How I Run a Company with ADHD • Hacker News Board

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#221

Post by throwmeback » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:27 AM UTC

jachee wrote: post #112

firecall wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have ADHD. There are other serious neurological issues connected to ADHD. It's a very misunderstood disorder with a broad spectrum of identifiable symptoms that could indicate ADHD. If you are heavily medicating with caffeine, then that can be a signal. I was using Pseudoephedrine and caffeine to self medicate and stabilise my moods and behaviours. That was before I got prescribed Ritalin. But as the article says,…

How, as an adult, did you get a doctor to diagnose ADHD? Every time I've brought it up with a healthcare provider, I lay out my difficulties and coping mechanisms, and the conversation ends with them saying "Well, it sounds like it's not much trouble for you. Anything else?" I just don't know how to make them get it. I feel like I have so much potential for success, but I can't harness it.

That sounds like my GP. I struggle with anxiety, depression and obesity among other things. Every time I go to an appointment with them I hear "Well, it's all in the head you know."

I hate this and it's the case with most GPs, at least in my country. I genuinely just wish my therapist was also my GP.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#222

Post by irjustin » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:33 AM UTC

Thanks OP for this article and the rest of HNews for the comments. It has helped me realize I should at least go see someone.

For me, seeing that infographic of how a person with ADHD tells a story was revealing. I had too many of those boxes in line.

> I'm horrible at completing simple, repetitive tasks. I'm terrible at time management, and conceptualizing time in general.

I loathe doing anything repetitive to the point where I simply won't do it even when necessary or "spend hours building an overly complex script to help me copy-paste 10 excel lines".

The threads that have stemmed from this quote has also made me realize there is a good chance I am ADHD and could only benefit by speaking with someone.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#223

Post by jonathanstrange » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:34 AM UTC

Okay, I start with a disclaimer, I suspect this opinion to be unpopular on HN. Anyway, I can't help thinking that ADHD is one of those mental disorders that merely reflects some increased demands of society rather than a genuine mental disorder and that people with ADHD are just part of the natural variation of different personality types.

There also seems to be a huge divide between the US and Europe, where such disorders seem to be diagnosed way less often. It has always appeared to me that many people in the US are more easily considered mentally ill when they do not fully conform to society's expectations, and at the same time the people who suffer from severe mentally illness are less cared for in the US than in Europe. Or maybe that's just how the media portray it.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#224

Post by jordanbeiber » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:35 AM UTC

cshimmin wrote: post #202

jordanbeiber wrote: post #168

It’s interesting to see how hard if is to separate ADD from ADHD by a description of traits or behaviors. I have ADD and pretty much recognize myself in a lot of this. It’s almost impossible to focus on anything that is not interesting “right now” and what is “interesting” changes in cycles spanning a few weeks. During a cycle I become completely absorbed, you know, not eat, not sleep and not being communicative, abs…

Wow. I have never heard someone articulate so clearly my own experience with ADD. Would love to read more about how you've managed your shifting responsibility/lifestyle!

One thing that actually was important in kicking things off was reading/hearing this quote somewhere, probably the interweb.

This was while sorting out the effects of neglecting loved and dear ones at a point in time.

It goes something like this:

—-

You met an a-hole one day. Yeah, it’s just another a-hole.

You meet a-holes everyday?

Well, maybe you’re the a-hole.

—-

Worth thinking about if you find yourself in bad spots all the time.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#225

Post by raducu » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:37 AM UTC

ScottFree wrote: post #36

My reaction to this article has been... complex. ----- Bah! Another article about ADHD. ADHD's over diagnosed and not not as big a problem as people make it out to be. But, I'm curious all of a sudden, so I might as well read it. > For the first 19 years of my life I knew I was lazy. Yeah, I'm pretty lazy too. That's just who I am, though. I don't have ADHD... > So what, you can't stop bouncing your leg at the restau…

It's not that you realize halfway through a meeting you haven't heard anything -- everybody does that from time to time -- it's when you CONSTANTLY struggle to follow what others are saying in a meeting, even when it's an important meeting; most of your peers have no trouble doing that; sure, some will also phase out, but they normally don't.

