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How I Run a Company with ADHD

• blakesterz 7y ago
  ADHD sucks. I mean, it ain't cancer, but it sucks. I was never officially diagnosed, but when my son was at 7 is when I realized what ADHD really is, and that I'm an ADHD guy. Some how I made it through 40+ years with it and never knew it. I struggled though college, took me 9 years to get my BA. Somehow got a masters. Somehow managed to get a series of better jobs after my degrees. And I've somehow succeeded in life (my definition of succeeded) with ADHD and without any help or anything. I struggle with it every day still. ADHD sucks, I have no idea how I got to where I am, but I know I'm lucky. It's also made me a better parent to my ADHD kid, I know what he's going through, it's taught me patience and kindness that I never had growing up. If you don't know much about ADHD , it's not what you think it is.
  • alehul 7y ago
    As someone who also has it: have you tried medicine like Adderall? I’m so torn on it. On one hand, it makes me so productive, but on the other, it makes me so unemotional and cold and abrasive. It also makes me sweat, increases my heart rate, and has a terrible comedown when taken often. I was diagnosed at 16 and was on it for years, eventually moving up to 4x the dosage as my body grew resistance. I’ve stopped it for the past couple years, and now am back to the lowest dosage on rare occasions I take it, but still unsure how to feel about it.
    • QuackingJimbo 7y ago
      It definitely helps the day to day but I cant help but think it is a horrible idea long term
      • ryanianian 7y ago
        I don't have the research handy, but Adderall has been proven very safe for long-term use when taken at "normal" dosages and with oversight by a doctor. I've been on it for 20 years and with the oversight of responsible doctors, and I have never had to increase my dosage (in fact I've reduced it 25% in the last 5 years). All my heart/blood/* tests come back good and I'm not a particularly health-conscious person. I regularly take week-long breaks to assess if it's still the right regimen for me. (Like the parent post says, the days off of it can be brutal but avoiding tolerance and assessing its true impact are invaluable.) I don't "like" Adderall but it is the only way I feel sane. My point: don't be afraid to seek meds that help just because you may fear some long-term effects. A doctor can help you decide if the long-term effects are worth the gain, and there may not in fact even be the long-term effects you're worried about, especially if you talk about those worries with your doctor.
        • internet_user 7y ago
          Nobody will ever admit it but memantine and/or dxm maintain effectiveness of amphetamines. Even as much as fully resetting tolerance in some cases.
          • opportune 7y ago
            Not worth it for the potential brain damage
            • sizzle 7y ago
              How does it cause brain damage?
    • falcolas 7y ago
      Work with a psychiatrist to try other meds. There are non-stimulant meds that work with ADD too. Adderall is not the only option; it didn’t work for me. It took a bit, and I ended up with Dextroamphetemine. The physical side effects dulled down to the occasional restless leg, and the mental effects work well.
      • HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
        Personally, I was on methylphenidate (generic for Concerta) from eighth grade until very recently, when I switched to an Adderal ER. The difference for me was more what happened when I came off of it- on methylphenidate, I got super irritable right around the same time I got home, which was not good. I haven't noticed anything weird with this one, but for anyone reading this, I would highly recommend "shopping around" for ADHD medicine if you can.
      • ClassyJacket 7y ago
        Adderall and Dextroamphetamine are almost the same. They're both amphetamine (speed) with just slightly different ratios of the isomers.
        • pseudalopex 7y ago
          Dextroamphetamine is a pure enantiomer. Adderall includes levoamphetamine, which has stronger peripheral effects.
    • leoc 7y ago
      It does nothing for procrastination and so proved useless to me.
    • jjeaff 7y ago
      Try Vyvanse or one of the other high grade, extended release alternatives to Adderall. Lots of people have had issues with Adderall, especially after the patents expired and it started being made almost exclusively overseas as a generic.
      • blackflame7000 7y ago
        Long term usage of those drugs will cause GERD. I know first hand
        • system2 7y ago
          Even the first time does it. Addie or others are super strong and mess up the stomach acids fast.
        • jjeaff 7y ago
          How long is long term? I have a friend that had problems with GERD until he started taking Adderall. It seems that he is not alone. Something about stimulants seem to help digestive problems for some people.
          • blackflame7000 7y ago
            After about 5 years is when I started noticing the side effects got worse than the desired effect.
    • EnderViaAnsible 7y ago
      I think nearly all of us that aren't secretly abusing medication feel that ambivalence. For me and I assume for others, it is not a fully adequate treatment. Some symptoms it fixes, some it helps with, some it does nothing for, some it actually makes worse. (In particular, impulsivity and inability to task switch accurately.) Then there are the side effects, and the comedowns after tolerance builds. Nevertheless you must still learn coping skills, still pursue other treatment (exercise, decent diet, sleep, CBT if needed), still struggle as the square peg. I have used medication for roughly 5 years ish of 30 some years of life, intermittently. I'd say taking it is better treatment than not, but honestly, like you, I feel a deep ambivalence towards it. (Even resentment, sometimes.)
    • internet_user 7y ago
      Look into nuvigil, and if that fails - wakix (pitolisant/tiprolisant)
    • bg4 7y ago
      I have ADD and sleep apnea, a double whammy of conditions that society likes to mislabel as 'character flaws'. I took ADD for a few years; it helped at first but after a year or so I had to stop because I was becoming very angry when on it. I believe the exhaustion/constant jet lag of the apnea (even with CPAP treatment) and work/kids entirely depleted my patience and self-control and the adderall then exacerbated my temper. I'd much rather be foggy/forgetful than angry.
      • all2 7y ago
        I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I no longer need my machine Here are some of the things I tried: cut out wheat, cut out refined sugars, lift heavy things 3 to 5 times a week, do an elimination diet (whole 30 is a good one), get a good supplement stack (Standard Process has good stuff)... I'm not sure what else I tried. I think the changes in my diet made the biggest difference.
    • Sophistifunk 7y ago
      I've never had Adderall because it's not for sale in .au for some reason. I've tried Ritalin and Modafinil and Dexamphetamines. Ritalin didn't help much and gave me headaches, but Modafinil is much better. It doesn't help with the ADHD quite as well as Dex does, but all the annoying side effects are far less pronounced as well. Unfortunately in .au you can't get it subsidised for ADHD, only narcolepsy, so I've stuck with Dex just because it's so much cheaper, despite it being way worse for you.
    • thrav 7y ago
      Dosage could be off too. Try going lower and tone release. Look up titration. The right doctor will help you dial this in and interview you to make the right call.
