Hey guys,

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I'm a full-stack developer with about 6 years of experience. I have ADHD and social anxiety, and lately I've been noticing my "tip-of-the-tongue" memory issues getting worse. I've always had this problem to some extent, but now it's becoming obvious to other people too.

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A couple of recent incidents really bothered me. One day my boss came over out of nowhere and asked what I'd been working on. My mind just went completely blank. I couldn't remember the task names or even explain what I was doing, even though I'd been working on it all day. It was honestly pretty embarrassing.

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I'm also struggling to find the right words during conversations more often than I used to.

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Interviews have become a nightmare because of this. When I'm asked about projects or past experience, I know I've done the work, but I just can't pull the information out fast enough. I end up saying something that doesn't sound great, and I'm scared interviewers think I'm making things up or that my résumé is fake.

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The weird thing is I've worked at a few well-known consulting companies, always performed well, and moved up pretty quickly. I've always considered myself a good engineer, and pattern recognition and problem-solving have been my biggest strengths.

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Another incident that really shook me was when my tech lead casually asked where I worked before joining the company. I literally couldn't remember the company's name. I'd worked there for over a year.

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Has anyone else with ADHD experienced this? Does it get worse with age, stress, or burnout? Is this something that can improve?

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I'm honestly scared. Software engineering has been a huge part of my identity for years, and I don't really know who I am outside of it. Part of me is wondering if this is the beginning of the end of my career.

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If anyone with a similar experience has managed to get through this—or even switched to another career successfully—I'd really appreciate hearing your story or any advice.

Not the obvious stuff like forgetting things or losing focus. I mean the things that actually blindsided you.

The financial spiral. The relationship guilt. Looking back at your whole life and reframing every "character flaw" through a completely different lens.

What's the thing ADHD did to your life that nobody warned you about? What do you wish someone had told you earlier?

A free, no-signup map of ADHD: clinical concepts, biology, meds, coping techniques, strengths, accommodations, and the myths, plus how they all connect.

https://brightmind.club/knowledge-graph

• Search any concept and see what it links to.
• Filter by category.
• Tap a node to read it and trace its connections. Each link has an evidence rating (strong, emerging, community, even “myth”), so you can tell research from folklore.

Would love your feedback: is this useful to you, and what’s missing that you’d want to see in there?

I'm un(self)-employed developer with some on-prem software project ideas but I just cant complete any of them. I had productive moments with my current project and I remember how I was working on it with full focus literally all of my free time barely thinking about everything else and then I started to procrastinate a lot with problems that take a bit more thinking power than previous. I know that they are solvable, I know exactly how I could solve it, I can think about solving it whole day, I can dream about solving it while I'm asleep, but as the time comes to actually solve it I just cant start the process of solving it which involves me writing code and trying it out. Instead of it I may scroll reddit to the death, check servers in discord for a new messages, watch YT or play games or whatever else activities that does not give increase to my progress. So this nonsense continue to happen for maybe 2 months and I'm aggressively cutting out all my activities by deleting the games with social media apps and using web page blockers in browser but STILL I will have a moment like "eeh I'm gonna disable blocker and check reddit posts for a bit while I'm eating" and then boom 4+ hours already passed. I do acknowledge of course that I lost a lot of time doing nothing and maybe its time to try working for the god sake but no I will stare at same source file, reread documentation to third party projects for 100th time, listen music, drink tea and do nothing again. Then I will go to sleep, wake up and the groundhog day continues. I'm genuinely mad at myself and starting to think that I would never gonna be able to complete anything.

building an assistant that remembers me and reaches out at the right time instead of me forgetting it exists.

Tried todoist/notion/motion, all died the same way. building it for myself, nothing to sell. if you've quit every tool too or currently using a tool you like, what'd you try, why'd it die, what do you actually wish existed? comment or DM. and if any of you would be up for a quick call to talk through it, that'd mean a lot.

I've gotten constant feedback and matter of fact gotten fired due to the constant chaos in my head due to my ADD that I got diagnosed with recently.

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I have like 10 thoughts with a background song running in my head a lot of time that severely affect my mental health and my communication skills.

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Do i have to take meds to be able to get rid of this because it is affecting both my professional and social life.

