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Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

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Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#111

Post by christalwang »

fortysixdegrees wrote: post #100

A message to those diagnosed or not with ADHD. It's also ok to be yourself, and not try to 'fix' yourself. Shit at some aspects of life? All good. Good at some things? Great. Not saying treatment is bad, just that being yourself, with all its costs and benefits, is a completely legitimate option. Medicate always as a last resort

To OP and the rest of the folks in this thread: firstly, thanks for opening this convo. It's quite complicated in that each person who is neurodiverse (ADHD or other condition) is wholly different from the next, in symptoms / personality / severity / how much it impacts your life, the list goes on.

Along that vein, there is a level of acceptance (at least for me) that I will always be different. The decision of what I want to change (just like any neurotypical person decides to embark on a 'personal growth' journey) is also each individuals to take. Of course, the flip side here is that the societal pressure etc., obviously makes it not that simple (holding down jobs, etc.).

Another distinction for those new to ADHD is that by definition, your life needs to be significantly impacted (at home, school/work, etc.) in multiple domains for a diagnosis.

In terms of medication, right now for ADHD it's the most scientifically proven way (70-80% of people with ADHD see benefits) to manage ADHD symptoms but can also have some side effects. Because of this and many other reasons, some folks prefer to engage in behavioral change solutions not necessarily to 'fix' themselves only, but potentially just to reach certain goals they have. This may be used together with medication/therapy or on its own.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#112

Post by drewpc »

okhuman wrote: post #9

"ADHD" needs a rebranding... move away from clinical diagnosis from medical professionals which can be "heartbreaking" or "liberating" to coaches/advisors running community groups which build frameworks for these like minded, like personality individuals (and their associated family/friends) to operate in (like a 'club') and to help educate others (advocacy). People with "ADHD" are already covered by the Big Five Per…

Do you think this article describing a better name for ADHD as Variable Attention Stimulus Trait or VAST [1] addresses the concerns you bring up?

[1] https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#113

Post by fragmede »

xeniaangevin wrote: post #79
cauthon wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For example, in the context of ADHD, coaching is very focused on future-oriented outcomes and tactic-oriented skills, whereas therapy is often focused on disentangling thoughts, unpacking trauma, etc Respectfully, in my experience therapy is very focused on outcomes and skills. (A very short list of examples: CBT's thought records, DBT's DEAR MAN, ACT's defusion.) Is the distinction pedantic, or does it have more t…

Firstly, it’s a pleasure to meet someone as informed in the current debates across the helping professions as you are. As a coaching psychologist and a member of Shimmer team, I should firstly confirm that we work in close alliance with the other helping professions in the clinical and psychotherapeutic space and we understand each other’s limitations. And while each of the helping professions pay attention to the ou…

Let me be more direct: what qualifications do your coaches hold?

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#114

Post by christalwang »

s-video wrote: post #42

I'm an adult with ADHD but this doesn't appeal to me because I've already found behavioral techniques that work really well for ~free. I'll try and describe one briefly: I use a free app called Virtual Motivaider[1] to make my phone vibrate every 2 to 6 minutes. I'll print a sheet[2] that has a table with two columns. Every row is the same: the first column has the text "Am I on Task?" and the second column has two c…

Wow, thank you for sharing these super specific systems you have put in place that work for you! With your permission, I'd love to share these tools and tips with our coaches, in case they haven't seen them before (they are new to me!) and may be relevant to their members.

I'm excited that you have found your exact mix, and our mission is exactly to help other folks just like us found their unique mix of tools & systems that work for their life. With their commitment to experimenting, the abundance of resources like the ones you've shared, and our coaches' guidance, we hope to get our members to their version of where you're at! Ideally with free stuff too!

The goal of coaching is most definitely not to be a crutch that you have to use forever. Ideally they can get to a point similar to yours with the aid of their coach! Oftentimes, the sifting through info, experimenting, and staying motivated part is the hard part (that we hope to be able to help with!)

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#115

Post by christalwang »

Spivak wrote: post #66
s-video wrote: post #42

I'm an adult with ADHD but this doesn't appeal to me because I've already found behavioral techniques that work really well for ~free. I'll try and describe one briefly: I use a free app called Virtual Motivaider[1] to make my phone vibrate every 2 to 6 minutes. I'll print a sheet[2] that has a table with two columns. Every row is the same: the first column has the text "Am I on Task?" and the second column has two c…

You do get that "finding the techniques that work for you" is like the whole value of the coach, right? You're standing at the end, and I'm assuming you've put in a lot of work to get where you are because the kinds of resources that would helped you weren't available. There is such a gap of "people who have ADHD sharing the things that actually worked for them." One of the best strategies for me "task bracelets" I d…

You took the words out of my mouth! Many of our members (me included) have tried to adopt things others said worked for them, and it can get quite exhausting finding time after time that they don't work. There are 2 (of many things) that could be happening here: 1. The tool/tip wasn't the right one for you. 2. The tool/tip wasn't implemented in a way that maximized chance of success

Those 2 items above are what our coaches try to help with.