    • system2 7y ago
      Yes, you pretty much summed up all. Don't forget sleepless nights if you took it after 11 am or later. Also: Heartburn, dry mouth, and severe dehydration, loss of appetite (yay for this one actually). And flushing (pee pee pee all day). IF you are working from home with minimal contact, it works. Never EVER answer a phone call when you are on it (this is to whoever planning to use it in the future). God knows, how many times I argued with a client just because of Adderall. It forces anyone using it to keep the communication to a minimum. And when a client calls (usually oblivious, but demanding), you will end up arguing at some point. Adderall = never do anything social including phone calls. I am serious.
      • atemerev 7y ago
        Looks like your dose is way too high...
        • system2 7y ago
          Usually people take 20-30 mg pills. This happens anywhere after 10mg. I see lots of sleepless dudes in tech industry. All angry and intolerant :)
          • atemerev 7y ago
            My prescription is 30mg of Elvanse daily, which corresponds to 12mg of Adderall _spread through the day_ (Elvanse/Vyvanse is an extended release form). Taking it all at once would surely lead to all that effects.
      • thecatspaw 7y ago
        > Don't forget sleepless nights if you took it after 11 am or later. Medication that keeps you awake for 16 hours leads to sleepless nights if taken late into the day, more news at 2.
        • chaosite 7y ago
          Obviously. On the other hand, if you didn't take it before 11am for reasons (some of which may be bullshit!) you then get to make a Sophie's choice between being productive and sleeping.
  • lioeters 7y ago
    > Some how I made it through 40+ years with it and never knew it. I can relate to this, and I think there's a potentially large underbelly of society, that many (most?) of us are walking around with undiagnosed personality "disorders" (let's say, traits) like ADHD, the autistic spectrum, agoraphobia, narcissism, sociopathy, and so on - maybe even ones we haven't discovered or classified yet. The infamous DSMMD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is a massive tome, where pretty much every member of human society can find a matching category..
    • colechristensen 7y ago
      In a nutshell, the DSM say anything that sucks is a disease. What is exciting is that the wandering-in-the-dark of psychology is being usurped by neurology actually understanding how the brain works on gradually higher and higher levels.
    • eswat 7y ago
      I found out this year, at 32, that I have a mostly-anxious/sometimes-avoidant insecure attachment style. Some of the bumps I’ve experienced in life probably would have gone smoother if this was made apparent to me years ago and I had the tools I have now to work with it.
  • colechristensen 7y ago
    ADHD doesn't suck. Forty years of 9-5 jobs, mortgages, university degrees, and elementary school sucks when you're the type of person who can get diagnosed as ADHD. The world discriminates against people who don't have the temperament to fit in to its patterns of society. We don't quite know how to pursue ἀρετή, virtue, eudemonia, excellence, whatever you want to call it in life because modern life was built for another kind of person and the animal life we left behind is far gone. Advice about "fixing" ourselves is mostly about finding effective ways to fit square pegs into round holes (like Adderall)
    • EnderViaAnsible 7y ago
      ADHD is objectively a bundle of true deficits, not just a set of traits society frowns on. Certainly these deficits weren't as much of a disadvantage in early human evolution, but if you can create metrics and show that people with ADHD perform worse at some generic tasks vs. average human beings-- and you can, we have-- this is not just a world that has been created that is inhospitable to them. The ugly thing I've found, which accords with what you have said here, is that the best treatment for me is as many hours of sunshine as possible and several hours of vigorous exercise a day. (Thanks for teaching that, Marine Corps.) But of course there are very few jobs with security, brain exercise, and mobility that give me this, and essentially no jobs that are compatible with it (that it is, where I could take this time off per day and still retain a job). So of course I use medication and stick with jobs that drive me nuts, jobs that are terrible for me but pay well. I feel for the ADHD people who weren't gifted as decent a brain as mine, as if it weren't for that I doubt my employers would have been as indulgent of my other flaws from ADHD.
      • colechristensen 7y ago
        Read The Selfish Gene and https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2008/06/12/the-misfits https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2008/06/12/... There is doubt that a set of behaviors which is so prevalent in the population is just an accident and a disease. Evolutionary pressures exist to optimize gene expression ratios in a population. Put differently, when a certain gene becomes rare in a population individuals with that gene have a significant advantage in life and reproduce more – when the same gene becomes over prevalent individuals with that gene have a significant disadvantage and reproduce less. There are traits which have pressure to be a certain proportion of a population. ADHD or whatever else you may call it could very well be that. Ancient societies which had a small proportion of a certain kind of person thrived because their different behavior made them successful. It doesn't have to be a disease to not fit in to a certain society.
  • adito 7y ago
    > If you don't know much about ADHD , it's not what you think it is. Honest question, I don't know much about ADHD. What's ADHD actually is?
    • internet_user 7y ago
      ADHD is some degree of impairement in the ability to self-direct your own behavior, also known as executive function.
      • ScottFree 7y ago
        Isn't that at odds with your previous comment? > Inability to sustain concentration is not a temperament. It's a neurological impairement. The impression the article gave me is that ADHD is more the inability to choose what you focus on, not an inability to sustain concentration?
        • internet_user 7y ago
          Inability to sustain attention/concentration is just one of the most common facets of ADHD. Yes, you could have more/others impairments in your executive function than just attention. Impulsivity is commonly measured as well. ADHD is really an umbrella term for several syndromes. I disagree with the notion that "inability to choose" is necessarily a definitive part of ADHD . It often is, and is common, but it's not unique to ADHD at all. It can also be due to anxiety, PTSD, all sorts of other issues, and people with those issues improve on anxiolytics/tranquilizers, instead of stimulants.
          • ScottFree 7y ago
            > ADHD is really an umbrella term for several syndromes. That does seem to muddy the water a bit, doesn't it? Thanks for the detailed response!
            • internet_user 7y ago
• snazz 7y ago
  I wonder how common this is among HNers. I felt like I could relate to many of the feelings in the article and I certainly have trouble keeping track of time (w.r.t. rabbit holes and whatnot) and do better with some external motivation. In particular, I can be “hyperfocused” when it comes to interesting technical challenges for many hours, but I get distracted instantly when doing my email, the laundry, or taxes. I’m not sure if the magnitude might be what sets me apart from people who have genuinely been diagnosed with ADHD or if no one ever suspected it because I did well in school and at work.
  • Klathmon 7y ago
    For me the difference is that the feelings of distraction and inattentiveness aren't just with things I don't want to do, they are always there, and are sometimes worse with things I enjoy doing. And the hyperfocus happens when it happens, and sometimes it will be on stuff I don't enjoy doing but can't seem to stop thinking about. Without my medicine I have trouble watching a tv show or movie I really like, I can't play some videogames because they can't keep my attention even though I'm having a great time. I'll normally listen to an hour long podcast over a few days because every 5 minutes I need to pause it to "focus" on something else (like I just did to write this comment), and often I don't come back to it (like I probably won't tonight!)
