How to Stop ADHD Mode in an AI Assistant: 3 Methods to Disable the i-have-adhd Plugin

To stop ADHD mode in an AI assistant, say "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode", run the /i-have-adhd off slash command, or delete the ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always flag file to disable always-on mode.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides a plugin that injects strict formatting rules to make AI responses short, actionable, and focused. When you need to restore default conversational behavior, you must explicitly disable these rules using one of several built-in mechanisms. Understanding how to stop ADHD mode in an AI assistant requires knowing the difference between temporary session-level deactivation and permanent removal of the auto-start behavior.

What Is ADHD Mode?

ADHD mode is a ruleset implemented in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts that constrains an AI assistant to provide brief, structured, and immediately actionable responses. The plugin remains active for the duration of the session unless the user issues a specific stop command or removes the persistent configuration flag. The core implementation defines a STOP_PHRASES Set and handles slash command parsing to manage state transitions.

Method 1: Use Stop Phrases to Disable ADHD Mode

The simplest way to deactivate the plugin is by using one of the recognized stop phrases. According to the source code in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts, the plugin listens for the exact strings:

• "stop adhd mode"
• "normal mode"

When the assistant detects either phrase in your input, it emits a single-line acknowledgement and immediately returns to the default response style.

User: Can you give me the next steps for the project?
Assistant: 1️⃣ Create a new branch...
User: stop adhd mode
Assistant: ADHD MODE OFF. Returning to normal response style.

This method affects only the current session and does not modify any persistent configuration files.

Method 2: Execute the Slash Command to Turn Off ADHD Mode

For explicit control, use the slash command interface documented in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md. Typing the following command forces the plugin to disable its ruleset immediately:

/i-have-adhd off

The assistant will respond with a confirmation message:

ADHD MODE OFF. Ignoring the i-have-adhd ruleset injected earlier in this conversation and returning to default style.

This approach is functionally equivalent to using the stop phrases but provides a more command-oriented interface for users who prefer explicit syntax over natural language.

Method 3: Remove the Always-On Flag File for Permanent Deactivation

If you have enabled always-on mode, the plugin automatically injects the ADHD rules at every session start via hook scripts (hooks/always-on.sh, hooks/always-on.mjs, and hooks/always-on.ps1). To prevent this automatic activation, you must delete the flag file that persists the setting:

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

If the CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR environment variable is set, the flag file resides at $CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR/.i-have-adhd-always instead. After removing this file, new sessions will start without the ADHD rules unless you manually invoke /i-have-adhd again.

Summary

• Say "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" for immediate, session-level deactivation as implemented in extensions/i-have-adhd.ts.
• Run /i-have-adhd off to explicitly toggle the plugin state using the command handler defined in the skill documentation.
• Delete ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always to prevent automatic rule injection in future sessions managed by the always-on hooks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact stop phrases to disable ADHD mode?

The plugin recognizes two specific strings: "stop adhd mode" and "normal mode". These are stored in the STOP_PHRASES Set within extensions/i-have-adhd.ts, and detection triggers an immediate return to default response formatting.

Does stopping ADHD mode affect future sessions?

Using stop phrases or the slash command only disables the rules for the current conversation. To prevent automatic activation in new sessions, you must remove the always-on flag file referenced by hooks/always-on.sh and its cross-platform variants.

Where is the always-on flag file located?

The default path is ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always. If you have customized your environment, check the CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR directory for the .i-have-adhd-always file.

Can I re-enable ADHD mode after stopping it?

Yes, you can reactivate the rules at any time by running /i-have-adhd or recreating the always-on flag file to restore automatic injection at session start.

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