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Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

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Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#31

Post by kstrauser »

ablyveiled wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I have some powerful coping mechanisms. I can manage my ADHD on my own. But earlier this year, I finally got around to working with a doc who prescribed me meds. It's amazing how much extra mental energy I have now that I'm not expending so much of it on those coping mechanisms.

It's great to learn how to get by without meds. That's important, and the meds aren't a magic wand that will miraculously make you happy and productive without any lifestyle changes. But oh, wow, what a difference those meds can make!

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#32

Post by aidenn0 »

christalwang wrote: post #22
aidenn0 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely coaching could help develop better coping mechanisms for various issues that arise from living with a brain energetics disorder? (To be clear: I'm not recommending Shimmer; the fact that they mention positive psychology is a red-flag for me).

Can you expand more on your perspective on positive psychology?

Much of what I have encountered in Positive Psychology (with a capital "P"; i.e. the relatively young field) falls into two categories:

1. Incorporating things from previous research that are relatively uncontentious (e.g. flow

2. Tainted by academic fraud (e.g. Critical Positivity Ratio)

Given that you can have #1 without defining a new field of psychology, I associate the field of Positive Psychology with #2.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#33

Post by ablyveiled »

aidenn0 wrote: post #19
ablyveiled wrote: post #4

[flagged]

Surely coaching could help develop better coping mechanisms for various issues that arise from living with a brain energetics disorder? (To be clear: I'm not recommending Shimmer; the fact that they mention positive psychology is a red-flag for me).

I think it's just poor value for money and time. One should focus instead on ways of eliminating the brain energetics disorder to obtain true freedom.

It's like being sober versus being attached at the hip to Narcotics Anonymous. Sure, it helps people, but it's much better, if possible, to not even need it.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#34

Post by christalwang »

rendx wrote: post #20

What is your team's take on the theory of ADHD as a "survival strategy" of childhood/parent trauma, and healing it by working through the trauma instead of merely managing its symptoms?

It really depends on the person. It's the case for some folks but definitely not all (not myself) and in that case, it's important to address the root cause. Our team actually advocates for mixed treatment when relevant (while acknowledging the provider shortage, differences in means/access to quality healthcare) - this usually includes working with psychiatric, clinical, counseling and psychotherapy practitioners (and/or coaches). These treatment protocols may include medication, therapy, and more. Doesn't need to be done all at once, but drawing on these tools as needed.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#35

Post by dsp_person »

christalwang wrote: post #25
hartator wrote: post #23

Funny this is one of the most distracting blog posts I've read in a bit. Emojis everywhere, boxes, Intercom, sign up to the newsletter, animations, confusing wordings, multiple colors for the text. I doubt the author has a grasping of ADHD.

Appreciate the feedback! I'm the author here (Christal)...unfortunately I definitely have ADHD! Many of our members and team need the emojis for the visual relation but I definitely see your point. I will tone down the emojis and make the newsletter show up only at the end of the article. I'll also send this to a content editor for the confusing wordings, etc.! If there are any specific examples, don't hesitate to le…

I thought the emojis and animations and stuff were great. Good job.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#36

Post by christalwang »

kstrauser wrote: post #31
ablyveiled wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I have some powerful coping mechanisms. I can manage my ADHD on my own. But earlier this year, I finally got around to working with a doc who prescribed me meds. It's amazing how much extra mental energy I have now that I'm not expending so much of it on those coping mechanisms. It's great to learn how to get by without meds. That's important, and the meds aren't a magic wand that will miraculously make you happy and…

100%

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#37

Post by christalwang »

dsp_person wrote: post #35
christalwang wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Appreciate the feedback! I'm the author here (Christal)...unfortunately I definitely have ADHD! Many of our members and team need the emojis for the visual relation but I definitely see your point. I will tone down the emojis and make the newsletter show up only at the end of the article. I'll also send this to a content editor for the confusing wordings, etc.! If there are any specific examples, don't hesitate to le…

I thought the emojis and animations and stuff were great. Good job.

My savior! Thank you!

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#38

Post by munk-a »

christalwang wrote: post #25
hartator wrote: post #23

Funny this is one of the most distracting blog posts I've read in a bit. Emojis everywhere, boxes, Intercom, sign up to the newsletter, animations, confusing wordings, multiple colors for the text. I doubt the author has a grasping of ADHD.

Appreciate the feedback! I'm the author here (Christal)...unfortunately I definitely have ADHD! Many of our members and team need the emojis for the visual relation but I definitely see your point. I will tone down the emojis and make the newsletter show up only at the end of the article. I'll also send this to a content editor for the confusing wordings, etc.! If there are any specific examples, don't hesitate to le…

As a person with ADHD myself I'm definitely on the same wavelength with finding emojis distracting but a friend of mine finds them extremely engaging. I suspect that the emoji appeal is more whether you were raised in a setting with them embedded into speech or appended at the end of speech. That's all to say that I don't think the OP was really accurate when they said emojis distracted people with ADHD - it distracts some of us - and engages other[1].

I would also personally appreciate a more neutral professional tone to writing but it's important to get a wider understanding of your audience before over tuning your presentation.

1. (And if you really want to engage me put hyphens everywhere - I do mean everywhere... but that's just me.)

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#39

Post by hartator »

dsp_person wrote: post #30
hartator wrote: post #23

Funny this is one of the most distracting blog posts I've read in a bit. Emojis everywhere, boxes, Intercom, sign up to the newsletter, animations, confusing wordings, multiple colors for the text. I doubt the author has a grasping of ADHD.

> I doubt the author has a grasping of ADHD Do you? It can be hurtful to tell someone they "aren't ADHD enough". First line of the article: > I was diagnosed last year & wasn’t able to find an affordable, quality ADHD coach ADHD people might like the animations, emojis, and colors, and might not read a long boring plaintext article linearly from start to finish. Everyone has different preferences though... Personally…

> It can be hurtful to tell someone they "aren't ADHD enough".

The author can have ADHD, but not have a grasping of how to solve this. One doesn't preclude the other.

Keep in mind they are the ones trying to sell a ADHD solution. Cutting off on visual and auditory distractions is very 101. It doesn't inspire lot of trust if they don't grasp that. Even if they all have ADHD for real.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#40

Post by Apreche »

christalwang wrote: post #16
alfanick wrote: post #7

"All of our Shimmer ADHD Coaches are licensed or certified mental health professionals or have extensive experience with ADHD & undergo our Shimmer Coach Training program developed alongside our clinical advisors Dr. Amin Azzam (MD, MA), Dr. Anil Chacko (PhD), and our Head ADHD Coaching Psychologist Xenia Angevin." What is "undergo our Shimmer Coach Training program developed alongside our clinical advisors Dr. Amin…

Appreciate this question, it's one we've gotten a lot and quite frankly I agree we haven't nailed the best way to articulate it. To answer a few of your questions... - We don't use psychologists or psychotherapists as the front-line helper because there is a severe shortage of them and our main goal is accessibility. There is a provider shortage (psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, etc.) in the US and most plac…

You say you haven't found a way to articulate it. You should articulate it exactly the way you do in this comment.

You are not providing licensed medical services. Just come out and say it, since it's true. Yes, saying that will cause people to distrust you, and well it should. You are right about there being a shortage, but there is no substitute for a real doctor.

That said, being upfront about it instead of trying to beat around the bush or make excuses doesn't help you. It only serves to make you even more untrustworthy. Your attempts to obscure the fact that you aren't providing real medical service only suggests that you know in your heart that what you are providing is not the same. If you believed your "coaches" were good enough, you wouldn't have to do anything at all to hide the fact that they were not real doctors. You could just come out and say it.

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