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I'm an addict

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Re: I'm an addict

#391

Post by [deleted] »

weatherlite wrote: post #292
cyphar wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started learning Japanese about two years ago now and now all of the time I used to waste watching YouTube is spent watching YouTube in Japanese as language practice. It's still the same activity but is at least somewhat productive. I barely go on Hacker News too, since it feels like more of a waste of time ("I could be studying Japanese right now!").

Nice! is there some purpose like career advancement or is it simply about pleasure and learning a new culture?

[deleted]

Re: I'm an addict

#392

Post by anoncow »

- Delete your history on your desktop and mobile browsers.

- Delete shortcuts to websites that you frequent from the browser start page.

- Replace your frequently visited websites with websites you want to visit.

Rinse and repeat.

Re: I'm an addict

#393

Post by tggir1 »

gspr wrote: post #344
thomastjeffery wrote: post #271

Sounds like OP isn't necessarily an addict: they have ADHD. Half the article was them complaining about poor working memory, and the rest about getting stimulation/dopamine from unhealthy sources. Everyone has "a little ADHD". We all occasionally , forget things, hyperfocus on things we are excited about, etc. ADHD is the disorder of having those struggles so often it's debilitating. It stems from having an underdeve…

How does one generally go about dealing with the fact that the above is a 100% match for oneself, 30-some years into life? I'm feeling physically sweaty realizing how accurately the article – and this comment – describes me.

First thing to consider is whether your behavior is causing problems with your life. Are you flaking on responsibilities? Failing at work? Are you feeling out of control?

Next, set up an appointment with a mental health professional (I recommend a psychiatrist) to talk through your thoughts. They will help you identify the causes of your behavior and provide solutions.

Re: I'm an addict

#394

Post by pugets »

burner22 wrote: post #286
thomastjeffery wrote: post #271

Sounds like OP isn't necessarily an addict: they have ADHD. Half the article was them complaining about poor working memory, and the rest about getting stimulation/dopamine from unhealthy sources. Everyone has "a little ADHD". We all occasionally , forget things, hyperfocus on things we are excited about, etc. ADHD is the disorder of having those struggles so often it's debilitating. It stems from having an underdeve…

I feel seen. My mechanism for remaining focused and getting through work has been to consume harder illicit substances, mostly cocaine. It's effective but definitely not sustainable long time and I'm not too sure where from here.

I mix Adderall and marijuana. It's horrible for my health, but boy does it work. Adderall gets my mind moving, and pot keeps me sitting in my chair, ignorant of the passage of time, focused on work.

As counterproductive as it seems, I think pot makes me more mindful, which can boost my work productivity. Sometimes I will smoke and then spend 30 minutes organizing my folder structures, documenting code, or writing a script to do something that I do manually everyday. When I'm not on pot, all of those tasks seem too trivial to justify doing.

Re: I'm an addict

#395

Post by colechristensen »

kayodelycaon wrote: post #375
colechristensen wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're splitting hairs. Everyone has a little trouble regulating themselves, some people have a little more trouble, some people have enough trouble that it becomes a disorder.

That's the entire point I'm trying to make. "Everyone has X" is a categorically wrong understanding of what the underlying problem is. An equivalent is saying everyone has trouble walking sometimes when we're talking about someone who limps and needs a cane. The symptoms are not the disorder and don't come from the same mechanism that causes normal people to have difficultly paying attention sometimes.

In many cases it is not a differing underlying cause but simply the same thing further out of balance. Psychiatry diagnoses are essentially never based on a mechanistic explanation and I challenge you to come up with an actual binary change present in those with adhd and those without besides the latter having somebody put that label on them.

Re: I'm an addict

#396

Post by cyphar »

weatherlite wrote: post #292
cyphar wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started learning Japanese about two years ago now and now all of the time I used to waste watching YouTube is spent watching YouTube in Japanese as language practice. It's still the same activity but is at least somewhat productive. I barely go on Hacker News too, since it feels like more of a waste of time ("I could be studying Japanese right now!").

Nice! is there some purpose like career advancement or is it simply about pleasure and learning a new culture?

Just found it interesting to be honest. I might move there for a short time just to experience it, but I wouldn't plan to live there for the long term.