  • filmgirlcw 7y ago
    You may or may not have some ADHD tendencies, but it’s not uncommon for people to miss out on diagnosis as children. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 19 or 20 because my perfectionism (which was/is directly tied to the anxiety/major depression I was diagnosed with at 14, but self-diagnosed at 9) sort of overrode the traditional symptoms. I did well in school (because I couldn’t NOT have perfect grades). I excelled at work. For many years, I was compulsively neat. (I’m not really sure what happened to the neatness). When I was 17, I was put on ADHD meds as a way to treat side-effects of an antidepressant, but I found it had a ridiculously positive impact on my life. In college, I was formally diagnosed, and my psychiatrist posits that the fact that I appeared to be “fine” is what kept me under the radar. According to my doctor, it’s not uncommon for that to happen, especially if the individual is of above-average intelligence (I was given the “gifted” label before entering kindergarten). I always “joke” (except, it’s not a joke an I’m 100% serious), that I’m a high-functioning ADHD person. And it’s true; over the last 15 years or so, I’ve learned to augment my behavior and recognize when the disease is impeding on my life. For clarification: being able to recognize something != always being able to change what is happening. I’ve also been fortunate to find work in fields where my ability to do multiple things at once is useful. But I tell people I’m in meetings with frequently about the stuff I do to help quell my worst tendencies (I play puzzle games on my phone, for instance, so that I can pay attention to what people are saying. It looks rude, but the alternative is me literally not being able to focus on what is being said. And when I explain it, I’ve never found someone to be unsupportive), and I try to plan and make adjustments for my own time clock. Like you, if it’s something I’m interested in, I can be hyper focused for hours. But the second something is born for even just not that compelling, it’s a struggle.
• justboxing 7y ago
  Very informative article. The author didn't really delve into whether he uses meds to cope with ADHD. How do other people who have ADHD cope with it as startup founders? Do meds like Adderall, Ritalin or Concerta work? What about Nootropics? Asking cos this situation seems to be very common in our profession i.e. starting some side project, getting overwhelmed with perfectionism, distractions and never shipping. Is that ADHD or just plain procrastination?
  • Lazare 7y ago
    I noticed the omission too. Even if he's not using any medication, that seems like something worth mentioning. Incidentally, I've had really good experiences with modafinil (aka Provigil). It's not approved for ADHD treatment in the US, but studies suggest it is effective, and it's widely prescribed off label.
    • DarkStar851 7y ago
      Modafinil is awesome for ADHD, but I've found its effects tend to plateau after a few months. Traiditional, do one thing well stimulants were my magic bullet. Currently (for the past several years) using Dexedrine.
    • bigDICK 7y ago
      Modafinil pales in comparison to Adderall. Very weak.
  • garmaine 7y ago
    Yes the meds work. Stimulants and ADHD are one clear cut medical win. Stimulants have a >90% success rate, and the instances where they don’t work are often more along the lines of the side effects not being worth it. The only difficulty is in finding a doctor that will prescribe, and a personal regimen that works.
  • js2 7y ago
    > The author didn't really delve into whether he uses meds to cope with ADHD. This note is toward the end of the article: A note on medication: When I take medication I feel these skills being dulled. I can't think as quickly, I'm not as outgoing. ADHD medication also contributes to an increase in anxiety, and so for me it's not worth it. If you're struggling you should absolutely try it. For some people, medication is a must. Don't ever feel bad about taking it if it helps you.
• povertyworld 7y ago
  Edit: Off-topic, not ADHD related. Carry on.
  • garmaine 7y ago
    Coaching does almost zilch to address ADHD needs. There’s some initial benefits, but it’s the same sort of benefit anyone would get from coaching. Coaching does not and cannot address anything specific to ADHD symptoms that manifest themselves in the moment.
    • deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
    • internet_user 7y ago
      Coaching is enormously useful. It will not fix an organic brain issue, of course, but to understand and have a feedback loop on your own behavior - is very helpful.
      • garmaine 7y ago
        Maybe I didn’t clearly communicate, but I meant no additional benefit specific to addressing ADHD problems of biological origin.
        • internet_user 7y ago
          It does to some extent, because once you have some improvements from stimulants, newly found ability to concentrate and follow through will allow you to create new feedback loops/circuits/patterns in your brain that didn't exist before, very much a biological change.
• QuackingJimbo 7y ago
  I disagree with his list of upsides -- there is no upside to ADHD. It is a disability. I've been able to manage it without using stimulants, through very careful planning and trial and error (step #1 is avoiding useless wastes of time such as reading HN). But it just sucks.
  • internet_user 7y ago
    why without stimulants?
  • tstrimple 7y ago
    I don't know. I can't write a CRUD app anymore to save my life, but I can dive into the middle of a foreign code base and quickly understand it and solve issues that stump the primary developers. I struggle with normal daily activities like paying bills or putting away laundry, but in an emergency or high stress situation when others are freaking out I feel comfortable and in control. I struggle with conventional learning, but can pick up things which align with my interests (which are wide and diverse) extremely quickly. The negatives are there, and they can be severe... but I do still see some upsides. I'm currently unmedicated, but have been on Adderall in the past. I've been able to manage it mostly by changing jobs when they become stable and boring or taking on roles where I'm constantly working on new projects for short amounts of time. I suspect at some point this will stop working and I'll have to change careers entirely and end up as a chef, or woodworker or something else completely different than what I do now. Maybe by that time I'll agree with your position, but I feel like I'm able to use ADHD to my advantage for the time being.
    • eicnix 7y ago
      I feel the same way. I've never been diagnosed with ADHD but can relate to all the descriptions of it here. In the past I jokingly said I need the stress and I think it holds true. In high pressure/thight deadline situations I can work with a high focus for hours but struggle working on projects which are going smooth.
      • Lord_Zero 7y ago
• GreeniFi 7y ago
  To the writer (if looking on this board), thank you for this piece. Have you ever come across this article in the Economist, summarizing research providing evidence that ADHD is a legacy of our nomadic past when ADHD traits conferred an evolutionary advantage? https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.economist.com/science-and-technology/2008/06/12/the-misfits https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.economist.com/science-and-t... My takeaway is that entrepreneurship is one of the few areas of modern life where ADHD might actually be a help rather than a hindrance.
  • danaos 7y ago
    Not OP, but as a sufferer, I boldly disagree. There may be some benefits related to brainstorming and "out of the box" thinking but they are overshadowed by the disastrous consequences of being unable to organize and execute.
    • GreeniFi 7y ago
      Have you been able to find hacks and/or work arounds? Reading the article, I wondered if ADHD might manifest with a range of severities. I have heard of ADHD sufferers for whom it is a serious disability, and other sufferers who claim it’s their super power. I can see that you would find the latter claim to be very irritating.
      • danaos 7y ago
        > Have you been able to find hacks and/or work arounds? The only way I have found it working is to outsource my scheduling to someone else. I believe that explains why many people are diagnosed during college. College is much less restrictive than school and as a consequence people have to do their own planning.
