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Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

stackoverflow.blog

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Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#31

Post by acadapter »

ryukoposting wrote: post #20
dijit wrote: post #5

I have a pet theory that the role of old school sysadmins (what we refer to as DevOps today; yes Sysadmins coded, or the good ones did, I will die on this hill) was strangely attractive to those who would assuredly be diagnosed with ADHD. You have endless areas to noodle on solutions to avoid issues; you work hard to avoid working hard (strong ADHD trait) and interruptions are either fine and they fuel you completely…

It affects your insurance? MORTGAGES? What the hell? In the US, the only external downside of ADHD is when you change doctors and the new one automatically assumes you're trying to swindle them to get Adderal, so they make you do another psych evaluation that will inevitably say the same thing as the last one. Defibutely doesn't affect mortgages. I doubt that it would affect vehicle licenses.

The part about driver's licenses is different nowadays, people can get exemptions from their doctors in most cases.

Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#33

Post by lampshades »

jnovek wrote: post #22

In my experience: yes, programming often pairs well with ADHD because it’s an ongoing stream of novel problems to solve. That said, as we’ve injected more and more process into software development over the last decade or so I’ve found it harder and harder to engage. I respect its necessity but JIRA is nearly the opposite of the exploratory experience of programming.

I have an ADHD diagnosis and completely agree. The process has become soul crushing. If left to my own devices I would find plenty to do and I would enjoy it so so much more.

Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#36

Post by annie_muss »

I appreciate the article's efforts to raise awareness, that said, as a developer with ADHD I wish 'hyperfocus' wasn't always trotted out as a kind of ADHD superpower. The inability to control your attention in order to achieve complex tasks and effect desired outcomes is ADHD. So called 'hyperfocus' is just as likely to waste your time on something unrelated and unhelpful to what you want to do. It's like telling a sleepwalker "Hey, cheer up, sometimes you end up in the office and you can skip your commute!"

Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#37

Post by ilovecaching »

Anyone have tips for how they manage their ADHD, specifically when you aren't able to get yourself motivated at all with the task at hand or feel like you have too may balls to juggle?

I really struggle with yak shaving and perfection being the enemy of good as well, my ADHD often devolves into OCD like behaviors.

Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#38

Post by klysm »

jnovek wrote: post #17
oo0shiny wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a source for this? From everything I've researched, it's actually a chemical imbalance that affects the management of dopamine in the brain, making it hard to focus.

You’re off by a little bit: it’s not a chemical imbalance but an actual neurological difference. ADHD develops when the brain is very young and results in permanent differences in cognition and executive function. We do use dopamine (via stimulants) to treat it, though. We essentially flood the brain with excess dopamine and hope that it’s enough to overcome the deficits caused by developmental differences.

I think norepinephrine also plays a role

Re: Developer with ADHD? You’re not alone

#39

Post by annie_muss »

ilovecaching wrote: post #37

Anyone have tips for how they manage their ADHD, specifically when you aren't able to get yourself motivated at all with the task at hand or feel like you have too may balls to juggle? I really struggle with yak shaving and perfection being the enemy of good as well, my ADHD often devolves into OCD like behaviors.

Pomodoros (short timed bursts of activity with frequent breaks). If you are having trouble shorten the time until you are able to start.

Describe the desired completed task to an imaginary third person. Poorly defined tasks can often make starting more difficult.

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