I've been trying to learn Python on and off for seven years, but I keep getting stuck and giving up. I have ADHD and an auditory processing disorder, and I still really want to learn.
Does struggling this long mean programming might not be for me? What would you try differently?
Seven years of trying different things is not the same as seven years of steady practice, and it doesn't tell you that you lack some innate programming gene.
Pick one small thing you actually want to make. A grocery list program, a simple game, or a drawing with Python's turtle module would all work. Start with the smallest version, like displaying a list, then add one feature at a time. Look things up as you need them. You don't have to build it all from memory.
Programming can be learned, but that doesn't mean everyone will enjoy the process or find the same parts equally manageable. Keeping track of details and debugging can be exhausting, especially when attention is already a challenge.
It's okay to decide the effort isn't worth it for you, even if you could improve with more practice. That would be a choice about what you want to spend time on, not proof that you're dumb.
Try changing the format before changing the goal. If spoken explanations are hard to process, use written tutorials and examples you can revisit at your own pace. Work in short sessions if two hours feels draining, and leave a note about the next tiny step before you stop.
When something breaks, write down what you expected, what actually happened, and the exact error. That gives you a concrete problem to investigate instead of the much bigger feeling that you can't program.
I'd keep some structure alongside a project. A beginner course can introduce variables, conditions, loops, and functions in an order that makes sense. After each topic, use it in a tiny program rather than moving straight to the next lesson.
There are interactive coding courses too, if reading and typing through exercises works better for you than video. You can also use the Python turtle module for immediate visual feedback.
r82!letterbox_419:
And it's fine to check examples while you practice. Being able to recall every detail from memory isn't a prerequisite for making useful things.
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!file~the+thimble:
The goal doesn't have to be useful either. Making something just because it sounds fun is a good reason to learn.