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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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191–200 of 755 posts

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#191

What is everyone’s experience getting officially diagnosed and treated? I match up pretty closely with textbook symptoms and all of the free online “tests” indicate I should get treated for it… but how? I’ve found places that offer an ADHD screening at the tune of multiple thousands, not in network with any insurance, but those places don’t also treat it. I’m more interested in pharmacological treatments rather than…

Self reporting for adhd tests is notoriously unreliable to the point of being useless. It requires interviewing people close to the patient.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#192
Whilst I agree with a lot of this, I think there's an issue around expecting someone with ADHD to just onboard using all these tools without a prior history and engrained usage.

Such as just "using wikis and JIRA etc" is a bit handwavey imho, it needs to stick otherwise it'll just be forgotten.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Agreed, I'd add to give your manager your phone number for emergencies and tell them you've allow-listed their number to ring when others can't. Then get back to flow

That sounds like a terrible idea to me, I'd never want to do that. If they like the work I do, management should learn to respect the way I do it.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#194

This is great! So many people in the ADHD community don't dig in enough into the 'superpower' side of it, so I'm super glad you covered that here. We can't get rid of the bad parts so I think it's extra important to lean into the good parts too. I will also share this Historia Civilis video on the history of work, which really resonated with me as an ADHD person -- It's OK and even more 'natural' to have fast and slo…

Being diagnosed at the age of two with pretty severe ADHD I do not consider my disabling disorder a superpower in the least. I could see it as something if I was more naive that could be exploited by my employer if I had one and if I let myself into a situation like that and that would be damaging to me if I let that happen. I'm sure I could be really productive if I don't take care of myself for an extended period of time to finish a project using all of The fuel in my tank multiple times a month but I really don't ever want to be in that situation because that's basically where danger lies.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#195
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intriguing. Wonder if sound would work also.

I used to hear to Hucci alot back in the day because most of his songs would hover around 60-70 BPM, I'd gather it was having a similar effect.

I use Erik Satie a lot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyhBJzuixM). Also ASMR videos of mechanical keyboards (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5blZL1P4). Wonder what a light with some randomness would do.

You could hook up some physiological monitors and try all kinds of light patterns.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#196
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…

>I find that, if time allows, I get a massive productivity boost after 4:30pm This sounds oddly specific. How consistent is this time? If you start working an hour earlier does it impact the timing of your productivity boost?

I experience a flow state around that time as well. Mostly because everyone leaves the office. 0630-0730 and 1630-1730 have become my golden hours. Which is weird because body doubling is often an effective tool for me. My true “0430” like the parent comment is really at 2000, but I force myself into a normal sleep schedule and fail often.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#197

Lack of secretaries for creative types is astounding

Correspondence, keeping records and making appointments are attention destroying activities.

For a few year stretch I worked with a team project manager who wasn't technical at all. She'd setup the meetings that I needed to have, diligently take notes in those meetings and then we'd get together to recap everything figure out dates and all that. Then I'd get back to nerding out but with a ordered punch list that I knew Donna needed me to get done. It was the best.

But the pmo wanted to do things a different way so their engagement model moved from embedded PMs focused on team deliverables to individual project focus. Now instead of Donna there to assist with correspondence, keep records, make appointments, and carry out similar tasks I had an army of fragmented Donnas each focused on their one thing and each needing oversight to understand my involvement and external dependencies. The move probably gave the pmo a more modern feel and better reporting but it killed productivity for ADDs like me since a large portion of my time each day became correspondence, keeping records and making appointments instead of cranking out nerd units.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#198
I really don't think this article has much to do with ADHD. Work is work even if you like what you're doing. Nobody can handle the barrage of notifications and being always-online and always-available. Couple that with a job that requires focus and it's an uphill battle. Again, this is for everyone.

Everything in the article can be applied to everyone.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#199
post #39

I swear that every time I read an article by somebody who claims they've been diagnosed with ADHD, it is the same formula: "when I was a child...", "I didn't know what it was", ..., "I was finally diagnosed with ADHD", then finally "I have super powers no one else has so I will use them to my advantage". I would love to see an ADHD version of the horoscope/personality tests administered by Stagner and Forer. I predic…

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…

I dislike this post because medication is only a (meaningfully large part) of managing adhd. It’s not a magic pill that solves it and if the patient doesn’t have a holistic approach that includes mindfulness, exercise, diet, managing other mental health issues, and structure - then they’re still likely to fail.

I’d encourage you to read more about adhd because a huge symptom of it is lack of long term perspective in decision making. It’s like one of the defining characteristics. Trying to dismiss that as someone being lazy or undisciplined is a damaging stereotype to spread. It’s the equivalent of telling someone with depression to snap out of it or get some sunshine

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my case I have to say that is only half true. As an adult-diagnosed ADHD sufferer I cannot say that I developed coping strategies on which I relied excessively that masked my symptoms. Rather, I used to try [0] to develop coping strategies, only for me to eventually drop them for unexplainable reasons at the slightest routine-messing incident or event, regardless of how effective the strategy was being or how good…

This is me. I stopped trying to be organized, because I know that as soon as there is some inconvenience or difficulty organizing, I will just get overwhelmed and drop everything I was trying to do. For example, I just cannot take notes or manage a calendar.

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