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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

#211

Post by StargazyPi »

faeriechangling wrote: post #192
addthrowaway75 wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friend it is you who should consider being ashamed. Suggesting stimulants as the first line of treatment rather than cardiovascular exercise, good sleep, and a healthier relationship with food is at best dismissive of the body of modern research and at worst introduction of a dangerous 'just pop a pill' crutch. Stimulants are not at all the only way out of the ouroboros of adhd symptoms making today hard and tomor…

ADHD meds are suggested as a first line treatment above all of those other things because they are more effective than all those things, like several times as effective, and are well tolerated and inexpensive. It is that fact which plays into why this treatment is exploitative. You should only ever be trying something like this after exhausting a number of more effective options. This program is marketing itself as f…

I agree their phrasing could have been better. However in my country it typically takes 1-2 years to get a diagnosis and start treatment. It's even a few months to a year if you go private.

I can see this sort of thing being at least a stop-gap, and something that might help while someone's waiting to get access to the better treatment.

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

#212

Post by LocalH »

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…

I propose we either call it "Focus Control Disorder" or where the context would be appropriate, "dopamine dysfunction". If someone is unable to function and it turns out they had a vitamin D or potassium deficiency, we don't call it "sunlight rejection disorder" or "bananaphobia", ya know? The very name of ADHD is ableist, it defines neurodivergent life in neurotypical terms (in this context, "neurotypical" merely means one has a brain that typically generates the proper amount of dopamine to function in modern society).

This is totally a problem with the manufactured society we have created as humans. I'm absolutely certain that when we lived off this earth more naturally, the traits that have become disadvantages were originally communal strengths. My personal hypothesis is that ADHD is a series of traits that evolved to make wonderful hunters. The ability for the slightest noise/motion to grab our attention, the hyperfocus on things that do grab our attention, the ability to make connections extremely fast in a fractal manner, all of these traits would be a huge advantage when hunting prey to feed your social group or to protect your group from predators.

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

#213

Post by galangalalgol »

christalwang wrote: post #172
galangalalgol wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, my psych makes sure the meds aren't causing problems and does simple mental wellness checks before writing new scripts. My coach gave me strategies to fit my life. Usually in the form of me presenting a problem, and getting several tricks to try. I don't think the meds or the coaching would help in isolation. I don't do the coaching now unless I come across a new problem. I have my book of trivks and triggers t…

Thanks for sharing your experience, and glad that coaching has given you some strategies that work for you! When you say book of tricks and triggers, do you mean a physical book? Curious how other folks hold on to their learnings etc.!

The problems/tactics I have written down in my notebook. The triggers are just repetition with lots of failures. Its like chaining the behavior of walking into a conference room to checking my calendar for my next thing. Or when I feel overwhelmed I check the section on prioritizing, scheduling, delegating, and dropping tasks.

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

#214

Post by donclark »

I'm curious why so many companies and products come out of the gate with pricing too high. Are they so overconfident in their offerings? Are they just that desperate? Why not start at lower-than-expected pricing, cause an uproar and influx of new customers, and increase cost to keep the new customer numbers in check? I would think we have a better handle on the launch process by now. I wish you and your team well.

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

#216

Post by kurikuri »

atonse wrote: post #207
christalwang wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your response + clearly you have a strong understanding of ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition (and the stats around medication's efficacy!). Medication is by far the most effective treatment method for ADHD at 80%+, which is incredibly astounding given most mental health & brain disorders don't have such an effective treatment method. We definitely understand that a software solution will by no means "…

I haven’t looked closely at your product but there was a similar one that launched a few months ago on HN and it was almost a joke the way they launched it. Almost every single one of their techniques and incentives is were bound to fail exactly if someone had ADHD. Like they had a 14 day trial where you had to remember to keep launching the app every day and things like that. Guess what, someone with ADD would forge…

> definitely blow through a silly 14 day trial before they could even realize any value.

Even worse: the trial was probably sign up with card before you buy and many people with ADHD will still be _paying_ for the service long after the trial ran out...

> It showed me exactly how clueless they were about their audience.

It sounds like a grift that knew _exactly_ who their audience was...

[disclaimer: I didn't check which service you are talking about, so this may not be the case. This does seem to be a trope, however.]

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

#217

Post by philsnow »

atonse wrote: post #207
christalwang wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your response + clearly you have a strong understanding of ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition (and the stats around medication's efficacy!). Medication is by far the most effective treatment method for ADHD at 80%+, which is incredibly astounding given most mental health & brain disorders don't have such an effective treatment method. We definitely understand that a software solution will by no means "…

I haven’t looked closely at your product but there was a similar one that launched a few months ago on HN and it was almost a joke the way they launched it. Almost every single one of their techniques and incentives is were bound to fail exactly if someone had ADHD. Like they had a 14 day trial where you had to remember to keep launching the app every day and things like that. Guess what, someone with ADD would forge…

Inflow: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28877610

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

#218

Post by rtikulit »

Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

You are right that ADHD is a true neurological disorder that responds well to medication, but on everything else your are horrifyingly wrong. Medication alone is not a panacea for many people with ADHD and is most effective when coupled with better self understanding, self acceptance, and adoption of an ADHD-optimized lifestyle.

I have ADHD, my kids have ADHD, and most of my friends have ADHD. Was on Vyvanse for 5 years, then off for 6, and I just recently started taking it again.

During my first 5 years on Vyvance, I had my first experience of what was truly possible for me and it changed my life.

Then, triggered by unrelated health issues and unhappiness with side effects, but mainly because I wanted to run the experiment of seeing how far I could get without meds, I stopped for 6 years. I focussed on lifestyle, structure, health, exercise, nutrition, meditation, And it was pretty good, much better than before my diagnosis.

Then as my life moved forward it presented me with increasing responsibility and challenge, and this year I decided to go back on meds. Of course it was immediately obvious that meds improve my ability to focus and my general self-regulation to a level not possible through healthy lifestyle and earnest intentions. But… now I am getting a multiplier effect of an ADHD-optimized lifestyle working together with my medication, and its amazing. I'm taking a lower dose than before, but sustaining a better level of productivity and mental health.

I have seen in myself and others where meds on their own have failed because their benefits were squandered by a careless lifestyle. Now I get to see how this plays out with my kids, And guess what? Meds are essential, but they aren't enough. The hard part is changing their attitudes, habits and lifestyle.

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

#219

Post by ericmcer »

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

How many adults do you think would describe themselves as having some level of ADHD? With all the distractions of today it is a ripe market so when someone offers "treatment" with no diagnosis necessary and no actual medical professionals (I am not sure what an ADHD-coach is) it does ring a few alarm bells.

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

#220

Post by treeman79 »

Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

Your correct. But some of us can’t tolerate the medication.
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