# Troubleshooting i-have-adhd Not Working: 5 Common Causes and Fixes

> Is i-have-adhd not working? Discover 5 common causes and fixes for the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository, including the crucial initial invocation command.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-02

---

**The i-have-adhd skill fails most often because users forget the initial invocation command (`/i-have-adhd` in Claude or `$i-have-adhd` in Codex) that activates its persistent rules.**

The i-have-adhd repository provides a response-style plugin that reformats AI assistant output for ADHD-friendly readability. When troubleshooting i-have-adhd not working, you need to understand its three-layer architecture: the skill definition in [[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), marketplace installation hooks, and runtime invocation triggers.

---

## Why the i-have-adhd Skill Appears to Do Nothing

The skill modifies how Claude, Codex, or Gemini structure their responses through a 10-rule style guide. According to the source code, most "not working" reports trace back to five specific failure points:

| Failure point | Quick check | Verification command |
|---|---|---|
| **Plugin not in marketplace** | Plugin listed in agent's plugins | `claude plugin list` or `codex plugin list` |
| **Skill not invoked this session** | First response line is actionable command | Type `/i-have-adhd` and check response format |
| **Auto-activation disabled** | Sentinel file exists | `ls ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` |
| **Conflicting configuration** | [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) name field matches | Open [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) and verify `"name": "i-have-adhd"` |
| **Disable-model-invocation overridden** | No extra LLM call after skill trigger | Inspect debug API payload for model requests |

---

## Fix 1: Verify the Plugin Is Installed in Your Agent's Marketplace

Before troubleshooting i-have-adhd not working any further, confirm the plugin appears in your agent's marketplace.

**For Claude:**

```bash
claude plugin list

```

You should see `i-have-adhd` in the output. If missing, reinstall:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd
claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

**For Codex:**

```bash
codex plugin list

```

If absent, reinstall with:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd
codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

*Reference: [[`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) § "Install"](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md#install)*

---

## Fix 2: Trigger the Initial Skill Invocation

The skill's **persistence rules** only activate after you explicitly invoke it once per session. This is the most overlooked step when troubleshooting i-have-adhd not working.

**Claude invocation:**

```

/i-have-adhd

```

**Codex invocation:**

```

$i-have-adhd

```

After typing the command, the first line of the AI response should be a concrete action (for example, "Run `npm install …`"). If you see plain prose instead, the skill did not load.

*Reference: [[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) § "Persistence"](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md#persistence)*

---

## Fix 3: Enable Automatic Activation for Every Session

If you want the skill active without typing the command each time, create the sentinel file that forces automatic loading:

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

```

Verify the file exists:

```bash
ls ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always

```

Without this file, you must manually invoke `/i-have-adhd` at the start of every new Claude session.

---

## Fix 4: Check for Configuration Conflicts

A stale or custom [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) can shadow the current skill definition. Open the repository's root [[`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) and confirm:

```json
{
  "name": "i-have-adhd"
}

```

If the `name` field differs, the agent marketplace cannot correctly resolve the skill.

---

## Fix 5: Verify the Disable-Model-Invocation Flag

The skill sets `disable-model-invocation: true` in its YAML definition to prevent additional LLM calls after triggering. According to the source code in [[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), a downstream plugin may override this flag.

To verify:

1. Run `/i-have-adhd` with debug mode enabled in your agent
2. Inspect the raw API payload
3. Confirm the payload contains only skill metadata, not an additional model request

---

## How to Disable the Skill Mid-Session

When you want to return to standard output formatting, say either:

```

stop adhd mode

```

or

```

normal mode

```

The skill's persistence rules immediately deactivate until the next manual invocation (or session restart if auto-activation is enabled).

---

## Summary

- **Most common cause:** Forgetting to type `/i-have-adhd` (Claude) or `$i-have-adhd` (Codex) to trigger the skill's persistent rules
- **Verify installation:** Use `plugin list` commands and reinstall if the skill is missing from the marketplace
- **Enable auto-start:** Create `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` to skip manual invocation
- **Check conflicts:** Validate [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) contains `"name": "i-have-adhd"`
- **Debug mode:** Inspect API payloads if the disable-model-invocation flag appears ignored

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why does i-have-adhd stop working after I restart Claude?

The skill's persistence rules are **session-scoped** unless you enable automatic activation. Create `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` to maintain the behavior across restarts, or remember to type `/i-have-adhd` at the start of each new session.

### Can I use i-have-adhd with Codex or Gemini instead of Claude?

Yes. The repository provides installation snippets for multiple agents. For Codex, use `$i-have-adhd` as the invocation trigger and refer to [[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) for Gemini-specific steps. The core [[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) definition remains the same across all platforms.

### What does "disable-model-invocation: true" mean in the skill definition?

This YAML flag tells the agent to stop processing additional LLM calls for the current turn after the skill triggers. It ensures the skill's 10-rule style guide applies directly without the base model reinterpreting the output. If a downstream plugin overrides this flag, you may see mixed formatting.

### How do I completely remove i-have-adhd and start fresh?

Run the marketplace remove commands for your agent, then delete any local configuration:

```bash

# Claude

claude plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd
rm -f ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always

# Codex

codex plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd

```

Reinstall using the commands in Fix 1 above, restart your agent session, and invoke the skill with `/i-have-adhd` or `$i-have-adhd`.