Re: I'm an addict

#397

Post by starwind »

boppo1 wrote: post #356
SnowHill9902 wrote: post #23

Knowing that HN is generally against it, I say it anyway: I recommend religion and religious teachings which address this and many other daily worldly issues perfectly. Christianity and Judaism both have excellent resources. Religious scholars have actually been the best psychologists but are generally dismissed by non-believers. Edit: for those asking for specific recommendations. It’s always best to find your own p…

How do I get the psychological benefits without having belief? Let me lay a story on you: I fell in love with this girl who I had known on/off for a long time. I found out she was an escort (quietly but distinctly confirmed payment-for-sex) in her spare time (she was a student when this all happened). This was really upsetting and had me very distraught. I simultaneously could see a life with her, but also felt disgu…

There’s this Western conception of Buddhism that stripes away a lot of the religious beliefs—Siddhartha wasn’t divine at all, there is no Amitabha, Ksitigarbha is a folk tale. The emphasis is all on practice. Meditation, the 4 noble truths, Middle Way, etc.

This doesn’t represent true Buddhism like Asians would recognize it, but I think it does highlight how you can build a practice and adopt the world outlook without the supernatural.

A low-level Zen inspired practice may be what you’re looking for

Re: I'm an addict

#398

Post by thomastjeffery »

jaqalopes wrote: post #303
thomastjeffery wrote: post #271

Sounds like OP isn't necessarily an addict: they have ADHD. Half the article was them complaining about poor working memory, and the rest about getting stimulation/dopamine from unhealthy sources. Everyone has "a little ADHD". We all occasionally , forget things, hyperfocus on things we are excited about, etc. ADHD is the disorder of having those struggles so often it's debilitating. It stems from having an underdeve…

As someone actually diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD, I'm stunned by the clarity and relatability of this description of it, right down to the SAD that has afflicted me for over a decade. None of my doctors has ever put it so clearly, so obviously, in a way that connects to my actual experience. All that is to say, I'm bringing this to my next therapy session, wish me luck.

Good luck! I'm glad I could help.

Re: I'm an addict

#399

Post by v-erne »

Consultant32452 wrote: post #151
Jaruzel wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I recommend religion and religious teachings which address this and many other daily worldly issues perfectly. This advice simply doesn't work if the recipient is an atheist. To me, Religious texts are made up fiction that hold no more meaning in my world view than Harry Potter or Game of Thrones. If you read enough fiction on a shared topic, you'll be able to pull the same number of 'enlightening' quotes from thos…

The difference between Harry Potter and most religious texts is that the religious texts are often the result of thousands of years of evolutionary processes which refine them, and the people who have followed them have survived/thrived. It doesn't matter if the Bible/Koran/whatever is a fact or not. Religious beliefs/texts are an extension of human evolution and should be seen that way. Questioning their wisdom in h…

>> often the result of thousands of years of evolutionary processes which refine them >> Religious beliefs/texts are an extension of human evolution and should be seen that way.

If this is true, does it mean that churches all over the world did a big disservice to the holy books and stopped the evolution by creating institutions dedicated to preserve text of this books in unchanged form argumenting that those books literally are word of God and thus cannot be changed?

Re: I'm an addict

#400

Post by robbrown451 »

I suggest an accountability partner. The biggest problem I've had with that is that my partners didn't have it as badly as me, so they didn't understand.

The idea is you check in once a day (10 minutes or so), and just talk about what you've achieved, where you've failed, etc. It can be very effective.

I've done some pretty extreme things in the past, such as hired a "coach" who would hold me financially responsible if I didn't send proof that I got up and walked the dog to the ATM machine by 8 am every morning. (we had complex rules and she had a check made out to charity, ready to send if I didn't achieve what I was supposed to) It was extremely effective while I did it, but only for really measurable things.

I use a timer lock to keep cannabis locked up for a few days at a time, so I don't have to quit it (I think it is good for my creativity as well as for seeing "the big picture" and finding the positive, but it is bad if it is tempting me to use it while I should be working)

If you are interested in getting a group together to do accountability partners, get in touch. (rjbrown at google's mail service)

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