It's on the level of the pot head in your team telling you "Dude, you're my hero, I've never seen someone not give a fuck like you" because he noticed you were not paying attention during a meeting.

Everybody is losing focus in school, sure, everybody is losing their school items, sure, but not everybody sits on a test and then goes home with the test in his backpack, instead of submitting it, right?

How many times have you boarded the wrong train or buss?

How many times have you booked and airplane ticket with the wrong dates?

Does everybody mess up their invoices on a regular basis, until it stresses you out enough that you triple check it every time?

Do you only perform while anxious?

Have you ever tried stimulants? I have and it was a HUGE "AA-HAAA, so I guess the chatter in my head is gone, I can sit at my desk for 2 hours straight, my pulse has gone from 90bpm to 60bpm, I'm completely calm, I guess this is how normal people feel everyday? "

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#226

Post by ramblerman » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:38 AM UTC

irjustin wrote: post #222

Thanks OP for this article and the rest of HNews for the comments. It has helped me realize I should at least go see someone. For me, seeing that infographic of how a person with ADHD tells a story was revealing. I had too many of those boxes in line. > I'm horrible at completing simple, repetitive tasks. I'm terrible at time management, and conceptualizing time in general. I loathe doing anything repetitive to the p…

> I loathe doing anything repetitive

> spend hours building an overly complex script to help me copy-paste 10 excel lines

How is this not describing 90% of HN? The 2nd one is even the topic of one of the most linked jokes on XKCD (https://xkcd.com/1205/)

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#227

Post by Fnoord » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:44 AM UTC

jonathanstrange wrote: post #223

Okay, I start with a disclaimer, I suspect this opinion to be unpopular on HN. Anyway, I can't help thinking that ADHD is one of those mental disorders that merely reflects some increased demands of society rather than a genuine mental disorder and that people with ADHD are just part of the natural variation of different personality types. There also seems to be a huge divide between the US and Europe, where such dis…

Its unpopular because it is wrong.

The brains of someone with ADHD (assuming correct diagnosis) are different from NTs, akin to people with autism.

AFAIK the latest scientific research points at that ADHD is just one of the many variants on the autism gene. But I don't have a source at hand right now, so grain + salt.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#228

Post by ramblerman » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:44 AM UTC

jonathanstrange wrote: post #223

Okay, I start with a disclaimer, I suspect this opinion to be unpopular on HN. Anyway, I can't help thinking that ADHD is one of those mental disorders that merely reflects some increased demands of society rather than a genuine mental disorder and that people with ADHD are just part of the natural variation of different personality types. There also seems to be a huge divide between the US and Europe, where such dis…

I think you hit the hammer on the nail. If you look at how obsessed HN/Silicon Valley is with improving performance, nootropics, etc, this falls right in line, and hits that niche.

Half this thread is people saying, omg I just thought I was lazy, I guess I should start taking doctor prescribed amphetamines now.

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#229

Post by Furiens2 » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:44 AM UTC

It’s interesting to note the OP jumped into starting a company at 23. I’ve worked as a developer at 3 companies with a Scrum methodology since graduating university 5 years ago and I’ve struggled in each. I’m constantly told off for my time management, and I struggle with most meetings (the disruption they cause, paying attention, and keeping on-topic). If anything it’s worse as I’ve got more experience as more is expected of me. In some senses the structure sounds like it should help but it never feels like it. I’m wondering: have other devs with ADD found Scrum difficult and have they thrived better in a different work environment?

Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD

#230

Post by hajhatten » Mon, May 13, 2019, 8:45 AM UTC

jonathanstrange wrote: post #223

Okay, I start with a disclaimer, I suspect this opinion to be unpopular on HN. Anyway, I can't help thinking that ADHD is one of those mental disorders that merely reflects some increased demands of society rather than a genuine mental disorder and that people with ADHD are just part of the natural variation of different personality types. There also seems to be a huge divide between the US and Europe, where such dis…

It's easy to think this, as is thinking people with depression just need to pick themselves up. If you've lived with someone that actually has ADHD you'll have another opinion.