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This resonated with me somewhat. I think what he describes is my default inclination... I focus very closely, struggle to multitask, etc. Classic ADHD symptoms,

This resonated with me somewhat. I think what he describes is my default inclination... I focus very closely, struggle to multitask, etc. Classic ADHD symptoms, though I cope because a) I think my symptoms are relatively mild (though noticeable). I think I could get a diagnosis if I wanted one, but could also probably avoid one if I wanted to. And b) I have the great luck that I can simply "weaponize" my hyperfocus to get work done. I know that in general people can't pick what they hyperfocus on, but I will suggest I don't pick... it's just that I always hyperfocus on coding and coding is my day job. So, quite serendipitous. Thank you Alan Turing, I would be homeless and alone without your inventions. But uh - back to the topic at hand - I also try hard to spend at least some time just being open and perceiving. Looking around for no purpose but to absorb and observe what is there to be absorbed and observed. I think sometimes I take it too far - missing my turn because I was examining the construction off the highway too closely, wondering what that construction worker holding the sign was thinking of to have that curious expression on his face - but I think it's better to overcorrect a little than to not try.

swatcoder 3y ago
FWIW -- You're not wrong that you could probably get a diagnosis if you wanted to, but everything you describe about your experience is relatable to almost everyone. That's exactly how farm workers spend 8 hours picking strawberries, how carpenters spend 8 hours hammering joists, and what everybody is doing when they miss that turn. In a lot of mental health diagnoses, its the persistent inability to "cope" that warrants treatment rather than the little laundry list of symptoms (which are often very common and relatable). Lots of people don't learn that and needlessly feel alien or pathological when actually experiencing a very everyday and relatable sort of life.
- whalesalad 3y ago
  I haven’t heard it expressed this eloquently and succinct before. Bravo.
- cdogl 3y ago
  Superbly well put; I wish I’d learned this earlier in life.
- mrsilencedogood 3y ago
  Ah just to be clear, I don't think I really detailed any of the things I experience that make me suspect I have ADHD. I do struggle a lot sometimes. For instance: The kids need socks so we can leave. I go upstairs. Hmm I want to check how that download is going that definitely doesn't matter at all right now. I check it anyway. Maybe click around a bit. Now I need to pee. What was I up here for? Go downstairs. Wife (rightfully) asks me where tf I've been and why don't I have socks. Etc. Another example: hyperfocusing on something (again, usually programming-related... thinking about a project). Need to do a simple task. Autopilot doing a different task because I'm too busy stuck in my head thinking about the thing. It pays off during interviews, oddly enough - the anxiety and novelty have me super sharp. Same thing during incident response when things are broken. It's the classic executive dysfunction and novelty-seeking stuff. I don't have the hyperactivity symptoms though.
- bt4u 3y ago
  [dead]
Delokoloololo 3y ago
I'm not that you have ADHD if you are primarily in your zone. For me ADHD means being physical twitchy and constantly thinking about everything. The zone is the opposite but I never heard someone constantly being in the zone. It's a lot of procrastinating and then hyperfocusing 6h before the deadline
- dhc02 3y ago
  In the context of this metaphor, I would describe ADHD as the inability to get into the zone despite desperately wanting to, and the inability to get out of the zone despite desperately trying to. Lots of zone time, very little aimed at the targets you'd prefer.
  - runeofdoom 3y ago
    Very well put. As someone who has been diagnosed and struggled with it all my life, you've captured it really succinctly.
  - lvturner 3y ago
    The problems for me really began when I was no longer able to get in to any zone -- part of this came with a shift in to more managerial roles and constantly having to split my attention between multiple people and projects. The diagnosis has at a minimum put a lot of context on to large parts of my life and the medication leaves me with some energy left over at the end of the day instead of collapsing like a zombie into the sofa. Still a work in progress.

swatcoder 3y ago

FWIW -- You're not wrong that you could probably get a diagnosis if you wanted to, but everything you describe about your experience is relatable to almost everyone. That's exactly how farm workers spend 8 hours picking strawberries, how carpenters spend 8 hours hammering joists, and what everybody is doing when they miss that turn. In a lot of mental health diagnoses, its the persistent inability to "cope" that warrants treatment rather than the little laundry list of symptoms (which are often very common and relatable). Lots of people don't learn that and needlessly feel alien or pathological when actually experiencing a very everyday and relatable sort of life.

whalesalad 3y ago
I haven’t heard it expressed this eloquently and succinct before. Bravo.
cdogl 3y ago
Superbly well put; I wish I’d learned this earlier in life.
mrsilencedogood 3y ago
Ah just to be clear, I don't think I really detailed any of the things I experience that make me suspect I have ADHD. I do struggle a lot sometimes. For instance: The kids need socks so we can leave. I go upstairs. Hmm I want to check how that download is going that definitely doesn't matter at all right now. I check it anyway. Maybe click around a bit. Now I need to pee. What was I up here for? Go downstairs. Wife (rightfully) asks me where tf I've been and why don't I have socks. Etc. Another example: hyperfocusing on something (again, usually programming-related... thinking about a project). Need to do a simple task. Autopilot doing a different task because I'm too busy stuck in my head thinking about the thing. It pays off during interviews, oddly enough - the anxiety and novelty have me super sharp. Same thing during incident response when things are broken. It's the classic executive dysfunction and novelty-seeking stuff. I don't have the hyperactivity symptoms though.
bt4u 3y ago
[dead]

Delokoloololo 3y ago

I'm not that you have ADHD if you are primarily in your zone. For me ADHD means being physical twitchy and constantly thinking about everything. The zone is the opposite but I never heard someone constantly being in the zone. It's a lot of procrastinating and then hyperfocusing 6h before the deadline

dhc02 3y ago
In the context of this metaphor, I would describe ADHD as the inability to get into the zone despite desperately wanting to, and the inability to get out of the zone despite desperately trying to. Lots of zone time, very little aimed at the targets you'd prefer.
- runeofdoom 3y ago
  Very well put. As someone who has been diagnosed and struggled with it all my life, you've captured it really succinctly.
- lvturner 3y ago
  The problems for me really began when I was no longer able to get in to any zone -- part of this came with a shift in to more managerial roles and constantly having to split my attention between multiple people and projects. The diagnosis has at a minimum put a lot of context on to large parts of my life and the medication leaves me with some energy left over at the end of the day instead of collapsing like a zombie into the sofa. Still a work in progress.