How to Enable Always-On Mode for i-have-adhd in Claude Code Using the SessionStart Hook

Create a file named .i-have-adhd-always in your Claude configuration directory (~/.claude or $CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR) to automatically inject the ADHD-friendly ruleset at the beginning of every Claude Code session.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides a Claude Code plugin that delivers ADHD-friendly response formatting through a custom SessionStart hook. When enabled, this always-on mode automatically loads the ruleset from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md without requiring manual activation for each conversation.

How the SessionStart Hook Works

The always-on functionality relies on two core components that work together at session initialization.

Hook Registration in hooks.json

According to the ayghri/i-have-adhd source code, the repository defines the entry point in hooks/hooks.json, which registers a SessionStart hook that executes a Node command. This command runs the hooks/always-on.mjs script every time Claude Code initializes a new session.

Opt-In Logic in always-on.mjs

The hooks/always-on.mjs script implements a safety-first opt-in mechanism. It checks for the existence of a flag file named .i-have-adhd-always inside the Claude configuration directory (resolved via $CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR or defaulting to ~/.claude). When present, the script reads the contents of SKILL.md, strips the YAML front-matter, and writes the formatted rules to stdout, which Claude Code renders as the active system prompt.

Enabling Always-On Mode

To activate the always-on behavior, you must create the opt-in flag file in your Claude configuration directory.

For Unix and macOS systems:

export CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR="${CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.claude}"
mkdir -p "$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR"
touch "$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR/.i-have-adhd-always"

For Windows PowerShell:

$claudeDir = $env:CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR ?? (Join-Path $HOME ".claude")
New-Item -Path "$claudeDir\.i-have-adhd-always" -ItemType File -Force

After creating the file, restart Claude Code or start a new session to trigger the SessionStart hook. The hook will automatically inject the ADHD-friendly ruleset from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md into your conversation context.

Disabling the Mode

You can disable always-on mode using one of two methods. Delete the flag file to prevent future sessions from loading the ruleset automatically:

# Unix/macOS

rm "$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR/.i-have-adhd-always"

# Windows PowerShell

Remove-Item "$claudeDir\.i-have-adhd-always"

Alternatively, type "stop adhd mode" during any active session to disable the ruleset for that specific conversation without removing the flag file.

Summary

• The hooks/hooks.json file registers the SessionStart hook that triggers at every Claude Code initialization.
• The hooks/always-on.mjs script checks for the .i-have-adhd-always flag file in your Claude config directory before injecting rules.
• Creating this flag file opts you in to automatically loading the rules from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md at the start of every session.
• Remove the flag file or use the "stop adhd mode" command to disable the functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the i-have-adhd plugin look for the always-on flag file?

The plugin checks the Claude configuration directory, which defaults to ~/.claude on Unix systems or %USERPROFILE%\.claude on Windows. You can override this location by setting the CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR environment variable before running Claude Code.

What happens if I create the flag file while Claude Code is already running?

The SessionStart hook only executes when a new session begins. You must restart Claude Code or start a new session for the always-on mode to take effect after creating the .i-have-adhd-always file.

Does enabling always-on mode modify my existing Claude Code configuration?

No. The hook operates as a read-only injection mechanism. It reads from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md and outputs the rules to stdout without altering any configuration files in your Claude directory, except for reading the presence of the opt-in flag file you created.

Can I temporarily disable the rules without deleting the flag file?

Yes. Typing "stop adhd mode" during an active session disables the ADHD-friendly formatting for that specific conversation. However, the next new session will automatically reinject the rules unless you delete the .i-have-adhd-always flag file.

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