I heard of coaching in relation to ADHD over a decade ago, it's not something they invented. I don't know anything about Shimmer, so I don't know how well they fit the mold, but as I understand ADHD Coaching: The general idea is that the coaches are there to supplement therapy and/or drugs with practical "in the weeds" advice. A Therapist would worry about making you feel better, and might point you in the direction…
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…
You need to explicitly request cognitive behavioral therapy alongside medical management. You might need to look for a psychiatrist that understands that as a component of ADHD management.
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.
Smartphones and smart watches are your friend. Noise canceling headphones come in a close second. You need to remember while unmedicated to take your medicine so an obnoxious, hard to ignore medical alarm is a good tool.
Why do you describe your product as "coaching", and not "therapy"? Is this a marketing decision because of a perceived stigma around the term "therapy"? (The re-branding of CBT/ACT to "coaching" and "training" instead of "therapy" strikes me as odd, I don't understand the emphasis on avoiding the term.) Will your company be accepting medical insurance? $350/mo (~$90/session) is roughly half of what billed-to-insuranc…
> However, with insurance I've usually paid $25-40/session out of pocket. This is what insured people need to keep in mind. Always look up the actual cost estimation through your insurer's website first. It's not uncommon for health insurance at tech companies to have therapy options that come out to $20-30/session. Worth checking first! Also, note that the service offered here is explicitly "coaching" and not "thera…
Preexisting conditions was torture. I spent way more than I should for therapy and medicine because of it. Look. If aca ever gets repealed, we need to require insurance to be insurance and have the carrier under which you were diagnosed indemnify you. Period.
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…
If you have genuine adhd, you are not going to be the best at money management. You will likely also not hold high paying jobs because of the executive function requirements. They probably need to be 21cfr compliant in order to qualify as a medical device. I only did part 11 and clinical analyzers so I don't know about medical devices such as an app.
In this company's defense, there are many supplements and research chemicals that n=1 help but cannot go through FDA compliance because of financial reasons--No-one will redo the Russian study proving Piracetam as effective because it would then be a generic, however it is life-changing for many people with adhd.
"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…
Watch Barkley. They can't rebrand it as ADHD is already linked to law like PL 1973 and the Americans with disabilities act, and to get there was hard enough. We need to make people think executive function disorder when they hear the acronym ADHD.
This is what I would've thought not even a year ago. Having tried pretty much all the stimulants (oh DNMs how I love you) and currently taking one, I almost can't believe I have to say medication alone is not enough.
Yup. You will also need to externalise your executive function and working memory. Get a fitbit to buzz for all alarms so that you don't miss meetings, etc because you silenced your phone and turned off buzz.
I wanted to say you need to create new habits and a schedule. With medication you can (finally) do it, but you simply don't know how. You can self-help, but external help would work much better.
Even IF - even IF this service is effective for people with ADHD - how does this service deal with the problem of people believing they have ADHD when they actually have another problem which presents similarly? Literally read their post, it's for if: >If you have ADHD (or think you do) Wow that's great and not exploitative at all. A service to treat a medical condition that people merely THINK they have. Don't suppo…
Thanks for your comment. This definitely is not treatment nor therapy/medication, just to clarify. We view ourselves as 1 potential piece of your greater solution to ADHD (or wanting better executive function skills in general). Same as a to-do list is helpful for ADHD, as is a body doubling tool. These services don't treat ADHD, simply may be of help!
Stop scamming people with your predatory bullshit. You should be ashamed of yourself. We are not your cash cow, fuck off.
"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 me…
The prefrontal cortex mediates executive function and working memory. It sends signals into the center of the brain which in turn reciprocated through dopamine neurons. Methylphenidate blocks the reuptake and breakdown of dopamine by MAO. Amphetamine stimulates the receptors on the other brain cells dendritic surface that dopamine stimulates. The middle of the brain then tells the front which tasks to focus on, what items to keep in working memory, and which emotions and behaviors to suppress. Working memory. Executive function. Emotional regulation. Because of a faulty d2 receptor, adhd brains do not respond to dopamine stimulation like neurotypical ones. They in turn fail to sufficiently signal the front of the brain which controls this higher brain function. It is unfortunate that the disease is called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because it takes focus away from task salience--keeping on track and holding the steps to accomplish complex behavior i.e. The front of the brain. It also results in time blindness or the inability to evoke future potentials against closer consequences resulting in playing vidya instead of doing homework because the consequences are improperly measured by the front of your brain. Stimulants increase dopamine and acetylcholine. Coaching helps maintain task salience. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches ways to externalize your executive functions and life skills and requires medical therapy in order to be successful. It is best to regard this as executive function disorder and stay away from attention as attention is often misinterpreted or lacks proper context.
Yup. You will also need to externalise your executive function and working memory. Get a fitbit to buzz for all alarms so that you don't miss meetings, etc because you silenced your phone and turned off buzz.
I wanted to say you need to create new habits and a schedule. With medication you can (finally) do it, but you simply don't know how. You can self-help, but external help would work much better.
Don't trust habits. Anything that contributes to decision fatigue will be amplified in those afflicted with ADHD. Use paper plates and cups. Lay out all of your clothes for the week on off days. Rely on your phone to remind you and have a linked backup--smart watch. You are going to hit decision fatigue way faster than neurotypical people so do everything you can while medicated to reserve your decision making--executive function gas tank.