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My ADHD founder toolbox

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Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#241

Post by avar »

This short scene from Malcolm in the Middle is the best explanation I've found of ADHD as an adult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSehcT19u0

He tries to turn on the light, the bulb is dead, unscrews it, then as he's getting the bulb the shelf in the cabinet it's in is loose.

He gets a screwdriver to fix the cabinet, but the rails on the drawer the screwdriver's in are squeaky. He gets some WD-40 to fix that, but the can of WD-40 is empty. He then gets in the car, which refuses to start.

Then his wife gets home, and he's underneath the car covered in motor oil. "Hal, did you replace that light bulb in the kitchen?" "WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING?!".

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#242

Post by Skgqie1 »

sedivy94 wrote: post #150
Skgqie1 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with this. For me, the energy is because I have to use less energy doing basic day to day shit. Unmedicated, it takes far more effort and work, and leaves less energy for later tasks.

It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug.

The self-assessment is less to do with how efficient I was, and more based on the fact I get things done sooner, because I don't fuck around and get distracted every few minutes. Completing a task significantly sooner/earlier, because I managed to stay on task has a real impact on the energy and time I have to spend on other tasks.

If I only get 80% of the stuff I need to get done before bedtime, there's no chance for me to do other. If I get the stuff I need to get done well before bedtime, there's time left for other things. Skewed self-assessment isn't really a factor in that.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#243

Post by Cockbrand »

avar wrote: post #241

This short scene from Malcolm in the Middle is the best explanation I've found of ADHD as an adult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSehcT19u0 He tries to turn on the light, the bulb is dead, unscrews it, then as he's getting the bulb the shelf in the cabinet it's in is loose. He gets a screwdriver to fix the cabinet, but the rails on the drawer the screwdriver's in are squeaky. He gets some WD-40 to fix that, but t…

Also known as Yak Shaving in our industry :)

Still, the reference to ADHD is definitely valid!

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#244

Post by LoganDark »

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #51

I diagnosed when I was like... 8 years old. From then to 17 I was on various meds, finally gave them all up. So for about 22 years I've coped with ADHD without meds. I am a Staff Engineer and make a good living, respected in my field. Regardless of anything else, I think the key thing to remember about ADHD is that you do not need to be a high-performing human being, at all, in life. You will forget things and get di…

I've never been diagnosed, but around two weeks ago some random soul on Reddit spotted some symptoms that might be signs of ADHD, or at least things that ADHD meds could help.

I was provided this article: https://invisibleup.com/articles/27/

It is such an accurate description of something I've been struggling with my whole life without ever knowing it. I'm now waiting the weeks and weeks it takes to get a doctor's appointment; going to try for meds and maybe a diagnosis. I've already been formally diagnosed with autism, but ADHD never came up.

If you have even a sneaking suspicion that you might have ADHD, read the article. It is absolutely an eye-opener.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#245

Post by [deleted] »

Cockbrand wrote: post #243
avar wrote: post #241

This short scene from Malcolm in the Middle is the best explanation I've found of ADHD as an adult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSehcT19u0 He tries to turn on the light, the bulb is dead, unscrews it, then as he's getting the bulb the shelf in the cabinet it's in is loose. He gets a screwdriver to fix the cabinet, but the rails on the drawer the screwdriver's in are squeaky. He gets some WD-40 to fix that, but t…

Also known as Yak Shaving in our industry :) Still, the reference to ADHD is definitely valid!

[deleted]

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#246

Post by swores »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #204
resonious wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One interesting point about stimulant meds: they also help people who don't have the ADHD diagnosis. The black market for stimulants is pretty sizeable, not to mention the legit market for things like coffee.

I've tried my GF's meds once to see what it was (and using medication is one of the diagnosis tools they use); I found myself focusing and intetionally task switching for about two hours (that and palpitations), but I wouldn't say they "help"ed me. If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race.

> If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices.

OR you may have a medical condition such as ADHD where stimulants are a useful prescribed tool to deal with it. Not everyone who needs stimulants to work is abusing them.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#247

Post by FollowingTheDao »

sedivy94 wrote: post #150
Skgqie1 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with this. For me, the energy is because I have to use less energy doing basic day to day shit. Unmedicated, it takes far more effort and work, and leaves less energy for later tasks.

It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug.

This is the truth.

And by the way, the effect on dopamine is secondary. ADHD meds work because they affect glutamate leveles. You all do not have low Dopamine, you have low glutamate.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nn0301_275

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3966039/

https://www.brown.edu/news/2018-03-12/glutamate

And you all probably just need B6: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24321736/

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#248

Post by FollowingTheDao »

mtsr wrote: post #131
eyelidlessness wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew day one. Three years have continuously confirmed what I knew day one. I wish I hadn’t been so afraid of meds that would help me.

It’s not on you. An enormous amount of stigma surrounds the use of stimulant medication, even if it’s one of the oldest and most studied psychiatric meds there is. And the stigma is continuously reinforced by all the people who don’t need it abusing the meds. Sure, there’s also some risk for patients using them properly, but for them it does not compare to the sheer benefits provided by the meds.

You are not deficient in stimulants. So using them is not the answer.

Instead, look to nutrition.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24321736/

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#249

Post by isolli »

sph wrote: post #239
isolli wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know exactly how you feel, but I there is a bigger question: how well do these medications do in the medium term (counted in months)? I have read people testify how the initial boost evaporates, and when things come back to normal, they have to either continue the drug for not much benefit or face withdrawal. Edit: to clarify, I'm not telling anyone not to try medication. Everyone's response will be different. Just…

No idea, but habituation is a much bigger deal than people give it credit for. I did the titration regimen after my diagnosis with a licensed psychiatrist and ADHD specialist, so you start very low and test a dosage for a month at a time. You increase it slightly until side effects are noticeable, then you scale back. This was my timeline: Euphoria lasts perhaps two days, and you're on the lowest dose so it's pretty…

Thanks, this was very useful information.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#250

Post by FollowingTheDao »

anshumankmr wrote: post #111

As someone who is also battling ADHD, I feel super anxious reading the comments here all talking about X and Y medicine, which I am super not wanting to do. I used to do therapy but I found my therapist was making videos on Facebook about a few things I told him (though I was never named but I felt this was a huge breach of trust). I exercise quite a bit. (lots of cardio and core exercises, I particularly enjoy barbe…

Get you B6 levels tested:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24321736/

Also, it is not about dopamine, it is about glutamate: https://www.brown.edu/news/2018-03-12/glutamate

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