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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#121

I used to think I had some ADHD symptoms: growing up I never did any revision for any of my school exams until a couple of days before, all my coursework and projects were done last minute in a week of intense focus, I've had issues with drugs in the past etc. Then I met someone who actually has ADHD and saw them before they'd taken their stimulant drugs. They were completely nonfunctional in any sense of the word, t…

Well.

1. Self-diagnosis is not a diagnosis.

2. Things exist on a spectrum. The definition of it becoming a "disorder" is when it negatively affects your life enough.

During diagnosis a psychotherapist will be tasked with identifying traits of ADHD (IE; Markers), you will not have all markers. Everyone will have some.

Then those markers are investigated to discover how much they impact your quality of life. If it is above a certain threshold in aggregate then you are then diagnosed clinically as having "ADHD" and can be medicated.

What I mean is, for example: You can still have autism even if someone has significantly more severe autistic traits than you have.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#123
post #32

Anyone else tired of blogs trying to make their content more interesting by slapping loads of generated images into each post?

Not in the slightest. It adds flavor to the page and makes it more approachable than just a wall of text. This is one of the benefits of generated images - it is a nice middle ground between creating your own and choosing from stock images.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#124
post #33

This hits home. I think we need to really take a hard look at today's world of tech and how we communicate and collaborate. I find that, if time allows, I get a massive productivity boost after 4:30pm and everyone is either winding down or leaving. All the sudden, the walls flatten, the horizon deepens and I enter a deep state of flow. Around 10 AM, after an elongated "stand up", I should be ready to go... And yet it…

At my company, we have daily standups and they throw off my whole morning. I only really work effectively when I am left to it and so have outlook/slack/messages turned off during periods where I am trying to focus - has got me in trouble with management a few times but I am not sure what else i can do. The piece was a good read but its so personal to me that it doesn't really help sadly.

> has got me in trouble with management a few times but I am not sure what else i can do

Don't worry about it. I think this is good advice for any software engineer. Eventually you'll be senior enough or on a different team and it won't be a problem.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#125
TBH I found this article a bit poorly written, especially around the core of the symptoms*. It does not even list out what exactly are the kinds of things to look for when you are in say your 30's or something and suspect you have ADHD. The list of recommendations though are good, especially simplifying note taking, which can be a drag to keep upto date.

I would also add meditation and getting a good counselor/licenced therapist(they are hard to find). You can find a good counselor in a few ways: from someone who does your formal neuropsych eval, ask your kid's doctor. Look at psychologytoday.com and filter the list and run through it. For ADHD which does not accompany severe cognitive impairments you want to likely look at a CBT coach(Phd,PsyD holders) to help. Someone who knows what they are doing.

* If you think you have ADHD or ADD please consult the complete DSM-V manual[0](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t3/) and at least try and match your symptoms up from your past experiences. I would highly recommend a neuropsychlogical evaluation test. Google for it.

Here is an abridged list[1] of symptoms from DSM5 for ready reference:

Inattention: Six or more symptoms of inattention for children up to age 16, or five or more for adolescents 17 and older and adults; symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months, and they are inappropriate for developmental level:

◦ Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.

◦ Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.

◦ Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

◦ Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, becomes sidetracked).

◦ Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.

◦ Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

◦ Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g., school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).

◦ Is often easily distracted.

◦ Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity: Six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity for children up to age 16, or five or more for adolescents 17 and older and adults; symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for the person’s developmental level:

◦ Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat.

◦ Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected.

◦ Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless).

◦ Often is unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly.

◦ Is often “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor.”

◦ Often talks excessively. ◦ Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.

◦ Often has trouble waiting his/her turn.

◦ Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).

================

[0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t3/

[1] Hallowell, Edward M.; Ratey, John J.. ADHD 2.0 (p. 138). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#126
This again? A blog post stuffed with stolen art and often heard but absolutely not working advice?

> Every morning, I start my day by planning it out in a custom template that displays my Google Calendar events and Todoist task list.

For real? One of the best ADHD tools I am aware of is called the Anti Planner.

It doesn't take long to find posts like "why to-do lists don't work for people with ADHD" https://coachjessicamichaels.com/2022/03/30/why-to-do-lists-...

Also, this blog post misses body doubling which is incredibly helpful and can even be done virtually with focusmate or a similar service (I use focusmate personally but I do want to spam so no referral link or crap like that). Indeed, for me the only way to swallow a frog is focusmate.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#127
The audio environment plays a big role when it comes to fighting distractions, especially when having ADHD.

The problem is usually that it’s either too quiet (so the brain is not engaged and every small noise is very hearable and distracting) or too loud.

The other problem is when the sound environment is not predictable. This means your brain is constantly afraid it will get distracted (phone call, slack notification etc.) and you can’t enter a flow state.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#128
post #33

This hits home. I think we need to really take a hard look at today's world of tech and how we communicate and collaborate. I find that, if time allows, I get a massive productivity boost after 4:30pm and everyone is either winding down or leaving. All the sudden, the walls flatten, the horizon deepens and I enter a deep state of flow. Around 10 AM, after an elongated "stand up", I should be ready to go... And yet it…

If you haven’t tried any sort of mindfulness/meditation program, I’d recommend one. I like Ten Percent Happier and enjoyed the app and its content (not affiliated in any way). Being able to think about nothing is a skill/habit/muscle that needs to be learned and practiced. My mind still can churn but at least now I have the tools and some ability to tell it “not now” and quiet it some. It’s been pretty dramatic, espe…

I will try this, thanks!

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The good thing is that while getting started sucks, if you're consistent with it you can train your mind to seek out and crave long term goal progress and completion in the same way you can train your body. Just don't forget to be in the present.

> if you're consistent with it you can train your mind to seek out and crave long term goal progress and completion in the same way you can train your body. How? I mean, one of my major symptoms is that I can't for life do either! "Training my body" doesn't feel like something natural or within range of possibility.

Yeah, I found it close to the annoying "you could try not to have issues... harder". I'm glad some people find they can actually change their behaviours. But it's more of a "if you /CAN BE/ consistent with it" issue for others.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#130

ADHD is medicalizing a set of mental habits that many smart people form early in life partly out of boredom, and partly because they can get away with it. The criteria for diagnosing it in adults are impossibly vague and ad-hoc, and I have yet to meet anyone who went through the evaluation process who wasn't diagnosed with it. By all means have at it if you enjoy legal access to terrific stimulants (they really do he…

Basically you have ADHD/ADD if your symptoms are maladaptive to the modern environment. The modern world is increasingly being able to focus and produce.

And yet it isn't. Schools over here are less sitting in rows facing the teacher and Pay Attention, and more sitting in groups, get a laptop out, "fun" project activities. Modern workplaces - in our industry - are all about a deluge of distractions, meetings, tickets, incoming or always-on calls, side activities, incoming merge requests, Slack messages in half a dozen spaces that all need to be read or you might miss out, on top of a lot of people being open for private communications and distractions like making appointments, chatting with the home front, etc.

So no, I don't know where you live or work, but I don't agree that the modern world wants you to focus and produce.

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