How to Disable ADHD Mode in i-have-adhd: 3 Methods Explained

To disable ADHD mode in i-have-adhd, type "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" in the chat, run the /i-have-adhd off command, or remove the .i-have-adhd-always flag file to prevent automatic reactivation.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository injects ADHD-friendly formatting rules into your model context to improve readability and focus. When you need to return to standard response formatting, the extension provides multiple ways to disable ADHD mode both temporarily and permanently.

What Is ADHD Mode in i-have-adhd?

ADHD mode is a context injection system defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md that modifies how the model structures its outputs. When active, the extension inserts specific formatting rules into the conversation context that emphasize brevity, structure, and clarity. The mode persists for the duration of the session unless explicitly disabled.

The core logic resides in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts, where the extension monitors user input for stop phrases and manages the enabled state through the setEnabled helper function.

How to Disable ADHD Mode for the Current Session

You can temporarily disable ADHD mode using natural language commands or explicit toggle commands.

Method 1: Use Stop Phrases (Natural Language)

The simplest way to disable ADHD mode is to type one of the recognized stop phrases. According to line 27 in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts, the STOP_PHRASES Set contains:

new Set(["stop adhd mode", "normal mode"])

When the extension detects either phrase in your input, it immediately withdraws the injected rules and updates the UI status indicator. Simply type:

stop adhd mode

Or alternatively:

normal mode

Method 2: Use the Toggle Command

For explicit control, use the /i-have-adhd slash command. Lines 90-100 of extensions/i-have-adhd.ts implement the command handler that accepts optional arguments:

• /i-have-adhd off – Explicitly disables the mode
• /i-have-adhd disable – Alternative explicit disable command
• /i-have-adhd – Toggles the current state (on becomes off, off becomes on)

When you pass "off" or "disable" as an argument, the extension calls setEnabled(false), which lines 73-78 show updates the internal state, modifies the UI status badge, and removes the rule injection.

How to Permanently Disable ADHD Mode

If ADHD mode reactivates automatically when you start new sessions, the extension is configured to always-on mode.

Remove the Always-On Flag File

The repository checks for a hidden flag file .i-have-adhd-always on startup. If this file exists in your project root, the mode re-enables automatically via the hooks in hooks/always-on.mjs. To permanently disable automatic activation:

rm .i-have-adhd-always

Update the Configuration File

Alternatively, edit the i-have-adhd.json configuration file and set the alwaysOn property to false:

{
  "alwaysOn": false
}

This prevents the hooks/always-on.mjs hook from re-injecting the rules at the start of each session.

Technical Implementation Details

When you disable ADHD mode, the extension sends a DISABLED_MESSAGE_TYPE entry containing the notice "ADHD MODE OFF… " as defined on line 31 of extensions/i-have-adhd.ts. The setEnabled function clears the status badge (removing the ● ADHD ON indicator) and withdraws the context rules defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md.

The OpenCode plugin wrapper at .opencode/plugins/i-have-adhd.mjs implements identical stop-phrase logic, ensuring consistent behavior across different interfaces.

Summary

• Type "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" to disable the mode immediately using natural language detection via the STOP_PHRASES Set in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts.
• Run /i-have-adhd off to explicitly toggle the mode off using the command handler on lines 90-100.
• Delete .i-have-adhd-always or set alwaysOn: false in i-have-adhd.json to prevent automatic reactivation when starting new sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I disable ADHD mode?

The extension calls setEnabled(false) in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts, which removes the injected formatting rules from the conversation context, clears the UI status badge displaying ● ADHD ON, and sends a DISABLED_MESSAGE_TYPE notification confirming the change. The model immediately resumes its default response style without the ADHD-friendly formatting constraints.

Can I re-enable ADHD mode after disabling it?

Yes. You can re-enable ADHD mode by typing /i-have-adhd on, /i-have-adhd enable, or simply /i-have-adhd to toggle the state back to enabled. If the .i-have-adhd-always flag file exists, the mode will also reactivate automatically the next time you start a session.

Why does ADHD mode turn back on automatically?

Automatic reactivation occurs when the .i-have-adhd-always flag file exists in your project directory or when alwaysOn is set to true in i-have-adhd.json. The hooks/always-on.mjs hook checks for these configurations at session start and re-injects the rules defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md automatically.

Where are the ADHD-friendly rules defined?

The formatting rules injected during ADHD mode are defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md. These rules specify output requirements such as structured formatting, concise paragraphs, and clear section headers that help users with ADHD process information more effectively.

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