    • mobjack 7y ago
      Organizing and executing sucks with ADHD, but it helps in executing without much organization. It could be a good thing in the right environment like a startup. Trying to organize then execute something could take a month of back and forth and planning. If you skip that step, you can get it done in a week then plan afterwards.
• danaos 7y ago
  Wow! My story resonates with that of the author's. Although I did relatively well at school I struggled in collage. I skipped classes and my grades were far lower compared to my school years. In the second year of college I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. Not that I haven't seen it coming. Some of my teachers have long suspected it even during school. I knew I was special as I couldn't stick to the topic I was talking about during conversations, and even when writing essays! That my sound a bit elitist, but my belief is that the biggest factor that made me get through this is my self-perceive above-than-average intelligence. I couldn't let me fail. I managed to get in the second most prestigious electrical engineering college in the relatively small country I live. Running a startup is not easy, let alone if you suffer with ADHD. Me, having plans for the future, was relieved to see other like-minded people sharing their experience! Thank you.
• docnyc1 7y ago
  Throughout all of my years of schooling, I was never a strong student, but I made it to a position in life where I hold a very good career as a Facilities Director for a large hospitality group in NYC. I've had a few desk based "Operations" jobs that I struggled to be able to focus on. Being in this Facilities role is great because it's hands on which keeps me active but it's also very dynamic and evokes feelings of letting people down if I don't resolve time sensitive issues, fast. One of the worst feelings is that what I do is never enough. I always feel like I do a good job but can't seem to shake the feeling that I will somehow get fired because I am not good enough. Lots of anxiety. I do a good job at work, get compliments, but I can't go on a two week vacation w/o wondering if my job is on the line because I'm not there. How do those with ADHD shake the constant feeling of anxiety and of "not being good enough"? I also can relate to the entire ADHD <> entrepreneurship affinity because I come up with so many "niche", interesting business ideas but I struggle to exceute. Some of these ideas could make me a lot of money too with minimal investment.
• ScottFree 7y ago
  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 restaurant? I thought I was the only one that did that. It drives my aunt crazy. > I'll be halfway through a team meeting and realize I haven't heard anything that was said. That's ADHD. THAT'S ADHD? I do that all the time. I can't listen to podcasts either. But I just have difficulty processing the spoken word. I'm much more of a book learner anyway. > I was happiest with my nose in the book I'm seeing a disturbing pattern take shape. > I'll take a break to read an article and hours will go by before I realize what's happened. Not minutes, hours. That's ADHD. Wat. > I'm horrible at completing simple, repetitive tasks. I'm terrible at time management, and conceptualizing time in general. Uh oh. Other comments here have mentioned that stimulants help ADHD sufferers focus. I recently cut back to 2 20oz cans of red bull a day, but I was up to 4 a few years ago. I just thought caffeine was my drug of choice. Everyone's addicted to something, right? I currently have 52 open tabs on my laptop and another 37 open on my desktop. I'm not quite sure what to do with all of this. I just thought I was lazy.
  • internet_user 7y ago
    Perhaps ADHD is a frequent misdiagnosis. They are not uncommon in medicine, which is really guesswork in white coats. However, actual ADHD, and other similar attentional or executive function impairments are very likely to be under diagnosed BIG TIME.
    • zilian 7y ago
      Perhaps for some people ADHD is transitional, chronic - related to serious anxiety / pressure. I don't think everything is always 0 or 1
  • tudelo 7y ago
    Honestly I had/have many similar symptoms (of course there is more than can be written in a short comment) and was diagnosed and started medication over a year ago. It has been very positive for me. YMMV.
• seandoe 7y ago
  At what percentage of population does disorder become order?
  • atemerev 7y ago
    It doesn’t work this way. E.g. obesity is a major problem in the major segments of population, and even if 100% of population would be obese, it would still be a disorder.
• hateful 7y ago
  I also have ADHD (and felt the irony of watching my leg shake while reading about the author's leg shaking). I tend to do a lot of what the author is saying. "Planned distractions" help. I try to work in blocks of time (sometimes about 20 minutes) but when my mind starts to wander I let it and use that time to check my e-mail (or HN) then go back to the task. Keeping a task list is definitely key. I have a plain text file called "tasks.txt" open at all times and in the morning I'll list the stuff. I live by the "if it takes under 5 minutes do it right away" mantra. Sometimes I'll end up working on a task, that while it does need to get done, is not necessarily the first task on my list (or on the list at all). So after a "distraction break", I check my task list again so I don't forget. I am extremely good at figuring out issues. I'm a technical architect (programmer) and I often find myself going around and fixing others' issues quickly, but time management and attention to detail are definitely issues - issues that have been thankfully solved by technology and forethought.
  • nefitty 7y ago
    Cool. You've implemented your own form of the pomodoro technique, the 2-minute rule and most important tasks (MIT's) to get yourself organized. I think this is one way I've managed with a lot of the issues the author mentions... I'm just now hesitant to seek help for some reason, even though I know there might be something more besides methodology that can help me.
• swsieber 7y ago
  If by chance you have ADHD symptoms and you haven't been to a sleep clinic, please visit one. Not getting enough sleep can be a major contributing cause.
  • Nition 7y ago
    I've always found it interesting that the effects I get from not getting enough sleep seem extremely similar to the effects people describe from ADHD. When I tried to look up whether ADHD could actually be a sleep disorder, I only found a lot of the reverse: Articles saying that people with ADHD often also get a bad sleep. But I certainly wondered whether the causation might be the other way around. From what you're saying, sounds like there's evidence that it can be, at least partially?
    • swsieber 7y ago
      Yeah. There's a study referenced in "why we sleep". I'll have to find it. IIRC, the number given there was that about 50% of ADHD could be traced back to bad sleep. I have a friend who knows a dentist. The dentist said that when he sees signs of sleep issues (apnea, but he might have seem more) in his patient's mouth, he recommends they get treated. And very often, if the patient had ADHD symptoms, the symptoms went away after getting the sleep apnea treated. And lastly, yeah. I Also get a lot of ADHD symtpoms depending on my sleep quality/quantity.
  • atemerev 7y ago
    Not contributing, but worsening for sure. Yes, so what? It’s not that I can fix that; my sleep patterns is incompatible with my family’s sleep patterns, no matter what I do, I will be woken up in the early morning anyway. It’s not like there is a fix for that.
• puskavi 7y ago
  Am I the only one who thinks its easier to make things work in chaotic environment?
• joshmn 7y ago
  For my fellow ADHD people: Dr. Russell Barkley changed my how I think about every day life with ADHD. He explains it as not as much of an attention disorder as much as it is a time management disorder: we're nearsighted to time and all its constraints.
