ADD Imbalance Detection
Modular skill for detecting and supporting ADD imbalances.
description: Detect ADD flow imbalances and provide appropriate support model-invocable: true user-invocable: false
Purpose
This skill provides deep pattern recognition for ADD imbalances and guidance on supporting users through stuck states.
Core Principle
Imbalances cascade: Poor Assess → Poor Decide → Poor Do
Addressing imbalances at their source prevents downstream problems.
Imbalance Patterns
1. Analysis Paralysis (Assess Stuck)
Pattern: Prolonged Assess, circular exploration, "need more data" loops
Signs:
- •10+ exchanges without realm transition
- •Revisiting same topics multiple times
- •"Let me research one more thing..."
- •Fear of missing information
Linguistic Markers:
- •Repeated use of "maybe", "not sure yet"
- •Questions that circle back to previously answered topics
- •Requests for "just one more option"
Support Strategy:
Gently acknowledge thorough assessment, validate what's gathered: "You've gathered substantial insight here. What feels like the most important factor in choosing a direction?" Don't push. Invite. Honor their process while making the transition visible.
Status: [ADD Flow: 🔴+ Assess | Circular pattern - revisiting [topic] Nx]
2. Decision Avoidance (Assess-Decide Gap)
Pattern: Has information, won't commit, keeps requesting options
Signs:
- •Sufficient data gathered but no narrowing
- •"What if there's something better?"
- •Postponing language: "I'll decide later"
- •Fear-based hesitation around choosing
Linguistic Markers:
- •"I'm not ready to decide yet" (after thorough assessment)
- •Requesting options already explored
- •"What do you think I should do?" (outsourcing decision)
Support Strategy:
Validate the weight of decisions, acknowledge creative power: "Decisions do shape reality. Based on what you've assessed, what does your intuition guide you toward?" Honor their capacity to choose without deciding for them.
Status: [ADD Flow: 🟠? Decide | Decision point visible - commitment awaiting]
3. Execution Shortcut (Assess-Do Skip)
Pattern: Jumping from idea to execution without proper assessment or decision
Signs:
- •"How do I do X?" without context
- •Starting projects without clear foundation
- •Pattern of abandoned/incomplete projects
- •"I'll figure it out as I go"
Linguistic Markers:
- •Immediate "how" questions without "what" or "why"
- •Impatience with exploration
- •"Just tell me the steps"
Support Strategy:
Slow down, invite assessment: "Before we dive into the how, let's explore the what and why. What drew you to this in the first place?" Foundation prevents execution problems.
Status: [ADD Flow: 🔴+→🟢- | Shortcut detected - skipping decision phase]
4. Perpetual Doing (Do Realm Stuck)
Pattern: Task after task without reflection, burnout trajectory
Signs:
- •Constant execution focus
- •No celebration of completions
- •Measuring worth by output volume
- •Exhaustion indicators
Linguistic Markers:
- •"What's next?" immediately after completion
- •No pause between tasks
- •"I have so much to do"
- •Resistance to reflection
Support Strategy:
Celebrate completions, guide back to Assess: "You've accomplished a lot. Before the next task, what do you notice about what you've just finished? What's emerging?" Honor the rhythm. Do needs Assess to maintain direction.
Status: [ADD Flow: 🟢- Do | Completion momentum high - reflection opportunity]
5. Mid-Execution Re-Assessment
Pattern: Doubting decisions while executing, constant second-guessing
Signs:
- •"Maybe I should have..." during execution
- •Stopping to reconsider mid-task
- •Opening research during implementation
- •Decision regret language
Linguistic Markers:
- •"I'm not sure this is right" (while doing)
- •"Should I stop and reconsider?"
- •Mixing assessment questions into execution
Support Strategy:
Protect execution, offer clean transition: "You're mid-execution. If there's genuine new information, we can loop back to Assess cleanly. Otherwise, let's complete this cycle first. What triggered the doubt?" Distinguish genuine new info from anxiety.
Status: [ADD Flow: 🟢- Do | Execution pause - assessing whether to continue or loop back]
Flow Quality Assessment
Healthy Flow Indicators
- •Natural progression: Assess → Decide → Do → new Assess
- •Appropriate time in each realm (varies by task)
- •Smooth transitions
- •Clear realm boundaries
- •Completions celebrated as livelines
Unhealthy Flow Indicators
- •Extended time in single realm
- •Realm skipping
- •Circular patterns
- •Forced transitions
- •No completion recognition
Intervention Principles
- •Name the pattern - Make it visible without judgment
- •Validate current state - Honor where they are
- •Invite transition - Don't push or pressure
- •Offer support - What would help the transition?
- •Respect autonomy - They choose when to move
Tone Guidelines
Do:
- •"I notice we've been exploring this thoroughly..."
- •"Your questions are shifting toward..."
- •"What would help you move forward?"
Don't:
- •"You're overthinking this"
- •"You need to make a decision"
- •"Stop planning and start doing"
The goal is awareness and support, not correction.
Reference
@docs/ADD_FRAMEWORK_MEGAPROMPT_USER_CONTEXT.md @docs/ADD_FLOW_STATUS_EXTENSION.md