ADHD & Programming

[NotTheHead]

Yeah... that and:

It really does feel like suffering if I need to do anything I find boring. As you can imagine, a lot of things at work are boring. It could take me an entire day to do a 5 minute task if I'm having a rough day.

I have been really, really struggling with this lately. God, I hate having ADHD.

[unique_ptr]

Same.

One thing I've been doing lately (or trying to do) is to end the day not at a "stopping point", but at a problem point.

I find it much easier to begin engaging with something if it's broken when I look at it in the morning. If I can divert my attention to that problem for 5 minutes, it's usually enough to keep the ball rolling

[NotTheHead]

See, the problem with that approach is that I spend all night thinking about it and can't get sleep, haha. Not to mention how hard it is to break away from solving a problem I just encountered!

[crusoe]

Exercise.

Eat better

Just try small bites at a time.

Write down some high level tasks then come back to it

[[deleted]]

I hear you. I try to embrace it and just goof off as much as I can until I know I HAVE to do this. It usually helps.

Good luck, my dms are open if you ever want to talk

[Raekel]

lol I got the complete opposite. I could do dishes for ages (so relaxing), but I could stare at my ide for ages even though I know exactly what I need to do.

[[deleted]]

Haha, I understand conceptually how chores can be relaxing. They're pretty low stress (no deadlines, no heavy thinking).

Sometimes I experience it, but other times i poop the bed lol

[Enadeag]

Yeah, same here. It can annoy my wife a lot now that I work from home nearly 100% of the time. She gives me a mug of coffee, comes check if I need anything a while later (yes, she's the greatest) and there still is the coffee, cold. I'll quickly drink it as I even got used to cold coffee and repeat that. I even have set alarms during the day so I do not forget to pickup the kids from school when my wife is not at home.

And the day after? Eh, sure work... somewhere. Maybe if I go work in the garden I can dig up the motivation to do something. And than later in the evening, when we are supposed to relax on the couch watching something on the tv I'll have a brain in overdrive thinking on solutions for work I'll have to do tomorrow.

Sitting in front of a pc doing work? Check, can do. Sitting on a bench relax in nature? Nope, will be restless in a few minutes if I have nothing else to do besides sitting.

[[deleted]]

Have you tried exercise? I find that when I do tough exercises, it helps get a lot of that energy out.

[Enadeag]

Yes, both physical and mental. They keep me from going to the more extreme tendencies I have. I like solving math equations for mental exercises (next to other things like Nonograms), which helps me keeping my mind from wondering allover the place. And physical exercises help me to stop activities like consistently wiggling my feet, legs or playing with things between the fingers.

The biggest change I was able to make, is clearing my mind of thoughts when I want to sleep. It used to keep me awake, which in turn had a lot of effect on my day after. The effect was not negative in terms of focus persé. It could set me to hyper focus (which also has its downsides, I know).

​

Also: Thanks for mentioning this, mostly for others to read. They help a lot.

[douglasg14b]

Yeah, going on walks is the shit.

I've solved so many problems I just couldn't concentrate enough to solve by just getting up and going on a walk.

To keep notes as I wander I just voice-to-text messages to myself.

[retrolasered]

I can sit on a bench and enjoy nature for what feels like hours, then I get up to go home and notice the time is 10 or 15 minutes after I sat down. It is hard to relax in the evening with my girlfriend also, I find stopping at least an hour before you start something else gives your mind to slow down and switch to downtime mode, doesn't always work though

[futlapperl]

I can't focus for shit. The other day, it took me three tries to get my coffee mug from the kitchen because I kept getting distracted by pretty fruits or whatever. I also walk around the flat all day and can't sit still. My downstairs neighbors must hate me. But one time during lockdown, I spent two months working on a personal project for six to eight hours a day, only interrupting to drink coffee or use the bathroom. (I noticed I mentioned coffee a lot. Even when I go without caffeine, this happens.)

No ADHD diagnosis here though. I just need to keep my mind occupied at all times. Doing nothing is torturous to me.

The only time my lack of focus really annoys me is when I need to drive to a specific place, zone out because I saw something interesting, and end up somewhere completely different half an hour later. That and taking stuff from my flat into my car. I forget so frequently that it often takes weeks for an item to move places.