• burtonator 7y ago
  I have ADHD and I've been running my company for over a decade. I actually created an app to help my workflow specifically around the way my brain likes to jump between topics: https://getpolarized.io/ https://getpolarized.io/ Part of the challenge I have with reading is that I'll be interested in something for a few hours and then my brain will be triggered with something I'm reading and my brain will switch contexts. Then I'll want to read about some other topic. With Polar I can jump around easier and take notes directly in the source material. It supports incremental reading such that you can mark the portions of a document you've read and jump right back to them when you open the document a second time. It's really a lifesaver for me honestly. I've definitely been able to get a lot more reading done.
• serf 7y ago
  They went to a psychologist for a diagnosis, after grades started to slip, and received it. The author also mentions that they dislike ADHD medications. My curiosities when reading this article : Did the psychologist actually fix the slipping grades in any meaningful way? If so, was it through pharmacological methods, or some other technique? If it was dealt with through prescriptions, and the grades improved at the sake of anxiety, is that (graduating college with better grades) worth it? If it's worth it, should that behavior be drug into life as a founder -- presumably due to some sort of advantage that those pharmaceuticals may provide, and the anxiety just dealt with somehow else? These are all honest questions, if anyone cares to share their take on the situation with me. I've been in similar situations.
• madrafi 7y ago
  ADHD isn't just overdiagnosed, it's both https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/09/17/joint-over-and-underdiagnosis/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/09/17/joint-over-and-underdi...
• crispinb 7y ago
  I thought on initially reading the title he was claiming the company had ADHD, which seemed like carrying corporate personhood a bit far. Though it could be briefly diverting to diagnose the disorders of major tech companies.
• jwr 7y ago
  Andrew, you need to read the book "Driven" by Douglas Brackmann and Randy Kelley. You will quite likely find out that the book describes you well. If I'm guessing right, you are one of the "driven", people with certain genes expressed differently from 90% of the population. ADHD is just one of the possible visible symptoms, there are certain other markers that are important (some of which you exhibit: you are a founder/entrepreneur for example). Give the book a try. It changed my life (and I don't say that lightly). If I'm right, it might change yours.
  • KingFelix 7y ago
    Just added it to my Kindle
  • KingFelix 7y ago
    Just read it, awesome book, I pass DR. Brackmanns office in San Diego almost every day. Didn't find out till after I finished the book and looked him up. Wild, thanks for the recommendation!
• atiredturte 7y ago
  AD(H)D is a complicated and commonly misunderstood condition. Despite its name, it does not mean people with it have a deficit of attention. It involves (amongst other things): atypical dopamine production/regulation, and issues in the Prefrontal Cortex (where executive functions are handled). Because of this, it's not unusual for other conditions to cause people to experience similar symptoms to those with AD(H)D. The main difference, is that for people with AD(H)D, the symptoms are chronic and disruptive. Many symptoms caused by the executive function component can also be experienced by those who have theirs inhibited. This can be because they are: tired, stressed, drunk etc. When reading this or other articles on AD(H)D, if you resonate with the symptoms I urge you to read up and potentially get diagnosed. Just please don't assume that "everyone has some kind of ADHD" or that "ADHD is't real" because some symptoms are shared by other conditions, and can often seem like regular parts of the human condition.
  • nemonemo 7y ago
    Why do we separate ADHD from other abnormality with similar symptoms, when ADHD itself seems symptom-based diagnosis? I have my own personal hypothesis that some types of ADHD are caused by persistent stress due to sensitive sensory reactions. Also, another hypothesis of mine is that some may just develop similar symptoms with enormous stress factors (e.g. no proper caregiving at early age, or PTSD). Is there any literature that corroborates or disproves such hypothesis?
    • atiredturte 7y ago
      > Why do we separate ADHD from other abnormality with similar symptoms, when ADHD itself seems symptom-based diagnosis? What do you mean by symptom-based diagnosis? Most ailments are diagnosed by their symptoms. If you mean diagnosis by measurement of specific chemicals/etc in the brain, I've heard of some studies that show that you can diagnose ADHD through brain scans[1]. Just because there's symptom overlap doesn't make the diagnosis moot. Both allergies and the common cold can result in similar symptoms, yet we still diagnose them separately because they are not the same thing. Yes, depression and ADHD might have some similar symptoms caused by their own unique effects on dopamine in the brain, but they are both much more complex than that. > I have my own personal hypothesis that some types of ADHD are caused by persistent stress due to sensitive sensory reactions Given that ADHD has a very heavy genetic component, I am inclined to disagree. However, I did find a paper[2] that indicated a link between socio-economic factors and ADHD. The causation/correlation is not particularly clear in the paper, but it could be interesting to look at. [1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315884.php https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315884.php [2] http://www.academicpedsjnl.net/pb/assets/raw/Health%20Advance/journals/acap/ACAP_900_approved.pdf http://www.academicpedsjnl.net/pb/assets/raw/Health%20Advanc...
• cwmacken 7y ago
  Great article. I got diagnosed when I was in third grade and I always felt that shame as a kid... I still do alot today.
• nicodjimenez 7y ago
  A lot of people running companies are dislexic. Churchill ran the UKs fight against the Germans as an alcoholic. Lots of room for weirdos to do great things in this world.
• amitport 7y ago
  I have tons of work to do this morning. So, of course, I'm carefully reading all of those comments.
• blackflame7000 7y ago
  TLDR, vyvanse (amphetamine) makes you productive.
• jordanbeiber 7y ago
  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, absorbed. For a long time this worked out both personally (depending on who you ask) and with my employers/employees that so far have had no issues with my rather irregular rhythm (thank you tech!). Oh, the storytelling and talking... I feel sorry for my brain and, in retrospect, people that had to listen (I’m sorry! And I didn’t mean to be rude and offensive, it was just my thoughts at that very second!). As life have changed mainly through becoming a dad it has also become a lot more difficult —- not everything about kids is “interesting”, and staying up to 4 to tinker with something “interesting” is just such a bad idea when someone jumps on your face at 6. Everyone needs food? And it’s my responsibility? Today again?! Phew... etc. Spending energy on “non-interesting” things really is draining and seem to lead to kind of mini depressions. I’m happy that I’ve come to a point where I at least can see some of this behavior which allows me to work on some changes. Hard work though! Perhaps I should write about how I run(?) a family with ADD? It would make for a lot of laughs and a some sad stuff.
