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Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

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Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#131

Post by RHSman2 »

User23 wrote: post #95
thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

I’m not sure about the whole neurological dysfunction story. It sounds a lot like the now debunked chemical imbalance story for depression. So far as I know there’s no ADHD blood or other objective test. I am however sure about stimulant drugs being a shockingly effective productivity booster when properly dosed though. As the comment I’m replying to notes, it’s trivially easy to walk into a psychiatrist’s office and…

Queue hackernews-ists jumping down your throat

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#132

Post by bmitc »

thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

Just as a point of balance: adult onset ADHD, while possible, is quite rare. Many other more common disorders, such as anxiety and depression, will share the same symptoms as ADHD.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#133

Post by User23 »

thenaturalist wrote: post #117
User23 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not making fun of anyone. My beliefs on the subject are informed by my own experiences and direct observation of others. I do have some concern about the long term effects of putting people on a close chemical cousin of methamphetamine indefinitely, even though it is, as I said, an excellent productivity booster for those diagnosed with ADHD. Of course it's also an excellent productivity booster for those who are…

My bad for implying this based on your shorter answer above, thank you for adding this much context. You are spot on with regards to potential abuse by career optimizers. I've been lectured by my doc during prescription for that as well. Again, as someone who really feels badly affected by this I am of course not a fan of the abuse.

It's my fault that you got that impression, so I quite appreciate your letting me clarify.

I know there are people who really are suffering and I'm glad that help is available to them. Thanks for reminding me to not lose sight of that very real human element.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#134

Post by RHSman2 »

andrewstuart wrote: post #2

You don't "find what you are good at" - that is backwards. Instead, you do what you are interested in, and initially you are not good at it, and with enough time, effort, working at learning and practicing, you will become good at it.

No such thing as a naturally sharp knife. It’s constructed and sharpened by work and effort.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#135

Post by xhrpost »

bmitc wrote: post #132
thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

Just as a point of balance: adult onset ADHD, while possible, is quite rare. Many other more common disorders, such as anxiety and depression, will share the same symptoms as ADHD.

Yes most everyone says the symptoms need to be present in childhood as well. But apparently the structure of school and just being a little smart can mask the performance symptoms in childhood. Then once the structure is gone in adulthood and life becomes much harder and more complex, the big symptoms start to show up.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#136

Post by bmitc »

pr07ecH70r wrote: post #113
thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

Actually never crossed my mind it could be a sickness-related. I just thought it as a sort of "too many possibilities saturation" or too quick loss of interest. So I decided to ask like-minded people like you here, at least from the same more or less background. Will make the online test, though...

I would in general recommend a good therapist. (Warning: this may take some trial and error.) They will help you understand your personality and be able to make professional recommendations, including getting officially tested for things. It's a bit dangerous to convince yourself of various maladies via online tests and anecdotes, especially when a lot of things can be addressed psychologically and behaviorally and also because many disorders share similar symptoms.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#137

Post by toddm »

There's nothing wrong with being a generalist, although I'm certainly biased in that regard.

I empathize with the stresses relating to short employment stints and unfinished projects; however, if you asked me if I'd rather be a lifer at IBM or a state agency, I'd run away screaming.

Maybe just go with the flow and focus on things you enjoy?

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#138

Post by luxuryballs »

thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

Did you find any good ways to manage it?

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#139

Post by ilc »

So I'll use my personal life as a guide:

I met my wife, we fell head over heels for each other, and she's been my girlfriend or wife for 25+ years now.

Lesson: Find something you are passionate about and chase it.

In my professional career, I've worked in many places, I've been a systems programmer working in the kernel, I've been a UI guy. I've worked in React, I've been C coder.

My specialization is: Having been there and done that. Being able to do many things is a strength. You can adapt as your role changes, which is essential. Because if I've learned anything in 25+ years of software development: You job will change. You will change. Be ready to change with them.

Re: Ask HN: How to find what I am really good at?

#140

Post by gcr »

thenaturalist wrote: post #93

Hi there, This might be an off beat chance, but have you had a history of or ever looked into the topic of adult ADHD? Changing several jobs, jumping between hobbies or projects is textbook ADHD, especially if you don't feel like you can get out of it and describe it as a "huge live hurdle". That is the same for me. Got diagnosed at 30 two months ago. If you have a suspicion you might have it, I highly recommend doin…

when you have a diagnosis, then what? where do you actually go from there?

are there doors that an ADHD diagnosis opens that have a better ROI than, say, graymarket modafinil?

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