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Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

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Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#331

Post by vineyardmike »

rjh29 wrote: post #199
matlin wrote: post #107

Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…

Absolutely. There are some who need this medication to function, but there are many who weren't sure if they needed meds, got prescribed anyway and - surprise - feel a burst of focus and motivation now they're regularly taking stimulants.

> There are some who need this medication to function, but there are many who weren't sure if they needed meds, got prescribed anyway

ADHD medication is heavily controlled. As an adult, it is very hard to get but yes, there are likely people who got it without really needing it.

The wording of this comment ("some" vs "many") makes it seem like the majority of people got it without needing it. This is almost certainly not true due to how strictly it is controlled.

This comment is extremely diminutive and places a lot of assumption in the prescription process of medication.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#332

Post by bjourne »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #215
matlin wrote: post #107

Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…

I recommend discarding any anecdotes from people who recently started taking stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, or Ritalin. The parent comment is correct in that early stimulant usage is associated with euphoria and motivation that do not last. If someone describes Adderall like the magic drug that Bradley Cooper takes in the movie Limitless, they probably haven't been taking it very long. Tolerance quickly builds to…

> That's not to say it doesn't have a place in treatment of life-impacting ADHD disorders, but it should be noted that it's not a miracle drug that automatically turns you into a motivated, organized person.

For one person I know that is actually how it was. From unemployed and living at home to phd studies in mathematics and publishing in prestigious journals.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#333

Post by vineyardmike »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #318
Ancapistani wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He did. The state discouraged prescribing it. I wasn’t seeking “drug seeking”, I was seeking the only medical intervention that I’ve found that ameliorates a diagnosed condition. You really equate that with someone looking to get high?

I was under the impression that without peer coaching you couldn’t get a prescription. If state guidelines are at fault how did you find a in state doctor sympathetic? I apologize but I can’t get over the notion it’s drug seeking and/or doctor shopping. I must assume that there was a reason for the doctor not wanting to prescribe you that medication. If state guidelines were the true root why was another doctor amena…

>Using performance enhancing drugs is a losing game. It makes it harder for those who wish to use their natural cognitive abilities. >In time it forces everyone to dope up.

With all due respect, say less things like this.

You're wrong -the drugs treat a medical condition. Its not "doping" or "performance enhancing".

> It makes it harder for those who wish to use their natural cognitive abilities

Our society is full of people enhancing their natural abilities... with things like cars and escalators and calculators. Treating a medical condition is fixing a medical "flaw" but it is NOT some sort of get-ahead scheme.

This sort of diminutive language leaves people feeling bad about themselves instead of seeking adequate medical treatment.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#334

Post by vineyardmike »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #317
Spivak wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly have never experienced medical gatekeeping. It can be really frustrating to be forced to change doctors or insurance and have to fight for years to continue the treatment regimen that actually works for you. Your PCP is the tier-1 tech support of the medical world. They have basically zero specialized knowledge to evaluate different medications outside the brochure the sales rep gave them. There's a reaso…

Rather presumptive to think I haven’t been through the medical system or ran into bad doctors. My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader. You get medical records sent and see multiple doctors until one is aware of your ailment. Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me. Happy to agree to disagree on this one. If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do ever…

> My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader.

I assume that you've sought medical care and been criticized for it, and now spread that unfortunate rhetoric to others?

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#335

Post by vineyardmike »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #317
Spivak wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly have never experienced medical gatekeeping. It can be really frustrating to be forced to change doctors or insurance and have to fight for years to continue the treatment regimen that actually works for you. Your PCP is the tier-1 tech support of the medical world. They have basically zero specialized knowledge to evaluate different medications outside the brochure the sales rep gave them. There's a reaso…

Rather presumptive to think I haven’t been through the medical system or ran into bad doctors. My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader. You get medical records sent and see multiple doctors until one is aware of your ailment. Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me. Happy to agree to disagree on this one. If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do ever…

> If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do everything I can to fire them.

They actually used work resources to discuss medical treatments so firing them over this would likely be very illegal.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#336

Post by globular-toast »

bluefirebrand wrote: post #179
globular-toast wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does "10x on productivity" mean? I thought ADHD would lead to lower productivity.

This is a common misconception about ADHD. People with ADHD have a tendency to hyperfocus on things they enjoy, to the detriment of other things. ADHD is not a lack of focus, it is a lack of Executive Function. Sometimes the Executive Function looks easily distracted because it doesn't want to do chores so it bounces from room to room cleaning one single surface in each one. Sometimes the Executive Function looks lik…

Turns out I have ADHD then!

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#337

Post by vineyardmike »

bobmaxup wrote: post #253
username90 wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it matter? The important part is that you can manage it long term, and taking it once a week is sustainable.

> Does it matter? I view the euphoria as an unsustainable side effect. People can tell when you are high, and normally not for your positive attributes during those moments.

> I view the euphoria as an unsustainable side effect.

So?

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#338

Post by bloqs »

jnovek wrote: post #140
matlin wrote: post #107

Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…

Everything you’ve said is correct, but please don’t demonize a medication that I depend on to be functional. ADHD is a disability, there’s more nuance to this than black-and-white. I was blown off by doctors for years when I was seeking a diagnostics because I was a successful person, but make no mistake: I was suffering. I am a textbook case. The stigma around this disorder is pervasive and it’s extremely easy to re…

ADHD is not a disability. It's an evolutionary set of traits. It is covered under the Big Five.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#339

Post by dotjalla »

bloqs wrote: post #338
jnovek wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything you’ve said is correct, but please don’t demonize a medication that I depend on to be functional. ADHD is a disability, there’s more nuance to this than black-and-white. I was blown off by doctors for years when I was seeking a diagnostics because I was a successful person, but make no mistake: I was suffering. I am a textbook case. The stigma around this disorder is pervasive and it’s extremely easy to re…

ADHD is not a disability. It's an evolutionary set of traits. It is covered under the Big Five.

I would argue that ADHD presents as a disability in a post-industrial society. ADHD Institute suggests that the diagnosis is commonly associated with substance abuse, major depression and a wide range of other conditions, in higher frequency than baseline populations[0]

[0]: https://adhd-institute.com/burden-of-adhd/comorbidities/

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#340

Post by dri_ft »

bloqs wrote: post #338
jnovek wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything you’ve said is correct, but please don’t demonize a medication that I depend on to be functional. ADHD is a disability, there’s more nuance to this than black-and-white. I was blown off by doctors for years when I was seeking a diagnostics because I was a successful person, but make no mistake: I was suffering. I am a textbook case. The stigma around this disorder is pervasive and it’s extremely easy to re…

ADHD is not a disability. It's an evolutionary set of traits. It is covered under the Big Five.

As what, lack of conscientiousness?
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