  • rtpg 7y ago
    I remember hearing something about how ADD is now not considered qualitatively different from ADHD in terms of what it does to you, and that it's just "ADHD with a bit less hyperactivity". Would definitely be interested in hearing your wins running a family and managing this
    • jordanbeiber 7y ago
      Just had to cut out a long digression in true ADD fashion. I'll save it for my future blog! So in short list format, just sharing some methods I employ, sans digressions: 0. Awareness. Took way too long for me to reach it. 1. What is mentioned in the article: prioritisation! That needs to lead to routine. Hard work this, but most important, as I have to be able to engage auto-pilot for "non-interesting" tasks. 2. Sleep. Just do it. I have found out that lack of sleep takes me down hyper-focus lane. Great when you are alone and is tinkering along for a weekend. Not at all in basically all other scenarios. Hit bed before 11. 3. Eat and drink. Healthy and just enough. The effects are similar to #2 if I don't. 4. Physical activities. Go for a 20 min run. It is boring, but reach the point of proper sweating and keep going for another 10-20 min. The effects on me are amazing and in many ways resemble #5, only even better. 5. Breathe. Honestly, I have started practicing mindfulness and it just works for me. It takes me down into myself and allows me to spread focus. On the bus right now, and this is what I can think of at the moment. Always a work in progress. I'll see about that blog...
• Grieverheart 7y ago
  Psychologists used to be people that listened to other people's problems and helped them out. Problems started to arise when they started thinking they are doctors and even started prescribing drugs to 'patients'. If you are given the label of ADHD or any of the new fancy labels, know that you are not 'sick'. Life is in your own hands and you can do something about it. The only benefit I see from this labeling is that it helps you find a community of like minded people. But still, it's a double-edged sword and many people treat it like a disease.
• peter_retief 7y ago
  Having ADHD one challenge for me is the todo list. My latest attempt to prioritize my activities is using email. I created two linux users "todo" and "done" then when I need to remember to do something I mail todo, when the task is done I forward the mail to done. Helpful article, hopefully more people will share their experiences that are often associated with shame and failure
• rootless 7y ago
  I feel you. Not diagnosed with anything, but totally knowing how you feel/think through the day. Also running a company, also having the same issues, yet I think this "condition" is what differentiates you from all the rest and, if you don't give in, will bring you places "ordered" people will never see :) Scrap that diagnosis. Your brain works in a different way than others, use it to your advantage and stop comparing with them. They can't do what you can. PS: I "medicate" myself with Weed. This helps me ordering thoughts a lot. Also it doesn't slow me down - quite the opposite.
• Vanit 7y ago
  It seems like I'm not the only one here that felt like something clicked when reading this or felt some anxiety about perceived personal faults. But you (and I) need to keep a few things in mind. - Even if you tick all the boxes it doesn't mean you have ADHD - If you're more or less leading a functional life already it doesn't matter if you have ADHD - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum_effect
  • ynx 7y ago
    > - Even if you tick all the boxes it doesn't mean you have ADHD On the other hand, whether or not you have ADHD, if you tick all the boxes, you might be able to learn helpful coping strategies regardless of your level of 'functional'.
• manigandham 7y ago
  I create a todo list with only 1 thing showing. I either skip it or work on it but there's only ever 1 thing. If I drift off, I look at that again every 10 mins (via alert) and get back on track. It's the only thing I've found that keeps me reigned in to a single task and grinding down the work instead of wasting away hours.
  • smileybarry 7y ago
    I do a similar thing: my work PC's todo list is a few tasks (with maybe a line of detail on some tasks), but my calendar has a daily repeating all-day "reminder" titled the current meta-task. That way whenever I glance at my phone it's enough to send me back on track.
• jamisteven 7y ago
  Other things that work, at least for me: - Intermittent Fasting - No sugar/grain/alcohol/shit food - Diet high in good fats, protein, greens - Meditation and deep breathing exercises - High intensity cardio at least 3 times a week Supplements that can help: - Good multi - CLO - Arginine AAKG - Creatine - Alpha GPC - Vinpocetine - Ashwahganda - Bacopa - Huperzine - Rhodiola - Uridine - Lyons Mane Mushroom
• bryanrasmussen 7y ago
  maybe I should write how I ruined my company and went seriously in debt with ADHD and thinking that a government website had an obvious bug and I had done what was required of me when really it was just horribly unusable and I had not. or maybe not
• irjustin 7y ago
  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.
  • ramblerman 7y ago
    > 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/ https://xkcd.com/1205/)
• jonathanstrange 7y ago
  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.
  • BurnerBotje 7y ago
    It's not just about performace. Dealing with emotional stress will become very had if you keep overthinking it and can cause serious issues. ADHD medication can really help in those situations.
  • Fnoord 7y ago
    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.
    • jordanbeiber 7y ago
      Yeah, I’ve always felt it resembles a form of autism. With ADD I score awfully high on the spectrum...
      • Fnoord 7y ago
        10 years before I finally got my ASD diagnosis I did not get an official AD(H)D diagnosis, but I did get Ritalin prescribed off the record. And it helped (though the coming down and instability between the high's was awful).
• Furiens2 7y ago
  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?
• deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
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• ADHDthrowaway1 7y ago
  I have ADHD
• ADHDthrowaway1 7y ago
  I have ADHD. I was diagnosed at the age of 33. I had struggled my way through high school, bachelors and masters degree, with an insanely loose cannon approach. At 33 I knew something was wrong with me. But I didn't know what. I always felt different than other people and I couldn't contain my thoughts and restlessness leading to mostly complete inattentiveness and a chaotic approach to life. At worst it felt like having my head filled with fleeting thoughts, like 3-5 radios next to my ears with music, different positive thoughts and ideas all at once. I went to a private practicioner and got diagnosed with ADHD. The ritalin and later Concerta tablets have improved my life 10X. I have been able to streamline my career, streamline my life and I can truthfully say that in a way, it saved me completely. I am now employed in a Fortune500 company, making a small ton of money (relatively) and can sustain myself very well. I will be buying my first real estate this fall. But without it, I don't know what I would have done. Become a homeless, drug-addicted hippie in a third world country maybe? There are trade-offs to taking it. (1) Emotional and energy depletion at the end of the day is one. I don't take it in the weekends, because I don't like the soul-less me that I become. I am able to have laser focus and almost have an unfair advantage to others when I am working on something that requires intense attention to detail or having to speak on some complex subject. Moral of the story: If you suspect it, get diagnosed and get medicines to help focus on the toughest of days at work and in your life. It is certainly a life changer if you are undiagnosed. Don't let ADHD waste your life away. Do this self test to consider whether you should see a specialist (Psychiatrist & MD) to get the diagnosis: https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/adhd-quiz/ https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/adhd-quiz/
• CHsurfer 7y ago
  My son has many of your challenges and reading this helps put in perspective his challenges. I'm not sure what to do about him not 'reaching his potential'. I want to be understanding, but at the same time, I want to push him to try. It's tough. Your advice about finding work that you like seems to be extremely important. He's only 12, so we have some time, but I will discuss this with him so that he starts to pay attention and learns to identify what he likes and doesn't. Also your list of skills is great. I will try to get him to also identify his strengths as he matures and make sure he understands that everyone has strengths and weaknesses and that it's important to play to his strengths. For me, this was a really great article. Thanks for sharing.