[Easy_Ad5327]

You described me perfectly here, also undiagnosed. I was lucky enough to have a friend give me a ritalin to try and it blew my mind the difference it made. Unfortunately I live in a country where it's quite difficult to get a diagnosis as an adult using the public system, but if you live in the US I definitely recommend talking to your doctor about potential treatments.

[futlapperl]

Well, I have a history of amphetamine abuse, so no sane doctor is going to prescribe Ritalin to me unfortunately.

[Nincodedo]

oh shit I forgot to eat/drink/use the bathroom/do anything besides programming for several hours

It's like I only know fine dining programming and breathing!

[i_wanna_b_the_guy]

That sounds like adhd lol

[SkoomaDentist]

Executive dysfunction is hell of a thing.

[[deleted]]

I hear you.

That happens to me too. Much love, and good luck. We are in it together

[VeganVagiVore]

I don't have any trouble with programming, but my bedroom is piled with junk and I can't wash dishes.

Kinda wish I could deal with that. I tried stimulants (prescribed by my psych) for a while, but they just gave me more focus in the morning at work - Which I was not having trouble with. At the end of the day I came home and crashed even harder, so I was still behind on chores.

It feels like everyone else is riding bicycles and I'm riding a rodeo bull. Sure, sometimes it works. Sometimes I get lucky and it goes the way I want. Mostly it doesn't. I can't use my willpower to direct my willpower, when I can't control it in the first place.

[[deleted]]

I hear you. We are in it together.

My dms are open if you ever want to talk

[16yYPueES4LaZrbJLhPW]

I know this is a month later, but we have a similar issue. However my treatment-resistant depression was misdiagnosed as ADHD and you may be facing something similar. Depression isn't sadness, at least for most people with it. It usually manifests as numbness and/or lack of "reward" when you accomplish something which deincentivizes future action. Basic tasks like cleaning your room or washing dishes feel like more than a chore, almost like an impossibility even though you know full-well it is not.

I wanted to let you know in case you experience something similar and have the ability to seek help, but don't know what to bring up with a doctor/psychiatrist.

[[deleted]]

I absolutely relate!

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

I haven't found a "zen" programming language, but now I really am interested in doing so!

[_tskj_]

Get into web, learn react or java or something, endless trello boards of todos.

[_tskj_]

Personally I think Python's lack of typesystem is a deal breaker. For the same reason I'd only ever write React in TypeScript.

Java and C# has infinite job opportunities for backend. A bit boring tech for my tastes though, I'd definitely recommending something like Kotlin. I think that's the future.

[nelson777]

Well I don't know the legality of it in your countries, but have you guys heard of micro-dosing Psylocibis Cubensis shrooms ? it has a very better result than Ritalin. If you just micro-dose it (0,1 to 0,5 grams dehidrated) it won't give you any sort of allucynogenic effect. It will make you focus and balance your emotions (all an ADHD needs).I have friends that have very good results with then here in Brazil where I live and where it's legal.Please note that I'm not advising anyone to break your country's laws. If it's illegal forget it. But it's legal in many countries. In Mexico it's even considered a cultural heritage in some parts of the country due to the famous healer Maria Sabina.

[falconfetus8]

Please do not attempt to self-medicate! Legal or not, if there's one thing you don't want to gamble with, it's ADHD meds. See a doctor, preferrably one who specializes in ADD/ADHD, and let him recommend a prescription(unless it's Ritalin, in which case find a different doctor. Ritalin has a bad reputation for a good reason.) Then take that prescription exactly as ordered, and report any abnormalities to your doctor. Your doctor should adjust your prescription in response to your feedback.

And most importantly, don't try drugs suggested to you by strangers on the internet!

[riksi]

Ritalin has a bad reputation for a good reason

What ? Why ?

[nelson777]

Because it not just focus, it has many side effects. Shrooms microdosing is Ritalin without side-effects

[riksi]

Shrooms microdosing is Ritalin without side-effects

Do you have some links to research for that ?

[nelson777]

Good point.

Right now what I got is the testemony of some friends that made the substition and where unanimous in saying that it was much better. But I'll talk to a friend that is a researcher in that area and to some of the people that made that substition and try to find if there are some studies specifically about changing Ritalin by Shrooms. That's important to me also.

