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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#71

Post by _rqgx »

My therapist recently diagnosed me with ADHD. I strongly disagree with that diagnosis, and I realised I don't know what ADHD actually is and that the internet and this article haven't been of any help.

I can relate to everything that this article says, but I suspect this is true of every single person with a mentally challenging job.

HN is full of developers complaining about open offices and useless meetings; do all of them have ADHD? Otherwise, what's the difference between a ADHD developer and a regular developer?

I _do_ have specific body problems that make my work harder, such as a very strong noise sensitivity and a circadian rhythm that requires me to sleep longer than the average person. Dealing with those specific problems did much more than throwing my hands in the air and yelling "ADHD".

Instead of a 2000-word article that might have been generated by AI, I would just follow these three points.

1. Sleep 9–10 hours every night.

2. Strong exercise regularly.

3. Work somewhere quiet and pleasant.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#73

Post by meiraleal »

Mordisquitos wrote: post #40
jakey_bakey wrote: post #8

"Coping Mechanisms: Over the years, adults develop various coping strategies that can mask ADHD symptoms. For instance, someone might excessively rely on calendars, to-do lists, or alarms to compensate for forgetfulness." You're goddamn right I do

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 hits home with a caveat: Every time I try a new strategy, even if I drop it later, I end up a bit better than before. It's like with each try, my starting point for the next attempt is a little higher. Once I accepted that this is just how things work for me, I stopped feeling anxious about it too.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#74

Post by viraptor »

LeafItAlone wrote: post #14

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…

Hard to say without some idea where you are, but it was not hard for me. It did cost me a few hundred $ overall, but the process was fairly simple. It did take a few months to get a spot for a remote appointment (if I lived in the city it would be faster in person) And I just knew the clinic knew who they're dealing with (reminder sent a week and a day before, reminder sent about payment, reminder about a followup, etc.) Maybe try finding some group which may have experience / specific contacts in the area? There's bound to be a country/state-specific group online where you can ask.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#75

Post by conception »

keyle wrote: 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, especially in being able to fall asleep quicker.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#76

Post by strikelaserclaw »

idlewords wrote: post #70

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.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#77

Post by Eumenes »

keyle wrote: 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…

> 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

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#78

Post by voisin »

TheRealHB wrote: post #54

The Blinking LED, A simple Hack that still works for me after years: 1. Place a tiny LED (red or yellow) by the side of your monitor or virtually on the screen corner. Basically anywhere almost bordering your field of view. 2. Make it blink like a fast heartbeat (120-150 bpm) and gradually slowdown to around 60 bpm (or your slow heartbeat base). Make the slope approx 20 to 60 minutes (you can adjust the best rate by…

Have you considered building this as a product and selling it? I could see this with a kickstarter or even Shark Tank!

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#79

Post by sureglymop »

JoBrad wrote: post #36
sureglymop wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 have any issues with sleep and this medication, but I take it pretty early (usually 5:30/6). It is well over by bedtime.

It only really became a problem after about 10 years of being medicated for adhd. However taking it early as well as physical exhaustion does help.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#80

Post by gibagger »

idlewords wrote: post #70

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…

May we know where you got your Psychology, Psychiatry or Neuroscience degree?
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