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Comment by asdfman123 | Hacker News Reader

I have ADHD, which doesn't mean I lack the ability to focus -- for me, and others with my subtype of ADHD, it means I get deeply focused on random stuff. Some of it is worthwhile, and a lot of it is a complete waste of time.

I think a lot of developers have ADHD like me, because we can get totally lost in code for hours and hours at a time.

Now, before you envy me too much, the other side of the token is that when I'm given work I'm not interested in -- which is usually most of it -- getting started and seeing it through is like pulling teeth.

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Inattentive-subtype ADHDer here. One thing I've found very powerful is to have a clear idea of the reason why something matters. But even then, sometimes it is far better to change projects than slog through something if the "why?" isn't really connecting with what you value.

Knowing the "why" can also be somewhat helpful for noticing and pulling yourself out of hyperfocus. However, sometimes the thing you're hyperfocused on has its own more-compelling "why".

Whenever I look up the definition of ADHD, I can't find myself in it. But I share one thing: Disability to focus on things I don't care about. That is, sadly, almost everything, including coding. At some point, sheer necessity and time pressure together start to cause me so much mental pain, that I'm able to push through regardless.

Now, with all that said. Sometimes, I actually can focus on coding. Maybe even enjoy doing so. But that'll never be enough to catch up with people who genuinely like doing that all day, every day.

How do ADHD people deal with this? Knowing that you never will be consistently good at your job?

I don't know. There are a lot of frustrations associated with it, and that's sometimes one of them.

Did prescription drugs help with this?

Does anyone know if there are any published stats / estimations about the prevalence of amphetamine prescriptions in the United States.

I have this gut feeling it's pretty high, at least in the tech industry. I don't believe this is problematic but it feels like a taboo topic. If use is common we should be better about talking openly about it.

They definitely do. They make my hyperfocus into megafocus. I still have bad orinlems with procrastination but when I'm on, I'm really damn good so it hopefully makes up for my inconsistencies.

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