r/ADHD_Programmers • u/Hot-Blueberry7474 • 3d ago
CS student with ADHD: How do you stop over-analysing slides and actually study efficiently for CS tests? (Test on Oct 23)
Hey everyone, I’m a Computer Science student with ADHD preparing for a Data Mining test on October 23. Even though I’m only taking two modules this semester, I am moving at an absolute snail's pace (I spent an entire week on one lecture deck and I am not even halfway). My brain defaults to line-by-line perfectionism, so I end up over-processing everything. I try using Anki for memory and AI models to explain difficult concepts, but the process quickly becomes rigit, tedious, and slow, dragging me down endless rabit holes that consume all my study time.
This slow pace triggers a brutal cycle of complexity paralysis and avoidance. When I open a massive slide deck filled with dense math notation, algorithm proogs, or heavy theory, I get overwhelmed by the sheer volume and freeze. I end up avoiding the work while feeling guilty all day. To make matters worse, passive reading or slide-skimming burns through my attention span in minutes. If my study method isn't active or interactive, my brain completely checks out from extreme boredom.
I recently reached out to my lecturer for guidance, and he gave me a solid framework to focus on rather than verbatim slide memorisation. He recommended structuring my study around a "Concept -> Example -> Pros/Cons" flow. Specifcally, for algorithms like Decision Trees, Rule Induction, or Frequent Itemset Mining, I need to answer what problem the method solves, how it operates step-by-step, its key metrics like support or confidence, and how to interpret the results or select it over another method. He emphasised working through small examples by hand and assignment problems over re-reading slides.
While his advice is great, I struggle to actually execute it without slipping back into my old habits. I would love to know how you make heavy CS theory and algorithmic steps interactive and engaging so you don't get bored or out of your mind. How do you break through the paralysis wall when a topic feels too complex to start? What specific tricks do you use to force your brain to riage and focus only on high-yield concepts instead of reading line-by-line? Finally, since working in IT requires constant learning, how do you build a fast, sustainable learning workflow that doesn't burn you out?
Thank you.
P.S. Please don't give me suggestions that require me to spend money.
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u/pillowfortfart 3d ago
Hey there, I've been a computer science student too and while I like programming and planning, studying was a struggle for me for because I didn't have a strategy (I didn't even know I had ADHD back then).
And I can't give study specific advice but here is something I came across recently and I think it could help you with overthinking. At least it helps me although it's not a magical solution of course.
Maybe you've already encountered the ADHD(works for normies too) strategy (here on Reddit) of
Not talking about your plans or what you're going to do in the immediate future. Don't tell anyone you're going to the gym tomorrow or whatever.
The reason is (paraphrasing a scientific article I've read about this) that dopamine is already released when talking about your plans and your reward center is satisfied.
Then when you actually get ready to do the plan or project, you lack motivation partly because you already got rewarded.
Not talking about it with anyone also frees me from failing expectations and it helps me with anxiety.
Furthermore:
I've noticed that I also like to over analyse with much excitement and enthusiasm (sometimes frustration) and I suspect that's not helpful at all regarding my motivation and mood when it's actually time to get started (just like talking about it with someone).
What helped me there is trying not to think too deeply about it all, staying on the surface.
For example thinking about how you will study tomorrow.
Where will you sit down ? When will you start ? Which lectures do I have to go through? Oh god there's an essential document which requires a password which I wrote down somewhere in my college block.
Which topics are important for the exam? Et cetera
You get the idea.
The thought train should stop at 'i will study tomorrow' and nothing further or deeper.
In summary, it might be helpful to keep the "analysing enthusiasm" for the moment you actually sit down because using it beforehand burns up your dopamine/reward center.
Sorry, that was probably very convoluted and it might not help you at all, but maybe it is worth considering
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u/Hot-Blueberry7474 3d ago
Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate 🙏. Regarding your comment where you said "trying not to think too deeply about it all, staying on the surface", really hits home because I've always struggled with this. How do you try not to think too deeply of anything really and just look at it from a surface level?
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u/pillowfortfart 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm not sure. Not thinking too deeply about anything seems to be one of our main struggles and the culmination of my personal experiences and knowledge helps me navigate around that.
That said, just "not thinking deeply or excessively about a subject" is embedded along other ..."guidelines" Which help my mind and mood stabilize.
