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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#151

Post by FuckButtons »

hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #140

One of the more interesting things about ADHD is that some of the things ADHD sufferers call "coping strategies" (using calendars, writing documentation) are actually just really good ideas for anyone. The twin demons of diminishing returns and hyperbolic discounting mean that people who don't need to have these systems in place for the current demands of their lives, usually don't have them in place. ADHD sufferers…

Getting things done was written by someone with adhd, the entire system is one big coping strategy for not having a functioning working memory.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#152

Post by sureglymop »

escapedmoose wrote: post #67
Difwif wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been personally diagnosed with ADHD and have benefited from medication but it doesn't come without its costs. My wife was diagnosed when she was very young and we've had a lot of time to run self experiments and discuss ideas. I don't think people want to hear this but I believe so many people think they have ADHD because of a lack of discipline. Even people with ADHD will understand what I'm talking about. So…

For a while there I thought I had ADHD, and started looking for avenues to get diagnosed. But when I talked more with some friends who have serious cases of it, I started to doubt. Instead of going for the medication, I removed distracting apps from my phone and logged out of socials. It took a few weeks to settle into the routine, but now my focus/attention problems are all but gone. Go figure!

I have diagnosed ADHD and I do not have social media (besides HN), distracting apps or anything. I just have stock GrapheneOS on my phone, no extra distractions. This helps tremendously but doesn't really affect the core issues of adhd, which are a lack of focus when that is needed. Note that it's not a general lack of focus and not a lack of discipline. People with ADHD often fall into depression because they cannot focus well enough even with the right discipline and motivation.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#153

Post by smallerfish »

I think Slack is a silent killer of productivity, and terrible for an ADHD brain:

You're either "engaged" and "available" (meaning you respond to messages in semi-real-time, pretty much nixing your ability to do deep work) or you feel like you're missing a lot of conversation that's going on behind your back, because you're heads down with Slack closed. Slack is good for (shitty) managers of remote teams, because you can see who's "in the office", and randomly ping people when your lack of planning skills means that you are working on something that you forgot to get an answer for in a deliberate way (instead of buzzing by their cube as you used to do)...but for developers I think it's a poor bargain.

There are better tools out there that encourage and support async workflows. Twist, Basecamp, Github discussions, even email with appropriate filters.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#154

Post by deltaburnt »

sureglymop wrote: post #28
matheusmoreira wrote: post #7

Extremely relatable. Hyperfocus... I can easily spend over twenty hours focusing on something once I get in the zone, but it's extremely difficult to open the editor and start programming. Coping mechanisms and adaptative behaviors are all good and all but the power of lisdexamfetamine cannot be underestimated.

Lisdexamphetamine is a big help, but the side effects can be devastating. Of course every person is different, but for me this reduced my sleep quality significantly. I can no longer take any of these meds if I want a good restful night of sleep. When I was younger it was no problem though.

That's interesting, I found it actually helps with my sleep. As it wears off (around the end of the work day) I feel pretty tired. Plus I no longer need to drink coffee to get through the day, so I think the lack of caffeine helps too.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#155

Post by viraptor »

Podgajski wrote: post #143
viraptor wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://sci-hub.hkvisa.net/10.1016/j.mehy.2013.11.018 While it discusses multi-year treatment, the paper says "After several weeks of such treatment the pattern of behavior in ADHD patients is normalized." which feels like something that could be easily tried out. Since it was published in 2013 I'd expect some follow-up? (checking for citations now) Edit: Sadly, "No Tryptophan, Tyrosine and Phenylalanine Abnormalitie…

Nutritional studies are hard to get funding for in the first place, never mind the follow-ups. They found nothing in the study, because IMI they were measuring the wrong neurotransmitters. Dopamine is not the cause of the symptoms. It has to do with glutamate and GABA Balance. Since stimulants can control effect glutamate and GABA as well as Dopamine , that’s why there is all the confusion. B6 also plays a role in gl…

It looks like you have a whole stash of related papers. If you could send all those links, I'd really appreciate it.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#156

Post by klysm »

chx wrote: post #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://coachjess…

I feel similar with the “every morning” stuff. The problem is I have a very hard time making some happen every morning.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#157

Post by aidos »

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF wrote: post #109
Eumenes wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Add to today: kids, imessages, facebook, twitter, mastodon, instagram, emails, slack, discord... How the fuck do I even survive the week? uh, perhaps by not using all of those things? sounds like you're uber distracted

Kids: not even once. Seriously, though, there might be external factors at play; different social circles might use these things and abandoning the apps could be the same as abandoning the groups.

You’re at work. Sure, there’s Slack - but dial the notifications down as much as you can. Almost none of us need access to social tools in that time. If you can’t help yourself then do what developers do and use tech to stop you reaching for those things.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#158

Post by FuckButtons »

sureglymop wrote: post #28
matheusmoreira wrote: post #7

Extremely relatable. Hyperfocus... I can easily spend over twenty hours focusing on something once I get in the zone, but it's extremely difficult to open the editor and start programming. Coping mechanisms and adaptative behaviors are all good and all but the power of lisdexamfetamine cannot be underestimated.

Lisdexamphetamine is a big help, but the side effects can be devastating. Of course every person is different, but for me this reduced my sleep quality significantly. I can no longer take any of these meds if I want a good restful night of sleep. When I was younger it was no problem though.

I just want to offer an alternative perspective because I think it’s important not to discourage people who might be put off trying meds because of the potential downside. Once I had the dosage, and importantly a second dose at mid day dialed in, my sleep actually improved. My sleep problems were caused by adhd, so having it be treated as I was winding down for the night was a huge improvement in my ability to sleep.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#159

Post by matheusmoreira »

sureglymop wrote: post #28
matheusmoreira wrote: post #7

Extremely relatable. Hyperfocus... I can easily spend over twenty hours focusing on something once I get in the zone, but it's extremely difficult to open the editor and start programming. Coping mechanisms and adaptative behaviors are all good and all but the power of lisdexamfetamine cannot be underestimated.

Lisdexamphetamine is a big help, but the side effects can be devastating. Of course every person is different, but for me this reduced my sleep quality significantly. I can no longer take any of these meds if I want a good restful night of sleep. When I was younger it was no problem though.

I don't take it myself either. I've always been afraid of the cardiovascular risks associated with stimulants. I've seen recent research suggesting it doesn't increase risk but still.

The medicine completely cured me though.

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