• chrisweekly 7y ago
  I found it tremendously helpful to hear AD(H)D described as a set of _traits_, which is only a "disorder" to the degree that it interferes with your goals. There are many ways in which these traits can be advantageous. It's analogous to being multi-threaded, or async / parallel processing; it makes things more complicated and harder to debug, but when harnessed properly, becomes a strength.
• deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
• throwawaymanbot 7y ago
  I only got so far reading this, then I got distract...
• squanch 7y ago
  Thank you for posting this + giving all the people commenting here a chance to express their thoughts about this topic.
• devinjflick 7y ago
  Thank you for this article! I also have ADD and found everything you said incredibly comforting and helpful!
• cwaffler 7y ago
  for me its... TLDR: vyvanse
• siliconunit 7y ago
  Anyone in the Montreal area could suggest a name for a good doctor to potentially diagnose and treat ADHD? This has been going on all my life and I am extremely fed up with it, I cannot list one single thing I ever finished 'properly' in my life (35+) and this include important academic and work tasks.. I don't want to 'have' anything , or justify my possible laziness/ineptitude, but I want to have professional making the call. Thanks...
• ryanmarr 7y ago
  This hits way too close to home.
• ccffph 7y ago
  stimulants are pretty much the only thing that will help. I notice a lot of users commenting how much caffeine, coffee, redbull, monster they consume. 10mg of adderall is much healthier for you than multiple cans of energy drinks. Take care of your body.
• dumbfounder 7y ago
  I was diagnosed ADHD in college when a friend who was recently diagnosed told me I had it too. I went to a specialist and he said diet was a big factor and bad dietary habits can greatly exacerbate symptoms or even cause ADHD symptoms in people that are not really ADHD. I was in college so naturally I didn't listen to him, and I started taking Dexedrine that he prescribed. It helped a lot at times, and I took it through college. I still was pretty miserable at college though. Right after college I co-founded a startup. I was looking for a way to avoid joining "the real world" of working people. I stopped taking the meds and was basically just hyperfocusing all the time. That first year there was only 8 total days I didn't go into the office to work (including weekends and holidays). I was able to use the hyperfocusing because I didn't have a family and didn't feel like I needed a life. That company was bought and a few years later I started another and went through the hyperfocusing stage again. I didn't even sleep in a regular cycle, I would stay up for 20-24 hours and then sleep 4-8. I was a mess, but it didn't matter. Years later I now have a family and those habits won't fly. I have always remembered the advice my doctor gave me now 24 years ago, but it was only the past 6-8 years or so that I actually started applying it. It works very well in my case, but I know my case is not extreme. I need to avoid carbs during the day. I need to get a good night's sleep. If I eat a salad at lunch I do not have attention issues. I now do low carb almost all the time and it has changed my life. Do I actually have ADHD? Yes, I think so. But it's not an extreme case, and I find it to be pretty well managed with good diet and sleep habits. Exercise helps a lot too. Always try this route before drugs. It's not a silver bullet, but I believe it can help a lot of people that might otherwise look to medication to solve their ADHD problems in themselves or their children.
• kermitismyhero 7y ago
  I didn't know that Andrew Askins ran Google.
• vectorEQ 7y ago
  "very fast"
• giardini 7y ago
  "How, With ADHD, I Run a Company" ftfy I have yet to find an entire company with ADHD although, given the accretion of VC firms in the SF area, I hold the possibility open.
• jonahrd 7y ago
  Thank you for writing this! It meant a lot to me to read it.
• picometer 7y ago
  To add another decibel to this crowded chatter: to succeed at something like this while dealing with ADHD, you need a lot of support, and after that it is still very hard. Behind each of these success stories is a lot of people in the background, giving reminders, dealing with the person who has tuned out for half the meeting, excusing lapses, etc. I say this as someone with the disorder myself. (The author’s description of the “time travel” effect is on point!) I take those people in my life for granted to often. But reading stuff like this and seeing it from the 3rd person perspective is a good reminder. Also worth noting that success stories on HN are subject to the survivor bias. (Not exclusive to the “entrepreneur with adhd” trope, of course, but definitely applicable.)
• Zach_the_Lizard 7y ago
  As a software engineer with ADHD (and maybe something else in addition to ADHD), it's almost scary how much of this is relatable. In a time of crisis, such as a last minute deliverable or an outage, I am probably the most productive engineer in my company. I churn out code like a machine, ruthlessly prioritize, scour our graphs and analytics tables for insight into what's causing the issues, and generally absolutely crush everything put in front of me. Diving into the analytical side has produced significant business wins in terms of identifying problems and implementing solutions that solved complex and hitherto undiscovered business problems to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. But as soon as the crisis is over, a switch flips, and I can no longer sustain productivity. I have a bit of code I'm working on to improve a certain large download feature. I know all of what I need to write. I know every file by heart, how everything fits together, all relevant third-party and internal APIs, and how I would implement this optimally, including some fancy lazy evaluation and ringbuffer tricks that will make the whole flow more efficient. But I find it very hard to keep contributing to it. It's just uninteresting once solved. On top of that, I work in an open-plan office and thus have the silence punctured by load conversation, video meetings that some folks have at their desks, and the visual distraction of people walking around. Unfortunately I have a mini-cafe and a restroom nearby, meaning my eyes have many people to track. On top of this, office politics are difficult for me. Before I started taking medication, I really couldn't pay attention in meetings or interviews. Same for many conversations. This tends to be interpreted as indifference or disinterest. I often want to pay attention but just can't. I hate the protocol where I have to add a bunch of "thank yous" and "pleases" and a bunch of flowery language around emails and other communication rather than getting straight to the point. HR is not a fan of direct language. This leads into the emotional aspects of ADHD. I feel as though emotions can be stronger for me than for the average person, especially negative emotions such as anger. Pretty much my entire life, from childhood until now, I've been told to calm down, think things through a bit more, and not act so rashly. As a result, despite having a good track record due to some aforementioned business wins (better than everyone in my org), I tend to alienate leadership and am considered somewhat "unmanageable." I was put up for staff and rejected because, sure, you found some cool things, but can you lead a team for 6 months? Vyvanse has helped. I no longer get up from my desk an infinite number of times, and my tendency to start a bunch of 20% projects that each need 100% of my time has drastically reduced. I feel as though maybe 30 is closer to my mental age. There is apparently a correlation between ADHD and other issues. I've taken non-diagnostic tests for some form of high functioning autism and tested fairly highly. Some of my family members clearly have issues, e.g. my younger brother runs away and hides during social circumstances sometimes to recharge and has trouble making eye contact, as does an uncle of mine. Finding the truth of the autism issue at it applies to me is the next phase of my journey. All in all, it's an interesting situation to be in. You're smart enough to recognize that you're broken in various ways and will forever know that, despite your best efforts, you have significant challenges that will make it difficult to fulfill your potential. But no one can see these issues.
