focused, no mater how high the stakes are - to the point where it seems extremely irresponsible and downright irrational to normal observers. Imagine that almost everything in your life, is the equivalent of starting on a test/exam 2 hours before the deadline, even though you've had a week or two to finish it.

The problem with ADHD is that it applies to everything in your life, not just work. You're equally unable to do chores, hobbies, have fun, or even finish watching a TV series. Actually, they're even harder to do than work because there's no pressure on you to keep up with it.

Hmm. Could that be why I fail to be a completionist in games? I play computer games, but don't give a rip about achievements or multiple playthroughs... They are fun, but as soon as I beat it, I move on.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#290

Post by Gravyness »

astrange wrote: post #255
TrackerFF wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With ADHD, for many it's nigh on impossible to get focused, no mater how high the stakes are - to the point where it seems extremely irresponsible and downright irrational to normal observers. Imagine that almost everything in your life, is the equivalent of starting on a test/exam 2 hours before the deadline, even though you've had a week or two to finish it.

The problem with ADHD is that it applies to everything in your life, not just work. You're equally unable to do chores, hobbies, have fun, or even finish watching a TV series. Actually, they're even harder to do than work because there's no pressure on you to keep up with it.

I hate to be this condescending but why is this not just ordinary laziness? Do we really need to go to a doctor so that we hear that we have a problem, and we might need medicine, to focus?

Isn't it more likely that a constant stream of never ending notifications and interruptions decrease our attention span to seconds? You can't read a book because you can't read an article, and you can't read and article because you read 6 line long hackernews or reddit comment that "might" contain some knowledge. Your brain evolved to adapt and it adapted to a world where everything might take your attention elsewhere. You can work to fix this.

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