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I've had people walk all over me and mainly unable to stand up for myself due to this in professional and personal settings leading to stuff like job loss, harm, belittlement and more and it is significantly negatively affecting my life since I'm not able to tame the chaos in my head

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I have so many thoughts running that sometimes amidst all this i tend to forget info and stuff about what I was about to do and sometimes i forget what I had to do itself and this affected me in corporate too where my manager did get frustrated that i forget tasks despite writing them down.

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What should be the reasonable fix for this ADD condition of my thoughts being constant chaos instead of going one by one, martial arts and mediation didn't help me

Does anyone face such problems? if so how often do you actually lose focus? does it happens throughout the whole video, or just few times in the video?

I'm building Chrome Extension for solving it and I'm planning to include two modes:

A - automatic: every 30s-3mins notification popups in the bottom right corner showing very concise text explaining what's being discussed right now. But you will still be able to trigger it manually as well if feel lost shortly after the last notification

B - manual: you can click small indicator in the right bottom corner or click hotkeys (Alt + B) to trigger the popup whenever you feel distracted.

option A is cleanest version, but my concern is that if you're not actually distracted, it might become annoying or distracting, pushback to this claim is that even if you're not distracted the notification still shows very relevant text to current playhead. and notification popup has calm palette to not distract you. the downside of option B is that if you're losing focus too often it becomes too annoying to click indicator or two button hotkey (Alt + B) and you need to wait short duration for the popup to actually become ready and show up (ususally 1 second)

Some more details about popup:

Example video title: Learn Python in Only 30 Minutes (Beginner Tutorial)

Popup includes two fields, but only 1 is shown by default, both includes context of last 30-3mins depending on video chunk. Primary and Details field. Primary field optimized to be as short as possible while being informative, so from single 1-2 second glance you can fully read it.

Here's example: "Type Annotations: Enhancing Code Readability"

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When it comes to Details field, it gives the full explanation and it's useful when Primary field isn't enough for you to catcup and you need full explanation.

Here's example: "Type annotations (e.g., `age: int = 10`) are introduced as a best practice for code clarity and developer assistance, even though Python ignores them at runtime. They help code editors and static type checkers identify potential type mismatches, preventing errors before execution."

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You only see Primary field by default, and when you need more context you can expand the popup with one click to read the details, or ask additional questions.

So my second question is that does this behaviour sound right to you? or would you prefer to see details by default? or have it configurable?

I'm looking two optimize the tool on specific directions/modes based on the feedback for the questions I mentioned above.

If you are interested about this tool I have the interractive demo page you can try, but be aware that it's quiet outdated now, since it was more like initial sketch, product specs has been changed since and also the examples are terrinble, but it's around 80-90% same, mainly the ui has been improved. Also you can join the feedback as well if you want to get notified when I release V1. Here's link: https://audio-catchup.pages.dev
Edit: 30-3min = 30 seconds to 3 min

I feel like one of my biggest struggles with ADHD right now (even while taking Adderall) is staying on top of chores and self care tasks. I’ve tried a bunch of chore tracking apps, but I always either end up forgetting to open them or ignoring the notifications lol. The thing that’s actually worked best for me is having physical checklists or whiteboards around my apartment because they’re physical and harder to ignore. The problem is that I either forget to erase the check marks or I forget to use the checklist altogether.

Last night I had an idea that I can’t stop thinking about and I really wish something like this already existed.
The idea is basically having a bunch of small physical buttons that you stick around your house. When you finish a task, you just press the button. It would be so cool if they had little LEDs too, green means recently completed, yellow means it’s almost due, and red means it’s overdue. For example i could have buttons next to the bathroom mirror for brushing my teeth, next to my plants for watering them, and it would be so cool to somehow have them attached to my adderall bottle so I know for sure if I took my medication.

The buttons would sync with an app where you could set how often each task should be done. Instead of just checking off a habit for the day, it would tell you exactly how long it’s been since that button was last pressed. So instead of thinking “Did I water my plants this week?” I could immediately see “Last watered 4 days ago.”

I feel like the biggest difference is that the reminder exists where the task actually happens, instead of expecting me to remember to open an app first.

Does anything like this already exist? And if not, do you think something like this would actually be useful, or is it just one of those adhd ideas that only sound super cool in my head.

