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For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

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Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried ambient music? If not, check out Brian Eno’s “Music for airports”.

Sometimes I find ambient music to be too dull, but I find music with lyrics too distracting. But if I listen to music with lyrics in language which I don't speak, then I don't get distracted. Spanish mambo works well for me. Also I've recently listened to some operas. Classical music is good and bad. A lot of classical has instruments that I don't like, and some of the music is too erratic for focus.

I use video game soundtracks. They tend to be designed to hit that sweet spot of easy to tune out but engaging enough to placate a distracted brain. A few I can recommend:

    Samarost 3
    Hundered Days
    Far Lone Sails
    Far Changing Tides
    Obduction and Myst series
    The Red Strings Club
    Conspiravision (which is a remake of Deus Ex OST)
    Hyper Light Drifter

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds similar to me. I was diagnosed unexpectedly at 38 and it changed my life. There is a good chance your internalised coping mechanisms are adding undue stress to your nervous system, making you tired and depressed, and ironically exacerbating the conditions for symptoms to become more disruptive (when you're tired, aren't eating properly, hyperfocusing too much and wearing yourself out, working late nights…

Did you become medicated? I was diagnosed but also have High Blood Pressure (HBP), genetics, and most of the meds we tested cause an uncomfortable rise in pressure that just wasn't worth it. My coping mechanisms are what I have left I suppose.

I did, my Blood Pressure is not great either but luckily, not enough to prevent taking anything, but enough to be careful. I'm in ok shape, not the best I've ever been in, but not terrible. I just take something to help reduce my heart rate at night.

Unfortunately stimulants don't have much of an affect on me so I take quite a high dose at the moment. I'm doing all the suggested things to help them along, like increasing protein, getting more Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin D etc, staying away from citrus. Ensuring good sleep hygiene.

I see a psychologist regularly to unpick the weight of all the masking and coping mechanisms. It's a long process, but making much more progress than when I thought it was just depression and perfectionism issues.

I'm starting Neurofeedback to see if that helps and planning to use an ADHD specific performance coach in the new year to help with work.

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#153
post #139

I'm not sure if I have ADHD, they say if you get a high from the medication you probably don't have it. But I always play music. All the time. It has to be music I already know for focus. If not working, podcast. Or some YT video. I also am a loner/have lived alone for a few years so idk it's a way to not remember that I guess.

Can chime in on your first comment: back in 2014, I tried cocaine for the first and only time in my life, while at a fancy bar. While the rest of the people went pink faced and got "high" from it for the rest of the night, I got extremely sober and calm from it (and it burnt my nose). I didn't know at the time I had ADHD or even what the disorder was all about. Diagnosed last year at age 32: so much of the last 20 years of my life makes sense now, all the little coping mechanisms, impulsive behaviours, my relationship with caffeine and so on. It's like seeing yourself for the first time.

I cannot imagine what any of the ADHD meds feel like for normal people, and I suspect a good chunk people don't have the same experience from caffeine. For some, it probably makes them sharper & more awake and so on, but for others it would calm them down and centre the brain and make you feel "normal" for a bit.

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you become medicated? I was diagnosed but also have High Blood Pressure (HBP), genetics, and most of the meds we tested cause an uncomfortable rise in pressure that just wasn't worth it. My coping mechanisms are what I have left I suppose.

I did, my Blood Pressure is not great either but luckily, not enough to prevent taking anything, but enough to be careful. I'm in ok shape, not the best I've ever been in, but not terrible. I just take something to help reduce my heart rate at night. Unfortunately stimulants don't have much of an affect on me so I take quite a high dose at the moment. I'm doing all the suggested things to help them along, like increa…

You might discuss an SSRI with your docs if you don't already take one. They can help with the depression, and seem to promote neurogenesis which can help the re-wiring process. Of course they can have side effects.

I've been curious about neurofeedback too. You mean the ones that record physiological responses right? Theres also brain stimulation devices which seem intriguing https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20190422/fda-permits-...

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds similar to me. I was diagnosed unexpectedly at 38 and it changed my life. There is a good chance your internalised coping mechanisms are adding undue stress to your nervous system, making you tired and depressed, and ironically exacerbating the conditions for symptoms to become more disruptive (when you're tired, aren't eating properly, hyperfocusing too much and wearing yourself out, working late nights…

What's the benefit in knowing for sure?

Legal tweaking?

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#156

I don't know if I have ADHD, but if I do an online survey it says I most probably definitely do. I was never diagnosed as a child because I largely functioned as a kid and was quiet and non-disruptive, but looking back the signs were all there. Fast forward as an adult I have a number of coping mechanisms and one of them is to have something on in the background. I have never associated the effectiveness with the noi…

My go-to is Futurama episodes... Didn't realise this was a common coping mechanism till I asked around and both my brothers do it (Adult ADHD diagnosis) and one friend (Also diagnosed).

I found Audible books are great for me. Put in earbuds and do chores, or program, etc.

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#157

I don't know if I have ADHD, but if I do an online survey it says I most probably definitely do. I was never diagnosed as a child because I largely functioned as a kid and was quiet and non-disruptive, but looking back the signs were all there. Fast forward as an adult I have a number of coping mechanisms and one of them is to have something on in the background. I have never associated the effectiveness with the noi…

Interesting - have you ever music without vocals such as lofi?

Here's a couple of live streams I regularly listen to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4sJkuOPUP8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfKfPfyJRdk

And here's a channel that as well as sometimes having a livestream regularly uploads ~1 mixes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKbkDggYQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GWyf-35QHI&t=2s

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds similar to me. I was diagnosed unexpectedly at 38 and it changed my life. There is a good chance your internalised coping mechanisms are adding undue stress to your nervous system, making you tired and depressed, and ironically exacerbating the conditions for symptoms to become more disruptive (when you're tired, aren't eating properly, hyperfocusing too much and wearing yourself out, working late nights…

Same, except aged 28. I completely randomly happened to stumble upon a detailed description of inattentive ADHD, and had the thought, "Hmm, I wonder how doctors are able to differentiate between someone who has these symptoms and has ADHD, and someone like me who has these symptoms but doesn't have ADHD." Then it hit me like a brick wall. Now I understand the phrase "it was like time stopped." Blinders came off and I…

God I hope I can get my diagnosis soon. You describe me to a T right now and I'm 27.

Re: For some with ADHD, the low rumble of brown noise quiets the brain

#160

I don't know if I have ADHD, but if I do an online survey it says I most probably definitely do. I was never diagnosed as a child because I largely functioned as a kid and was quiet and non-disruptive, but looking back the signs were all there. Fast forward as an adult I have a number of coping mechanisms and one of them is to have something on in the background. I have never associated the effectiveness with the noi…

That sounds similar to me. I was diagnosed unexpectedly at 38 and it changed my life. There is a good chance your internalised coping mechanisms are adding undue stress to your nervous system, making you tired and depressed, and ironically exacerbating the conditions for symptoms to become more disruptive (when you're tired, aren't eating properly, hyperfocusing too much and wearing yourself out, working late nights…

I've mentioned this before but there are serious warnings against getting tested in Sweden.

I was told that it can affect my health insurance, my mortgage and that I can't hold certain licenses (Pilot, HGV).

There are some direct consequences to being diagnosed and some indirect ones; and they warn that once the process of getting diagnosed starts; it cannot be stopped.

So, of course, I didn't seek a diagnosis- despite having many ADHD markers.

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