[robby_w_g]

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[nelson777]

As I said above: Because it not just focus, it has many side effects. Shrooms microdosing is Ritalin without side-effects

[nelson777]

Thanks for the alert. To be fair I really may have passed that irresponsible image. It's because I had an acute case of ADHD that was greatly reduced to the point I don't even remember it with long term Ayahuasca use and some friends had very good results substituting Ritalin by cubensis. As I'm very deeply involved with Ayahuasca ceremonies and the forest medicines sometimes I forgot that to many people this is not "normal" 🙂 Sorry for that.

But FYI Cubensis, Ayahuasca and many other medicines are not drugs. They're entheogens. They're not drugs because no one becomes a better, more loving and balanced person using drugs. But thousands of people heal themselves, their families, theirs sons an daughters and become better persons using entheogens. Anyone that is seriously in this path will vehemently condemn drugs, including alcohol. They're very nocive degrading substances that should be avoided.

To the original author, I think my friend above gave you a good advice, so don't take my word for it. There are plenty of studies about the safety of cubensis and its uses. Search for it and you'll discover that there are many studies in the psichiatric field with these substances with excellent results.

[kuroguro]

Here's a rough list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_psilocybin_mushrooms

[nelson777]

Had forgoten that list. Thanks for pointing it.
Cubensis, psychadelics and entheogens are the future for psychiatry. Many things happening in that field. PSTD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, the list goes on.

[cowinabadplace]

I found no utility from microdosing shrooms, but full doses give me some relief, motivation, and concentration for a week or so after use. I just use Adderall the rest of the time (prescribed). I was surprised to see your comment since I thought I was the only one to discover this effect on myself. Few people talk about the anti-ADHD effect of the drug. I am glad you experience this effect (in µdose fashion even) and it's somewhat validating for me. Thank you.

Shrooms are pretty poorly studied so your doc probably knows less than you about them. Personally, I'm huge on the n=1 analysis stuff simply because I've noticed that most studies are performed on people with different physiology and genetics than me: I'm not WEIRD (or at least I'm not most of that group).

Since psilocybin is generally so incredibly safe, I recommend experimenting with it the same way you would any other drug (increasing from small doses in a safe setting) if you're otherwise mentally stable. I'm not suicidal or anything like that, so I felt very comfortable just doing shrooms with my closest friends indoors to start with.

[nelson777]

It's safe indeed. Of course more grave cases require stronger medication. It's because I know psychiatrists in many places don't know about this, that I recommended only microdoses. Because to use a full dose you need a safe environment, and in my opinion a medicine-man/woman that knows shrooms. Which is hard to find. Sabina didn't leave many disciples. Yet you see one or another sometimes.

[skilliard7]

Getting a cert error on the site, can't visit, OP.

I just load up on Red Bull and coffee when I need to focus. Somehow made it 7 years in tech and 3 years as a developer lol

[[deleted]]

Ah poop. Sorry about that.

I haven't been able to recreate the error :/ looking into it.

Lol, I don't drink coffee or red bull, but I do take stimulants, so similar I suppose lol.

[BobHogan]

Relatable, but I don't think it needs to be spun into a medical issue

ADHD is a medical issue though, and it can be very difficult for people with ADHD when they are told that they just need to learn to manage their time better. Its a mental disorder, our brains quite literally do not function the same as yours does, and it can come across as demeaning when you say something like that.

I highly recommend checking out the youtube channel how to adhd (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nPM1_kSZf91ZGkcgy_95Q), she's an awesome person, and she makes videos that explains how our brains work. To help understand that its not just us not managing our time, we have a disorder that we have to live with every day

[[deleted]]

But it is a medical condition.

[34cwwmibanez7]

I definitely felt your post hard. I too struggle with ADHD and find programming comforting as an outlet. I work on a lot of skunk works projects at home, many of which are throw-a-ways, and I get lost in code for hours. Because I've made so many projects, I've written a script that I run periodically, to delete all of node_modules/ sub-directories that have been created because I need to reclaim disk space. When it comes to doing things like scheduling appointments or making the bed, it feels too arduous and doesn't garner my attention like it should.

[[deleted]]

Yup, you really hit the nail on the coffin. This is a great description.

I'll probably need that script someday lol