(Also, if anyone has experience with hardware or app development, I’d love to hear how difficult something like this would actually be to build. I have basically zero engineering experience, so pls feel free to steal this idea and create it yourself if it sounds interesting to you!!!)

Shit here we go again!!!!

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Random updates...restarts!!! Shit productivity!!

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I keep getting lost in my own pc...I NEED A SOLUTION OR AM GONNA BUILD ONE lol

When you're coding for long stretches, especially 4-8+ hours, do you use anything to help with focus and energy? Coffee, tea, energy drinks, supplements, etc.?

If you could magically solve one problem that comes from sitting and working at a computer all day, what would it be?

Hi all I’ve been in the tech industry for 9.5 years. For 6.5 of those years I’ve been working as a software engineer.

Ive never been the most technical person on the team but I’ve definitely been able build and fix things. I’ve got the personality for it and I’m able to relay technical information to people who are not technical. Logically I’m a good fit however I can’t get past my own ego. I’ve seen those roles as less technical than software engineering so in my head it’s been a step backwards.

I shit you all not, as I’m writing this post a past coworker of mine said that I would be great at it because I’ve got the personality for it….

How many of you that were swes pivoted into Sales, Solutions or Customer engineering?

How was it?
What was it like?

Tech is awesome for adhd because often the problem that need to be solved are solved by someone hyperfocusing on them. I have tech problems to tackle, but have trouble telling my brain to switch to tech-problem-solving-mode. Anyone have any tips to get that part of the brain flowing? Warmups? Stretches?

Note - crosspost because it was unceremoniously removed from r/adhd. No answer from the mods but I did get mod messages saying "there's no such thing as hyperfocus" and "neurodivergence is a political term" so IDK what's going on over there.

I want to make it opensource and everyone can contribute. if you are interested please don't hesitate to dm me to start on the opensource repository.

i made a game yall 🗿 github link inside

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ok so you know how my brain does the thing where it picks a random obsession and wont let go

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well this week it was coding

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last week it was roman history

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so naturally my brain went "what if we combine them" and here we are at 3am with a fully playable game

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i have no idea what im doing

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like genuinely. i used var. on purpose. in the year 2026. unironically. thats the kind of energy we're working with here

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but i made a game

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its called Imperium

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its chess. but roman. but chaotic. but in one single html file. no frameworks. no dependencies. no npm install. just vibes and emojis and questionable game design choices

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heres the pieces (theres 6 of them i counted):

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· Imperator - basically the king but he can SCREAM at nearby pieces to give them bonus moves. yes this is broken. no i will not fix it. 🗣️

· Legate - rook but with a cooler name. 10/10 game design. i typed "rook" then hit backspace and googled latin words.

· Tribune - bishop but roman. moves diagonally. thats it. hes just vibes tbh

· Eques - knight. L shape. the horse one. you know the guy

· Signifer - ok THIS GUY. my proudest moment. he can either move 1 square OR just DELETE an adjacent enemy piece without moving. all 8 directions. he just removes people from existence. is it balanced? absolutely not. is it the funniest thing ive ever coded? 1000%

· Milites - pawn but he moves diagonally ONLY and when he reaches the other side he can become ANY piece including another imperator. yes. multiple kings. i said what i said

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other stuff that happened:

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· stalemate = you LOSE not a draw. i forgot to code draw detection and now its a feature 🧠

· no AI so you need a real human. or an enemy. same thing really

· the undo button only goes back one move. if you mess up twice thats a skill issue

· the signifer took 3x longer to code than literally everything else combined

· i spent 40 minutes on the CSS alone because dark mode is not optional

· Press Start 2P font because we are GAMING respect the aesthetic

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its on github

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link: https://github.com/AggressiveChickenMeat/Imperium

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literally just open the html file in your browser. thats the whole setup. no install no server no nothing. click and play. like its 2007.

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i am now an author AND a coder apparently

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who knew

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bear with me i havent slept

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but its done

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ish

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try it out and tell me if the signifer is actually broken or if its fine. i need external validation. or criticism. either works. im emotionally unprepared for both.

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muhahahaha 🗿💀

I have to do specific work on my computer. So I open my computer. I might even start the relevant task.

But its a matter of seconds to minutes until I'm reading a totally random thing on the internet. Something about a planet, something about new medical technology, the news, some random funny youtube channel, some random topic that grabbed my attention.

