How to Install i-have-adhd on Claude Code: A Complete Guide

To install the i-have-adhd skill on Claude Code, add the repository to Claude's marketplace with claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd, then install it using claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd, and activate it with the /i-have-adhd slash command.

The i-have-adhd skill is an open-source plugin for Claude Code that reformats the AI's responses into concise, action-first output designed specifically for users with ADHD. According to the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository, the skill enforces 10 specific formatting rules—such as "lead with the next action" and "number multi-step tasks"—to reduce cognitive load and eliminate filler text. The implementation lives in the skills/i-have-adhd directory, where the SKILL.md file defines the behavioral rules and the agents subdirectory contains backend configurations for OpenAI and Gemini models.

What Does the i-have-adhd Skill Do?

The i-have-adhd skill modifies Claude's default response style to prioritize clarity and executive function support. As implemented in ayghri/i-have-adhd, the skill leverages the SKILL.md file located at skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md to instruct the LLM to lead every response with immediate actions, number all multi-step tasks sequentially, and eliminate conversational filler.

The agents subdirectory contains openai.yaml and gemini.toml configuration files that specify which model backends can execute the skill's instructions according to their respective API specifications.

Prerequisites

Before installing the i-have-adhd skill on Claude Code, ensure you have:

• Claude Code CLI installed and authenticated with your Anthropic account
• Network access to fetch the repository from GitHub
• Write permissions to your home directory to create the optional permanent activation sentinel file

Installation Steps

Installing the i-have-adhd skill requires two CLI commands to register and download the plugin from the GitHub repository.

Step 1: Add to Claude's Marketplace

First, register the repository in Claude's personal plugin marketplace:

claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd

This command tells Claude Code to track the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository as an available skill source without immediately downloading it.

Step 2: Install the Skill

Next, install the specific skill from the marketplace:

claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

The @i-have-adhd suffix targets the default branch of the repository. Claude Code automatically fetches the repository contents, including the skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md definition file and the agent configurations in skills/i-have-adhd/agents/.

Activating the Skill

Once installed, invoke the skill using the slash command:

/i-have-adhd

After activation, Claude formats all subsequent responses according to the ADHD-friendly rules defined in the repository's SKILL.md file, leading with actionable steps and avoiding unnecessary preamble.

Permanent Activation

To load the i-have-adhd skill automatically in every Claude Code session without manually typing the slash command, create a sentinel file in your home directory:

touch ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always

When this file exists, Claude Code applies the skill's formatting rules at startup, ensuring consistent behavior across all conversations. Remove the file to disable automatic loading.

Customizing the Skill

Advanced users can modify the skill's behavior by editing the rule definitions. The behavioral logic resides in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, which contains the 10 formatting constraints that Claude follows.

To customize the skill:

1. Fork or clone the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository locally
2. Edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md to adjust the rules to your preference
3. Reinstall the skill from your local copy or push changes to your fork and install from there

This approach preserves the backend configurations in agents/openai.yaml and agents/gemini.toml while allowing you to tailor the ADHD-friendly formatting to your specific workflow needs.

Summary

• Installation requires two commands: claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd followed by claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd
• Activation occurs via the /i-have-adhd slash command or permanently via touch ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always
• Core files: The skill logic lives in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, with backend support in skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml and gemini.toml
• No local clone required: Claude Code fetches and updates the repository automatically from GitHub
• Customizable: Edit SKILL.md to modify the 10 formatting rules enforced by the skill

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to clone the repository manually to install i-have-adhd on Claude Code?

No manual cloning is required. Claude Code fetches the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository automatically when you run the marketplace add and install commands. The CLI downloads the skill definition files—including SKILL.md and the agent configurations—directly from GitHub and keeps them updated behind the scenes.

Can I use the i-have-adhd skill with different AI models?

Yes. The repository includes backend-specific configuration files in the skills/i-have-adhd/agents/ directory: openai.yaml for OpenAI models and gemini.toml for Gemini models. These files tell Claude Code which model backends are compatible with the skill's formatting rules, allowing the skill to work across different underlying LLM providers.

How do I temporarily disable the skill after permanent activation?

To disable automatic loading, remove the sentinel file from your home directory by running rm ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always. This stops the skill from auto-loading in future Claude Code sessions. For the current session only, you can request standard formatting by explicitly asking Claude to respond without the ADHD-optimized style, though creating a new session after removing the sentinel file ensures standard behavior.

What makes the i-have-adhd skill different from standard Claude Code formatting?

The skill enforces 10 specific constraints defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md that optimize for executive function support. Unlike standard Claude responses, which may include conversational filler and unprioritized information, the skill requires leading with immediate actions, numbering all steps, and eliminating preamble—specific accommodations that reduce cognitive load for users with ADHD.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}