Hacker News Reader

Comment by ammanley | Hacker News Reader

Been there buddy (including that exact, form-letter rejection email). I feel for you. I just finished a 9 month interview cycle of funemployment, with a break of two months in-between where I too, was questioning my reason for even being in this industry.

My background is a coding bootcamp + relentless up-skilling and self-directed learning (with the help of some mentors), plus a healthy side of ADHD/spectrum issues, including, best of all, crippling social anxiety.

I cannot tell you in words how astounding it is to go from a full stack dev lead, to being reduced to failing junior-level code interviews because my brain just leaves the chat in the middle of most interactions with new people, let alone interactions involving cognitive effort/hazing.

You matter and the fact we have to spin our wheels on this grindstone does not change that.

View on HN

Have you tried ADHD medications? I don't normally take them but they really helped me going through the interviews (I legitimately have ADHD, but the side effects are too much for me for normal use)

There are some with minimal sides, if you can stand going to a doctor enough times to try out and reject several.

Any recommendation? Vynase, Dexedrine, etc?

I’ve loved straterra. One of the few non stimulant adhd meds

Did you find that that helped you focus despite anxiety? Annoyingly, I've only been able to get my hands on the most common one, Adderall, which turns me into a bouncy boy flying off the walls for some reason. It sadly seemed to trigger my anxiety too. Child comment mentions trying some others, which I might do.

(Have been on multiple different anti anxiety / depression meds, as well as a few anti seizure meds too fwiw.)

Adderral is rough. I’ve had better luck with Concerta or vyvanse

Adderall would make me super energetic for hours. Crazy chattt. Then I would be really focused for a for a couple hours. Then it would wear off and I would be drained. After a few weeks I started having horrific burning pain throughout body. Extended release is supposed to be better.

I do much better on other Medication. Kids do great on them. One is best on concerta. Other does better on vyvanse. My whole family is crazy strong ADHD. I prefer concerta. Vvyanze initially made me crazy sad. When I tried it again a year later it didn’t do that.

Dexedrine has less stimulating effects and more smoother side effects, still an amphetamine like Adderall. Check it out with a doctor.

Ah that's the catch, I didn't get anxiety from Adderall so that wasn't a problem. As others have said, I would try some other medication if possible at all, they really do help.

I appreciate you for bringing this up. I will definitely do this, as I had given up on the whole schtick for a while (mostly just the 420 now)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com