# What Are the Two Activation Modes for the i-have-adhd Skill?

> Explore the two activation modes for the i-have-adhd skill: temporary slash commands and persistent always-on configuration. Learn how to set up your ADHD skill for optimal use.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-08-28

---

**The i-have-adhd skill supports two activation modes: explicit invocation via slash commands for temporary per-session use, and always-on persistent mode via configuration files for automatic application at startup.**

The `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository provides an AI assistant skill designed to format responses for ADHD-friendly readability. According to the installation documentation in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), users can activate these output formatting rules either on-demand or permanently, depending on their workflow requirements.

## Explicit Invocation Mode

**Explicit invocation** activates the skill only when you manually trigger it during a specific session. This mode is ideal for ad-hoc tasks where you need ADHD-optimized formatting temporarily.

In Claude Code or Qwen Code, type the following command to activate the skill for the current session:

```markdown
/i-have-adhd

```

For Codex-compatible environments, use the dollar-sign prefix instead:

```markdown
$i-have-adhd

```

Once activated, the rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) remain active until you explicitly disable them by saying **"stop adhd mode"** or **"normal mode"**. This ensures the formatting persists across multiple turns in your conversation without affecting other sessions.

## Always-On Persistent Mode

**Always-on mode** automatically loads the i-have-adhd rules at the start of every session, eliminating the need to type the activation command repeatedly.

For Claude Code users, create an empty marker file in your home directory:

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

```

Claude Code checks for this file at session startup and automatically loads the skill rules when present.

For other AI harnesses like Cursor or OpenCode, paste the always-on snippet from [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) into your agent's persistent rules configuration. For example, in Cursor, add the rules to `Settings → Rules → User Rules` or place them in `.cursor/rules/`. For OpenCode, add them to `~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md`. After saving the configuration, restart your agent to apply the changes.

## Choosing the Right Activation Method

Use **explicit invocation** when you need ADHD-optimized formatting occasionally or want to preserve default behavior for most interactions. Use **always-on mode** when you require the structured, step-by-step output format for every session, ensuring consistency without manual intervention.

## Summary

- The i-have-adhd skill offers two activation modes: explicit invocation and always-on persistent mode.
- Explicit mode uses `/i-have-adhd` (Claude/Qwen) or `$i-have-adhd` (Codex) and lasts until you say "stop adhd mode".
- Always-on mode for Claude Code requires creating `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` to trigger automatic loading at session start.
- Other harnesses require pasting the skill snippet into persistent rule files like Cursor's user rules or OpenCode's [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md).
- Both modes reference the same core rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I temporarily disable the i-have-adhd skill during a session?

To disable the skill during an active session where you used explicit invocation, simply tell the agent **"stop adhd mode"** or **"normal mode"**. This immediately reverts the output formatting to standard behavior without affecting future sessions.

### Does the always-on mode affect all AI agents or only specific ones?

Always-on mode is specific to the harness you configure. Creating `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` only affects Claude Code sessions. For Cursor, OpenCode, or other agents, you must paste the always-on snippet into that specific tool's persistent rules file, as documented in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md).

### Where are the core rules for the i-have-adhd skill defined?

The core formatting rules—specifying how to structure numbered lists, bold key terms, and break down complex tasks—are defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). Both activation modes ultimately load and apply these 10 specific ADHD-friendly output rules.

### Can I use both activation modes simultaneously?

Yes, but doing so is redundant. If you have already enabled always-on mode via the marker file or persistent rules, the skill loads automatically; typing the explicit command is unnecessary. However, using both causes no conflicts since they reference the same underlying rule set.