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Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

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121–130 of 174 posts

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#121
post #12

That is a trait of ADHD. Hyperfocus until you find the next thing to hyperfocus on and then completely forget about the previous one. The best way to deal with it* IMHO is to have a long term goal - and a reason why you want to achieve it. The reason should be chosen so that it motivates you to continue with the project. If you cannot think of a good one that will meet that requirement, then consider switching to a p…

Hacker News has an obsession with ADHD. Why do you need to tell yourself you have a "mental illness"? Can't we be honest with ourselves and admit that amphetamines make programming easier?

It’s an ADA-recognized disability that affects many aspects of life, not just programming.

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#122
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a very rash assumption. I'd go easy on diagnosing people with ADHD based on 4 paragraphs when it can be explained with either unrealistic expectations or lack of discipline. I'm not saying it's not ADHD, I'm saying it's a risky thing to imply it.

As someone with ADHD, the author’s issues sound very much like ADHD. I have yet to hear of someone who has a “lack of discipline” to this degree who does not have ADHD. I used quotes because the concept of discipline is also very relative. I have yet to hear of anyone being told by a medical professional that they don’t have ADHD but instead simply lack self-discipline. Yet probably many people become depressed or fe…

Also sounds like anxiety. One could lead to the other. This is why you should not self-diagnose

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#123
Although I am against using chatgpt its impartiality should be handy in this thread. We have lots of posts saying not to jump to conclusions or its a textbook case, whether HN is biased towards ADHD etc.

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Unfinished Tasks: ADHD/Bipolar Suspected

Model: Default (GPT-3.5)

User which dsm defined psychological assesment has the following symptoms? many different ideas, starting many things with a lot of energy but never completing them

ChatGPT The symptoms you described, such as having many different ideas and starting multiple tasks with high energy but never completing them, can be associated with different psychological conditions. However, it's important to note that I am an AI language model and not a qualified healthcare professional. A proper diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a trained mental health professional.

That being said, the symptoms you described are consistent with a characteristic feature of several conditions, including:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Individuals with ADHD often struggle with impulsivity, difficulty sustaining attention, and a tendency to start tasks but have difficulty following through and completing them.

Bipolar Disorder: During the manic or hypomanic phase of bipolar disorder, individuals may experience increased energy, a heightened sense of productivity, and racing thoughts. However, they may struggle to complete tasks due to shifting focus and rapidly changing interests.

Cyclothymic Disorder: This condition involves recurring periods of hypomanic symptoms (similar to bipolar disorder) and mild depressive symptoms. The pattern of starting projects with enthusiasm but not finishing them may be present during the hypomanic phases.

It's important to consult with a mental health professional for an accurate assessment and diagnosis. They will consider your full clinical history, conduct a thorough evaluation, and utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria to make an appropriate diagnosis.

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#124
Those were the 1st 7 years of my self-employement.

I know it sucks having to work on one and the same project. It gets fucking boring.

But you need to learn discipline.

No one has ever been successful who never finished anything. Toughen up and bite the sour apple. You can experiment with different things as long as you get back to your main project.

Each new project is great, until you hit a roadblock. With that in mind, stop quitting as soon as you hit one. Work through it or don't and keep being a failure.

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#126
post #39
post #12

That is a trait of ADHD. Hyperfocus until you find the next thing to hyperfocus on and then completely forget about the previous one. The best way to deal with it* IMHO is to have a long term goal - and a reason why you want to achieve it. The reason should be chosen so that it motivates you to continue with the project. If you cannot think of a good one that will meet that requirement, then consider switching to a p…

That's a very rash assumption. I'd go easy on diagnosing people with ADHD based on 4 paragraphs when it can be explained with either unrealistic expectations or lack of discipline. I'm not saying it's not ADHD, I'm saying it's a risky thing to imply it.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#128
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this behavior is due to ADHD, then the best way to deal with it is to get diagnosed and then medicated, as medication is a really effective treatment.

After reading 4 paragraphs of text, your first suggestion to OP is to acquire dangerous drugs? This mentality defies common sense, medication should be a last resort.

Dangerous? Give me a break. You're clearly unaware of the medications given for ADHD, or how they work, how they're dosed, etc.

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#129
Something that you might want to consider, but which hasn't really shown up in the comments, is... Do you actually _want_ to do the finishing?

Are you taking on these projects because you want the end result to exist, or because you just really enjoy the initial phase of learning and discovering and mapping and planning? If you are getting joy/mental stimulation/a creative outlet from this, then perhaps it is serving its purpose already.

Sometimes, doing something you love, even if you leave it incomplete or do it poorly, is exactly what you need to refresh you. Maybe your hobby isn't building software. Maybe your hobby is just... Dreaming up new projects, and learning about new technology. And if this is your hobby, and not your job, maybe you don't actually need to finish projects at all. Leave the finishing to your day job.

Re: Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything

#130
I think part of the problem is lack of project planning and goal setting. I wondered the same thing from me. It's easy to quit a project if you have no goals or purpose for it. Once you quit there's no problem since there was never a plan. The other must is a sense of urgency. I'm an easy going guy. Never in a hurry. It has always bothered me when I work with someone that makes an emergency out of everything. There's no hurry, I used to say.

The easiest move in any project for you, your coworkers, customers and investors is to quit and move on. The longer a project gets the easier it is to quit. Your goal is to forestall that urge as long as possible by showing results as soon as possible and in on going basis. Yes, EVERY project has a deadline whether you set it or not. The implicit deadline is the point where you will quit. Again do your best, so you don't get to your quitting point, by showing progress and you can best do that by having a plan that has goals and deadlines to show progress.

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