22 years old, been having problems learning programming/php, with adhd.

Question

Hello, I will try to keep it as short as I can,

I'm 22 years old, having many many difficulties of motivation, persistence and dealing with mental jobs for years. Ii have very few interests (couldn't persist and learn), and as computers is probably the biggest, whenever I think about all the problems i have/had with my ADHD I immediately jump to my programming learning experiences. Unfortunately, although having symptoms for years, I was only diagnosed a few months ago, and tried Ritalin with some side affects for a few times.

I tried learning computer programming more than 20 times over the years, including web development, and managed to get little pieces of information before jumping to another area. Every time I faced a new hardship, I just lost motivation until I just got to the conclusion this field isn't for me. Since then I tried learning again, trying some web development including PHP but I just couldn't persist, jumped and avoided.

I touched little of many subjects, without any real and profound understanding of each. I also touched HTML+CSS in the past but managed to forget some of it. I tried learning C in the past, and do know the syntax which made it easier for me to try and learn PHP and even Java (and understand OOP better). Yet when I face something hard I just drop it. That's why I manage to learn basic syntax of C, but stopped using Linux and actually don't have much of an understanding.

I find it very very difficult to organize and persist, without the need of dropping the subject and in a big crossroad if this field is for me. I'm not sure computer science is, as it has much more difficulties for my problem, but more PHP-web development that have much demand and is probably the future. Yet, whenever I try and learn, I again learn what is easy for me, skip things like CSS/HTML and lose interest very fast.

I'm not sure what to do, and it's not as simple as "just learn" or "do a project", I just can't do it! Does it mean this field isn't for me? Should I pursue a career as chef instead? (: Should I maybe try and learn it on a structured course? I live in Israel and the courses here aren't very profound. I never put my mind into a "career" mode and it always was a hobby, but I doubt I can motivate myself this way.

I'm sorry for the long message and appreciate any advice.

edit-i forgot to mention(hoping those who already answered will see it), when dealing with the hardship of programming i face, i have very uncomfortable feelings, like its really really not make me feel good. not the programming itself=the proccess im facing. also i sometimes(like now (: ) have this increase "concentration" and worries about what to do. well, of course in order to stop and lose motivation for months, you have to feel really crappy...you wont stop just by haing little discomfort.

Answer 1

Best wishes with your condition. But it'll surely get better once you find the right medication. Else try weed.

As for your question: Not everyone can get their head around programming. If you're interested in making it your pastime, you need to find the right project first.
And instead of programming, you should volunteer as documentation writer as a start. (Your penchant for lengthy texts is obvious.) Don't start your own projects until you are fluent in something.

Alternative: find LUG or PHP user group in your area. Interaction might help keep attention.

Answer 2

Hi,

maybe you could start trying to answer some questions here and help people out with your existing knowledge :) you can learn a lot and answering a question usually doesn't take very long. Maybe this might be an inspiration to start your own project and if you're stuck you can ask here too!

Whenever you think about starting a project, make sure it's something you will have fun with. Something you can use or share with others. Something that's missing and everyone's looking for :)

Answer 3

btw-hardship can be any little thing, for example today, using ritalin la for those who know, i read some of php6 visual quickpro sql sections, and just as i face some problems understanding lets say join, as time went by, i just lost more and more interest and motviation. sometimes when i tried learning css and didnt understand layout design properly for example, i just lost interest. i dont need explanation to this subjects as they are just 2 out of many examples, meaning that it shouldnt be the most advance thing.

im really starting to think about another career, yet know very little of other things, and because i faced so many difficulties with computer programming, im "programmed" (lol) to think about all the hardship i had/have whenever i think programming.

Answer 4

Find a mentor or join an open-source project. Programming is tough and most of us get "stuck" every once in a while-- getting involved with others on a project helps maintain the motivation to continue.

Answer 5

The key to motivation is the goal. Just learning programming is not a good goal. I too many times have decided that I will become an Oracle/Azure/Python... guru but barely got past first base. What I would do is find something that interests you (sports, computer games, church or whatever) and start creating a web site for that topic. Start small, you can add to it and change it later.

Just burying your head in textbooks is not for everyone, me included.

Answer 6

tal, nobody can answer this question for you. Only you can. I voted to close your question. Not because it's a bad thing to ask, it's because we can't help you.

Anyone who tells you to stick with it might be dooming you to a longer period of frustration.

Anyone who tells you to give up might be closing a door that you might have gotten through and enjoyed a great career.

Only you can answer.

I will tell you this: learning anything is hard. Only a few lucky souls who come to this site have managed to master this field without effort. None of us are born knowing how to program, do mathematics, read, write, water ski, or anything else. Some people get to capitalize on natural gifts and push through the barrier of ignorance with a minimum of pain. The rest of us have to struggle, and everyone struggles at something.

I'd say that 22 years old is very young indeed. Take the long view and stay with it if you're inclined. Realize that mastery of anything takes at least 10,000 hours. That's five years of your life working at something for eight hours a day, five days a week. At the end of those five years of concentrated, measured, focused practice you still haven't mastered programming, you'll only be 27 years old. Still plenty of time to regroup.

Don't give up just because it's hard if you really want it.

If you don't take that long view, by all means go to chef's school, but realize that there are no guarantees in that field, either. Chefs sometimes struggle, just with different things.

Answer 7

While just about everyone can become good in programming, the question is more in the order of when. I would suggest you don't go for low level (or even compiled) languages like C. PHP is probably the most documented languages on the Internet and should be good enough for you to do something useful. Build your own website if you want... But life is too short to waste it on something you clearly have trouble with. I, for one, am not good at chemistry; although I find the subject very interesting and met very passionate chemists, I would not go in that field. On the other hand, I like multimedia (video and image editing, etc.); I won't make it a career, but I enjoy doing it in my spare time. A job should not be a burden or frustrating, so do what makes you happy and gives you a sense of accomplishment and keep what you like the most as hobby. I wish you the best, sincerely.

Answer 8

You're really focussing on the fact you've got ADHD. Sure, this has a big impact on you and your life, and it's part of the cause for why you're having these difficulties. But it's a part of the problem, and if you always focus on the problem then you'll demoralise and demotivate yourself, and as you put it, "program" yourself to expect to fail. One of the joys of programming is that it is enabling, that it allows you to do things you couldn't do before, that it's all about solutions. Focus on how to enable yourself, on finding solutions; maybe try a scripting or dynamic language (like Python, or even Logo) which lets you get results quickly. We can't help you with coping mechanisms for ADHD (though I'm sure they exist) but try things out and see what works for you. All programmers struggle to find ways to keep themselves engaged and focused, so don't be disheartened if that takes time; you'll try lots of things that don't work before you find one that does, but it's only when you tell yourself "I'll never succeed" and stop looking that you're guaranteed not to find one.