With 1., just picking up and trying something someone else is using can get exhausting. Our coaches help you dissect what the problem is, what sort of systems work well for you (in the past), what don't, and why, and then help you pick from a narrowed list to choose. For example, accountability works really well for me (body doubling) but another one of our members hates it because they are introverted and easily distracted by movements of others.

With 2., sometimes we pick up the right tool/tip but we don't implement it properly. We try it hastily for one day and then give up. Our coaches use behavioral change psychology to break down the steps, implement it into your life in the way that sticks, then keep you accountable to actually giving it your best shot.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#116

Post by fragmede »

iamdbtoo wrote: post #88

> We understand that life doesn't always go according to plan. Shimmer members can cancel or reschedule a coaching video call without penalty 24 hours in advance. If cancellation is within 24 hours, the session will be forfeited for the week. Thank you for your understanding! I understand your need to ensure your time is not wasted, but policies like this can wreak havoc on people struggling with executive dysfunctio…

the right answer, with a pool of VC money, is to have a pool of coaches on tap, so the appointment is NOW. no scheduling stuff in the future to be missed or forgotten. expensive on the back end, but that's what the VC money is for. And also to have it in the middle of the night - so many people I know have their awake hours from 1-3am, meet people with ADHD where they are.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#117

Post by christalwang »

stcroixx wrote: post #77

What, specifically, is a whole life narrative?

I was saving this one to answer, because it's really personal for me!

For each person it'll be different. But in short, these are the stories you tell yourself, about yourself.

For example: when I was a kid I was always put in this "special" desk that faced the back wall, or the other "special" desk that was pushed up against the blackboard next to the teacher. I was always "other"'d and kept away from others. I started growing this idea that I was just a "bad kid", that I needed to be removed or separated from others. That nobody wanted to hear what I had to say. That I was a "bad apple". This really demotivated to try at all in school, and the only place I felt confident was in Physical Education class where I was allowed to be loud and move around without being yelled at. Over time, as I learned about ADHD, I wasn't a bad kid... and that sports wasn't even really my thing (lol). With this new "fact", I was able to separate some of my behaviors and tendancies from me as a person.

That was just 1 little example. I have tons... but I hope that made a little bit of sense!

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#118

Post by fragmede »

endisneigh wrote: post #5

I like the site but it seems overpriced - a good therapist is cheaper and can do the same thing. A psychologist and psychiatrist can both clinically diagnose you and give you pharmaceuticals if needed at prices similar to the ones mentioned if you have insurance. Personally I would argue from working with some kids who have adhd in the past that more gamification and reasons to use their phone will exacerbate some of…

Where are you getting therapy cheaper!? most therapists I've found around me are $xxx/hr and don't take insurance.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#119

Post by christalwang »

ttul wrote: post #98

This is definitely a service that needed to exist, so I'm really glad that someone finally did it. That being said, if you have ADHD or suspect you might have ADHD, I highly recommend seeing a medical professional to get diagnosed first before beginning any form of treatment. ADHD is caused by poor functioning of the connections between neurons in certain areas of the brain that are responsible for impulse control an…

I second this! If you have or suspect you have ADHD, a licensed medical professional is your first line of defense. Even if you don't choose treatment, the clarity could be helpful (it was for me!). But I also understand for various reasons some choose not to get diagnosed and there's a lot of work we need to do on the societal level to reduce the stigma, especially poignant in certain cultural communities (like my own...).

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#120

Post by fragmede »

drewpc wrote: post #112
okhuman wrote: post #9

"ADHD" needs a rebranding... move away from clinical diagnosis from medical professionals which can be "heartbreaking" or "liberating" to coaches/advisors running community groups which build frameworks for these like minded, like personality individuals (and their associated family/friends) to operate in (like a 'club') and to help educate others (advocacy). People with "ADHD" are already covered by the Big Five Per…

Do you think this article describing a better name for ADHD as Variable Attention Stimulus Trait or VAST [1] addresses the concerns you bring up? [1] https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/

"Executive function deficit" is another popular one.
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