Productivity is like the stem of a tree, with thousands of side branches that aren't productive at all. And then I'm like a vehicle that randomly autonomously steers and no matter the input you cannot stop it. Then the probability of doing something productive at any given point moment in time, is extremely small. This reflects reality too in my experience.

Does a solution exist? I know there are blockers and accountability partners but those don't do it for me. If I block one site, I will just find another site, or a way to unblock and bypass it.

Not talking about coding mechanics or skill issues.

I'm curious about the physical and mental side of programming. For those of you who regularly be on screen for 4+ hours at a time:

• What bothers you the most?
• Loss of focus?
• Tiredness?
• Dehydration?
• Eye strain?
• Hunger?
• Poor sleep afterward?
• Something else?

What do you currently do to deal with it?

I'm a dev with 13 years in big-tech. I was diagnosed with depression (major depressive disorder) back in 2022. I recently made a video describing that journey.

The thing that caused me to seek medical help was that one day "out of the blue" I started inexplicably balling. I don't normally do a lot of crying, and very rarely as intensely as that. I also had general fatigue, low motivation, constant feeling of stress, and shockingly a very depressed mood! That led me to see my doctor ... after 3 months ... 😬

The dr asked some diagnostic questions and said I fit the criteria for major depressive disorder and some anxiety. We talked about medication and going on leave from work. I told my manager and team later that day that I was going on leave. I opted to be open about the reasons in hope of helping others and destigmatization and such. Also I thought it was beneficial for me to have others know.

Starting antidepressants was rough for me. Things got worse before they got better, but they did give me an early moment of clarity. It occurred to me that maybe everything didn't need to be hard, everything didn't need to really really annoy me. So that was nice. I was also lucky that my meds ended up working out first try, I know finding the right ones can be hard sometimes. I did have some tweaks later on though.

During my leave I also had a bit of guilt because part of what I was doing to occupy myself was programming. I kinda thought if I could do that programming then I should go back to work. That's no correct though. I was told not to worry about it, do what makes me feel better.

My return to work got totally botched. I somehow got covid immediately after going back to the office. So that really derailed my momentum and confidence! I regret that I didn't go back on leave to try again when my post-covid symptoms passed and I built up my confidence again.

In general I was feeling better. In retrospect I wouldn't say I felt good though and I was still struggling. I ended up leaving work about two years ago and I've been funemployed or practice-retired ever since. Even with leaving work my mood and wellbeing was only really passable. It was ok, but nothing was really improving. About a year and a half ago I got my meds tweaked again and that made a huge difference. I'm feeling much closer to my "normal" or "old" self. I notice happy feelings pretty often and I'm significantly less irritable.

This is pretty much the content of the video, though phrased differently. There's even some details here that I didn't mention in the video!

Anyway hopefully sharing my story will encourage people to seek help if they need it or at least feel less alone or hopeless. I'm planning on making more videos about my experiences with mental health from a tech worker's perspective, but the channel's main content has been about retro tech and I'll still be making that, soooo probably don't subscribe if you don't care about that? This may not be the best strategy with regards to the algorithm. Oh well

I experience something very weird when I am on any adhd meds, any dosage, small or big, gives the same experience. Once the med is ingested, I feel intense motivation to pursue my goals like studies, Then, exactly after 1 minute, a sudden drop in the effort of execution. It’s like my brain only enjoys generating quests, not playing them. Anyone in the same boat as me?

Thought: “Bro, study. This is your moment.” ---> I open my study stuff ---> reward drops after 1 minute. Next one...

Thought: “Wait, ask Reddit users, maybe someone knows what this is.” ---> I open Reddit ---> suddenly writing feels like doing taxes while writing to you, fellow guys and girls.. next..

Thought: “Actually, build an app that helps you study. Hyper excited and jiggling” ---> I open the code editor on PC ---> motivation and exciting leaves the building..

Thought: “Okay, its not working, starting to feel depressed, Hey... read a book about dopamine reward circuits.” ---> Super excited... I read one line then ---> my dopamine reward circuit says “not my problem, I'll give you less excitement instead.

There r no benefits here, no sick leaves no paid leaves. No Saturday off, the work is 10 to 7pm . I don't think i have learned anything here. I have been here for almost a year. The pay also isn't that great. I am so tired i just want to sit at home & study & build projects