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Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

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Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#21

Post by malandrew »

Try the pomodoro technique[0]. It may seem cheesy, but it's a good way to flex your discipline muscle. You basically choose a task and focus on it for 20 uninterrupted minutes at a time.

Once you've mastered going through 20 uninterrupted minutes and can do it easily every time you have small definable task that fits in a 20 minute slot, go ahead and start working on controlling the procrastination time that might occupy the spaces between your 20 minutes of productivity. I've heard a lot of good things about rescue time[1]

[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique [1] https://www.rescuetime.com/

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#22

Post by nyan_sandwich »

I have real bad ADHD, and everything you say rings true.

There are (only) two things that seem to help me: (social) commitment that would be unthinkable to back out of, and random fluctuations in neurochemistry.

I have a job, and find that I have very little trouble maintaining a good work ethic at work. Especially when the boss tells me to do something differently. The social and commitment aspects really motivate me. Beeminder (https://www.beeminder.com/) is really awesome as well, until your brain figures out that you can cheat. For doing work outside of work, I have a few friends that I just meet up with and mutually enforce work-time, which is really helpful and always productive.

On top of that, I notice major shifts in ability to do work that seem to have nothing to do with anything. Some days I'm randomly on top of the world and able to do huge amounts of highly productive and creative work, other days I can't even focus on what's in front of me (sometimes literally). I can only explain this in terms of random neurochemistry quirks. Unfortunately I can't control it. One thing that seems to help is standing in a dominant victory pose and counting to 300 as fast as possible, which raises testosterone and lowers cortisol. It seems to help a lot if you can remember to do it.

(Solving neurochemistry would be extremely lucrative; there are thousands of people who are separated from large wealth only by this factor.)

So I'd say you are fine on holding a job, but the jury is still out on becoming great.

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#23

Post by nyan_sandwich »

phantom_oracle wrote: post #7

You should just attempt forcing yourself to do the "dirty" work. We'd all like to be coding the matrix, but most people just need wordpress websites, so just force yourself. I can't give you any magic secret or formula beyond that, because none exist (as far as I know). Being a coder though, isn't it all fun to you? I find typing like a maniac fun.

>so just force yourself.

>just

ADHD doesn't work like that. "just" supposes willpower, ADHDers have low willpower. The whole problem is how to "just" do something, so reiterating that is a non-solution.

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#24

Post by edabobojr »

A to-do list for everything. If it isn't on a list then it isn't getting done. In addition to timers, I try to have to things I'm working on. That way I can switch back and forth. Work in bursts and then take a break for 5 minutes. Try to get some daily physical activity. I find that exercise is one of the few times I can reliably get my brain to shut off. I personally think caffeine helps me, but try to identify if any food makes it better or worse.

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#26

Post by dreeves »

nyan_sandwich wrote: post #22

I have real bad ADHD, and everything you say rings true. There are (only) two things that seem to help me: (social) commitment that would be unthinkable to back out of, and random fluctuations in neurochemistry. I have a job, and find that I have very little trouble maintaining a good work ethic at work. Especially when the boss tells me to do something differently. The social and commitment aspects really motivate m…

Ooh, hey, thanks for pointing out Beeminder! We often have users tell us it's great for people with ADHD, and we have some thoughts on the cheating problem you mention: http://blog.beeminder.com/cheating

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#28

Post by phantom_oracle »

nyan_sandwich wrote: post #23
phantom_oracle wrote: post #7

You should just attempt forcing yourself to do the "dirty" work. We'd all like to be coding the matrix, but most people just need wordpress websites, so just force yourself. I can't give you any magic secret or formula beyond that, because none exist (as far as I know). Being a coder though, isn't it all fun to you? I find typing like a maniac fun.

>so just force yourself. >just ADHD doesn't work like that. "just" supposes willpower, ADHDers have low willpower. The whole problem is how to "just" do something, so reiterating that is a non-solution.

ADHD isn't really a problem. AIDS is a problem. Malaria is a problem. TB is a problem. First-world emotional issues aren't a problem. If that were the case, I would think 95% of Iraqis would need psychiatric and psychological assistance.

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#29

Post by pasbesoin »

danneu wrote: post #10

> I tried medication but it gives me insomnia > and a racing heart. Try a lower dose. In particular, start at the minimum dose. If you are prescribed 20mg Adderall XR or 50mg Vyvanse (or equivalent), then that's an insane first-timer dose. Pills have risks and side-effects for sure. But so does making zero progress on your ambitions in life. Maybe you can find something less harsh: http://www.gwern.net/Nootropics

Mom's in the medical field. She attended a seminar led by a psychologist/psychiatrist husband/wife team. The husband found, as an adult, that he did benefit from the medication (Adderall), but at a much lower dose than is considered typical. 2.5 mg, IIRC.

Apparently, some people are more sensitive -- or, whatever term you want to use -- to the medication; for them, a "standard" dose is too much.

If you still have some tablets left and are unsure how your doctor might receive such a notion, you could use a pill cutter to create your own lower dose. If/As you've already been prescribed a higher dose, and given that the medication is not essential to life function and you've already safely been able to discontinue that higher dose, I don't see how trying a lower dose would present any additional risk.

However, I'm not a doctor, you should talk to your doctor, etc. Just... some of them seem to be pretty narrow-minded including about the possible efficacy of lower doses.

Re: Ask HN: Help, How to deal with severe ADHD as a programmer?

#30

Post by pasbesoin »

pasbesoin wrote: post #29
danneu wrote: post #10

> I tried medication but it gives me insomnia > and a racing heart. Try a lower dose. In particular, start at the minimum dose. If you are prescribed 20mg Adderall XR or 50mg Vyvanse (or equivalent), then that's an insane first-timer dose. Pills have risks and side-effects for sure. But so does making zero progress on your ambitions in life. Maybe you can find something less harsh: http://www.gwern.net/Nootropics

Mom's in the medical field. She attended a seminar led by a psychologist/psychiatrist husband/wife team. The husband found, as an adult, that he did benefit from the medication (Adderall), but at a much lower dose than is considered typical. 2.5 mg, IIRC. Apparently, some people are more sensitive -- or, whatever term you want to use -- to the medication; for them, a "standard" dose is too much. If you still have som…

P.S. It really would be best to discuss it with your doctor. And as for my scenario with the pill cutter (again, preferably with the doctor's knowledge): That will only work with "instant release" forms, where there is no delayed release mechanism. Cutting a delayed release tablet can partially or totally defeat the delayed release design/mechanism, resulting in a spike in absorption that is undesigned and that may present a health risk.
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