• JabavuAdams 7y ago
  Went through a bad spell last year. Got what I thought was the ideal contract: working from home on (non-game i.e. $$$) VR. Billing more in USD than I had ever billed in CAD. Working with genuinely nice people. Couldn't make it work. Would get into loops of crunching all weekend to finish the work I'd committed to doing in the week. Became a shitty and irritable Dad due to work stress. Spent hours in loops like "This would be totally doable if I just started now ... but it hurts too much to stop thinking about what I'm interested right this minute ... but it's going to hurt later ... let's analyze all of the ways this is a repeat of my previous fuckups to see if I can figure my way out of this one ... and down the HOOOOOoooooooole" Confounding factors: (1) trying to do school at the same time. (2) getting served with divorce papers when I thought I had come to terms with things. (3) Sleep apnea treated with CPAP. Impulsivity / exhaustion / obstacles at bedtime results in not using CPAP which results in greater distraction and higher impulsivity -> downward spiral for the week. I learned a very valuable lesson, though. You CANNOT fight procrastination by analysis. You MUST start the thing. There is no other solution. Any other choice is procrastination. Mantra: "You need to stop. What's your next action? What's your next action? ... " This seems obvious, but in the throes of an analysis / procrastination spiral it seems like maybe, just maybe you might be able to think your way out of this. NO. I also started a new medication at the beginning of 2017 - generic Strattera. It didn't prevent these problems, but it has actually been a great help. There are side-effects, but I'm willing to accept them. I call it my "anti fuck-it" medication. It damps down impulsivity without reducing my creativity (impulsivity is the source of creativity). This is suprisingly multi-faceted. I am less likely to overeat (less likely to say I don't need more pie but fuck it!). I can do deeper search in strategy games or planning (less likely to look a few moves ahead, get befuddled, and say fuck it, I'll just do this random action). It also feels like I have another register of short-term memory, although this could be due to sleep, etc. So ... don't rule out meds, but they're not a silver bullet. Also, the wrong meds can damage or kill you. I still have some interesting minor mental issues from Dexedrine a decade and a half ago. On it, I got paranoid and that almost killed me. EDIT> One other tip: limit any online discussion to 1 reply. You get one reply, and that's it. Don't keep responding to a thread. It really doesn't matter, and is a huuuuuge time sink.
• nraynaud 7y ago
  I am still looking for a coping mechanism, because I'm not a people person, so recruiting a team and having other people focus for me doesn't feel like the right fit.
• Ftuuky 7y ago
  After reading this thread I scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist. Too many red flags for me to ignore.
• meathouse 7y ago
  awesome. great stuff. with all the negative stigma around the ADHD umbrella it was refreshing to read this. in particular the parts showing how little tasks can seem overwhelming to someone with the condition. i struggle with this endlessly. it is by far the worst part for me, and often the hardest for people w/o the condition to understand.
• 0xCMP 7y ago
  These articles and posts confuse me. Aren't most people dealing with these problems?
• crimsonalucard 7y ago
  Not everyone has the opportunity to be CEO. I value this persons recount of his experience but does anyone have tips to be successful that are more down to earth. For example I heard emergency room doctors are really good careers for those with ADHD.
• samirm 7y ago
  How does one determine the "normal" levels of distraction/laziness from clinically diagnosable ones? Surely this is a spectrum. How does one determine the threshold? Is this just stats/distribution based? Does it vary from population to population? How much of this is nature vs nurture? Are there physical/neuro-structural/procedural differences in the brain? How do we know the so called medication isn't just treating the symptoms as opposed to solving the problem, if not causing more/other problems (kind of like anti-depressants)? How much do we actually know about all of this? I don't know any details about ADD/ADHD, but I can relate to a lot of these symptoms. I never once thought I had ADHD, but it would make sense that something like this is a spectrum rather than a binary property.
• ericksoa 7y ago
  1.) Adderall. 2.) See 1.
• qwefscb 7y ago
  actually, why think that ADHD is a disease in the first place? the causal/neurobiological basis for ADHD is unclear, and it is possible that such behavior is statistically normal given the environment. whenever someone claims that he has adhd, i strongly suspect medicalization / overdiagnosis
• uwaco74 7y ago
  https://www.letjamz.com/9239/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-season-1-episode-7-the-trial https://www.letjamz.com/9239/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-seaso...
• eggy 7y ago
  Something I learned from my ex-girlfriend many years ago about the labeling of mental diseases in the DSM, and insurance always stuck with me. In order to allow doctors to bill for a consultation, or prescribe medicines, they need to code it. If it is not a cataloged disorder, no insurance, no pharma around the condition. A good reason to try and get a label for the DSM. I think there are far too many diagnoses of ADHD in America vs. say Europe, and I am even more skeptical about the actual category of ADD, ADHD and similar mental disorder acronyms. We strive to hard to label any behavior different than some statistical norm as aberrant, and in need of correction. I am not a doctor, but there are some professionals who also have this opinion [1,2]. I am not saying ADD, ADHD are not real descriptions of what people seem to identify with, or experience, but that maybe we are pulling in a lot of others in the wide net of attempting to normalize our children and society. Personally, I believe people need to identify with something, or have reasons for feelings or behaviors they can't seem to find cause for, or label. I lived and grew up in Brooklyn during the 1970s, and it was interesting to note that my friends who remained in the city after having children had their kids on some type of medication (lithium, prozac, amphetamines) compared with my kids and a few others who left for the countryside, or another country. It's not urban vs. rural, but more an American thing. After having lived overseas for 8 years, and some other odd years in other countries, I returned to the US, and when I turned on a TV for the first time in a long time, all I saw were big pharma adds for everything from spastic colon to mental disorders. Fortunately, I killed cable and only watch films, or read, or watch self-curated internet snippets of videos, news and articles. When I stay in a hotel, I see the same adds pushing cures, solutions in the guise of attractive people in bucolic settings. It's no wonder there's a rush to medicate everything. I truly feel compassionate for anyone who feels bad, or different enough to suffer mentally or physically. I know, since I have had my own battles for sure. I only hope we aren't somatizing the population of kids, and implanting the idea that something is wrong with otherwise "normal" children. [1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-theater-the-brain/201503/no-there-is-no-such-thing-adhd https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-theater-the-brai... [2] https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/features/adhd-critics#1 https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/features/adhd-... [3] https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/02/adhd-neither-disease-or-disorder https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/02/adhd-neither-d...
• Leggomyeggolas 7y ago
  Here's how I deal with my ADHD: 1) Amphetamine 2) Minimalism 3) Start with small wins and scale up in tasks 4) Have a plan in place so you don't waste #1.