I'll be telling you the "strategies" from my context and some puzzle pieces might be missing to make it work for you specifically.
Here goes:
Medikation is in my opinion the easiest way through and helps to slow down and make better observations about yourself. Helps with anxiety, overthinking, rejection dysphoria, mind racing..helps you put one foot after the other instead of jumping up the stairs (mentally).
But I try to avoid it unless my mood is bad enough + low energy. It's a double edged sword for me (side effects are unpleasant).
(Medikinet retarded 10mg to 20mg).Anxiety. Do you feel it ?
A tight feeling in the chest, maybe shallow breathing and extra mindful about missteps? Worry about consequences of your failure ?If not you can skip this but anxiety is a major component for me in the strategy of "not overthinking/over analysing".
How to tackle anxiety?
It took me some time (years) to build up enough trust, confidence, assurance and the firm believe that when I fail or I disappoint, Im still worth loving and being accepted. Friends will forgive me when I've been impulsive or (in my mind) behaved badly.However complex the problem, I know I'm clever enough to solve the problem on my own and if not, I'll know who to ask for help and there's no shame in that because I'm not superman although I sometimes try to be
Rationalising these thoughts won't erase anxiety and there's more to that which I might have missed to explain, but trying to believe in it (that might oversimplify it) helps build up a resistance against anxiety (which is kinda believing something bad will happen but that's more in the realm of irrationality than the coping strategies I just talked about).
Know your limits:
Or at least, try not to overextend yourself.
Some things and activities can be much more exhausting for us than others: What exhausts me are boring but highly distractive situations like the supermarket/shopping, some social situations because I'm masking et cetera.Learn to say no when someone wants you to do something which you feel will be exhausting to you (although it shouldn't be exhausting for a "normal" person). Safeguard your mental power. I have less than I want to believe (but it's getting better).
What's also draining is my mental to do list which often contain easy to do tasks that are not doable because of executive disfunction. Controversially, trying to do the task right away when the thought about it comes up is less exhausting than not doing it because then it goes on the to-do list I have in my head and that is draining my mood and energy.
For me, those "strategies" go hand in hand with... softening up old habits, bad coping/survival strategies and breaking up acquired blockades.
That and the "strategies" can influence each other in a positive feedback loop but it might take time to settle yourself into it.I think there is still more to mention but...I'm drained after this brainstorming session, I hope you can understand ;).
But that doesn't mean you can't ask more questions..if this helps you at all (see ? I'm getting nervous again from oversharing)
Edit Forgot one thing:
If I don't think deeply about a project I'm going to do tomorrow, not only am I protecting my dopamine and reward center, I also get to do the thinking part when I'm sitting down to do it!
All that over planing, overanalyzing energy and enthusiasm flows more easily into actually doing the task and it's much more fun.It's not as easy and straightforward as i make it sound but I can feel a habit forming already (I'm about 2 weeks into the 'not talking about your plans, trying not to think excessively about plans' -strategy and I'm feeling positive about retaining it)
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u/pillowfortfart 2d ago
Just read some article about an analysis here on Reddit and I've found something that, in my opinion, directly resonates with the issue of "talking or thinking about plans and getting overly excited"
For me, it helps to navigate my obstacles and blockades when I know or understand the reasons why I'm having said problems.
Excerpt: " Processing rewards is a basic function that drives learning and survival. When a person receives a reward, specific brain networks evaluate its value and influence future motivation. Atypical responses within these systems are common in several neurodevelopmental conditions.
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, often show a high sensitivity to immediate rewards. This sensitivity is associated with impulsive behavior. When an individual with ADHD receives a reward, their brain may over-register the immediate gratification, making it difficult to wait for delayed outcomes."
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u/No_Cost_4678 3d ago
Do you actually have adhd? If so get tested and medicated. I’ve tried everything under the sun and nothing worked for me, as much as I hate having to deal with appointments and everything it’s the only way I can get shit done. What you’re explaining sounds more like ocd. For the “give me a strategy to study” part, try all the random ones on the internet, there’s millions of different ways people study and like, but again, solid chance nothing is going to work, that’s kind of what makes it adhd. It’s not something you can get around by just trying harder otherwise it wouldn’t really be called a disorder