How to Install i-have-adhd on Cursor: Complete Setup Guide

Install the i-have-adhd skill in Cursor by running npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y, then activate it in any chat by typing /i-have-adhd to enable ADHD-optimized output formatting.

The i-have-adhd skill enhances Cursor's responses with ADHD-focused formatting rules, making technical documentation more digestible. This guide covers the complete installation process from the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository using both automated CLI and manual methods.

What is the i-have-adhd Skill?

The i-have-adhd skill is an Agent Skill that follows the open Agent Skills specification. Cursor discovers these skills by scanning the ~/.cursor/skills/ directory (or a project-local .cursor/skills/ directory) for valid skill definitions.

The skill's core definition lives in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md. This file contains the front-matter (name: i-have-adhd) that Cursor uses to match the /i-have-adhd chat command to the skill folder, along with the rule set that shapes the ADHD-optimized output style.

Prerequisites

• Node.js and npm installed (required for the npx commands)
• Cursor editor installed and configured

Installation Methods

You can install the skill using the official CLI tool or by manually copying the source files.

Method 1: Install via npx CLI (Recommended)

The fastest way to install i-have-adhd on Cursor uses the skills CLI tool:

npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y

The -a cursor flag instructs the CLI to place the skill in Cursor's expected directory (~/.cursor/skills/). The -y flag skips the interactive confirmation prompt. According to the repository's INSTALL.md (lines 95-100), this is the canonical installation method.

Method 2: Manual Installation

If you prefer not to use npx, clone the repository and copy the skill directory manually:

# Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

# Create Cursor's skill folder if it doesn't exist

mkdir -p ~/.cursor/skills

# Copy the skill directory (must match the folder name 'i-have-adhd')

cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.cursor/skills/

Ensure the final path is ~/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ so Cursor can correctly index the skill.

Verifying the Installation

Confirm the skill is properly indexed by listing all available skills:

npx skills list

# or for global skills

npx skills ls -g

The output should include an entry for i-have-adhd. If you installed manually, ensure the folder name matches exactly, as Cursor uses the directory name to reference the skill.

Using the Skill in Cursor

Once installed, activate the skill in any Cursor chat session:

1. Open a new chat in Cursor
2. Type /i-have-adhd and press Enter

The skill immediately applies ADHD-focused formatting rules to all subsequent output in that session. To deactivate the skill and return to standard output, type "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" in the chat.

Making the Skill Always-On (Optional)

To enable the ADHD-optimized style by default for every session without typing the command:

1. Open Cursor → Settings → Rules → User Rules
2. Paste the output style configuration from INSTALL.md (lines 33-51)

This permanently applies the skill's formatting rules globally, eliminating the need to type /i-have-adhd at the start of each chat.

Summary

• The i-have-adhd skill is defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md and follows the Agent Skills specification
• Install via npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y or manually copy to ~/.cursor/skills/
• Verify installation with npx skills list
• Activate in chat with /i-have-adhd and deactivate with "stop adhd mode"
• Enable permanently via Cursor Settings → Rules for always-on ADHD-optimized formatting

Frequently Asked Questions

What file does Cursor use to load the i-have-adhd skill?

Cursor loads the skill from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md within the skill directory. This file contains the YAML front-matter with name: i-have-adhd that maps to the /i-have-adhd chat command, plus the rule set that defines the ADHD-optimized output style.

How do I temporarily disable the skill without uninstalling it?

Type "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" in your Cursor chat. This deactivates the skill's formatting rules for the current session without removing the skill files from your ~/.cursor/skills/ directory.

Can I install the skill for a single project only?

Yes. Instead of using ~/.cursor/skills/, create a .cursor/skills/ directory in your project's root folder and copy the skill there. Cursor scans both the global user directory and project-local directories for available skills.

Is the npx CLI tool required to manage Cursor skills?

No. While the npx skills CLI provides convenient commands for adding and listing skills, you can manually manage skills by cloning repositories and copying files directly into ~/.cursor/skills/. The CLI tool simply automates the file placement and verification steps.

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