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A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

nytimes.com

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Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#71

Post by funkyy »

rayalez wrote: post #64

It's weird and frustrating that people label many abnormalities as "diseases". When I read a list of ADHD symptoms I keep asking myself - how is that a bad thing? Being bored doing unenjoyable tasks, hating homework, "Not seem to listen when spoken to",Struggle to follow instructions,Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight, Have trouble sitting still during school and homework, Be const…

I knew a kid that had ADHD. Unfortunately it was just a label - way for a kid to get everything. The kid didn't had ADHD imo, he was just spoiled and his parents were failing to do any parenting. The kid would eat whole mountain of sweets, drink cola all day, play games and scream and cry whenever he was prohibited something. In school he wasnt interested in learning and he basically would do nothing or play portable games all day. He would also not care for others and his needs would be always #1 before anything else.

Parents were really protective of him so they would fight with teachers whenever they would try to do something about it. The kid seemed to be pretty smart and he got all this figured out and used it a lot. But whenever he would be with people he didnt knew in a room, or with no-bullshit people, he would be actually quiet and behaving very good.

SOME ADHD cases sounds like just putting label on failed parenting to shut parents and avoid being sued by them for not doing any proper parenting.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#72

Post by jvdh »

I have only experienced ADHD second hand, my partner has been diagnosed with it years ago, and a good friend of mine as well. I recognise the "coping mechanisms" with alcohol, and the frustration of getting mundane things done.

The article suggests that the intense concentration or "hyperfocus" they have when they find something interesting can be used to their advantage. Both my partner and friend have gotten into occupations where they can do this. But there will always be mundane things that have to get done as well. Everyone has to pay taxes, and has to watch their spending. Few people like to do this, but almost everyone has to. Having a thrilling job does not alleviate you from these things.

So yes, it can probably help somewhat, but it can't "fix" ADHD completely.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#74

Post by dTal »

andreasvc wrote: post #8
guiambros wrote: post #6

It's sad that the article didn't even mention exercise as a potential treatment for ADHD. The OP implies that kids will simply "grow out" of ADHD, drugs, or changing the environment may be enough. While these are valid solutions, exercise may be equally or even more effective. John J. Ratey, one of the pioneers of ADHD [1], recently wrote the excellent Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain [2…

IMO the terminology of neurochemical imbalance should be avoided. It's the sort of framing that is much preferred by the pharmacological industry, because it suggests that the nature of the problem is well understood and can be directly addressed with their products. In reality there is only a very vague idea of mental illness and related neurotransmitters. To make a computer analogy, it's like calling a problem an "…

I'd never noticed this before, but you're right - "neurochemical imbalance" sounds convincing but holds no explanatory power by itself, and sounds very much like an updated version of "imbalance of the humours".

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#75

Post by DonHopkins »

ahknight wrote: post #13
austenallred wrote: post #11

I was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age, and have been doing battle with my attention span for most of my life. I had only read a half dozen books all the way through when I graduated from High School, despite reading at a college reading level before I was out of elementary school and having started hundreds of them. The few books that I had read included Les Miserables and War and Peace, both of which I binge…

Similar story here: early age, 0 or 100, high tests and little completion. The difference is I've been programming for most of my life (I'm not exaggerating; I started at 7y). It's likely because I started so young that I find that's my hyper focus outlet, though I still find that every time I try to learn Java it feels so painful I break something and run away (though I know C, C++, Obj-C, Swift, Python, PHP, Perl,…

How intriguing! Does C# do it for you, or does it have the same effect as Java? Maybe it's the culture, not the language itself?

PS:

FORTH ?KNOW IF HONK! ELSE FORTH LEARN THEN

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#76

Post by DonHopkins »

spenuke wrote: post #70
ahknight wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar story here: early age, 0 or 100, high tests and little completion. The difference is I've been programming for most of my life (I'm not exaggerating; I started at 7y). It's likely because I started so young that I find that's my hyper focus outlet, though I still find that every time I try to learn Java it feels so painful I break something and run away (though I know C, C++, Obj-C, Swift, Python, PHP, Perl,…

My uncle is a psychiatrist, and he has a theory that the definition is more of a matrix than a spectrum. He says that what is often called attention deficit would better be described as intention surplus - you have more intention than your attention can handle. A lot of A.D.D. cases are confused by the fact that they can spend several hours hyperfocused on something, so it's not a lack of attention that's the problem…

If you can make your ADD work for you, then you should call it ADO: Attention Deficit Order.

Same thing goes for my OCO.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#77

Post by godDLL »

rayalez wrote: post #64

It's weird and frustrating that people label many abnormalities as "diseases". When I read a list of ADHD symptoms I keep asking myself - how is that a bad thing? Being bored doing unenjoyable tasks, hating homework, "Not seem to listen when spoken to",Struggle to follow instructions,Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight, Have trouble sitting still during school and homework, Be const…

You cherry-picked "kiddy" symptoms thereby creating a strawman. I am not a medical doctor, so I'm not going to tell you what it is or isn't -- but one of the symptoms you omitted, depression -- is NO FUCKING JOKE.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#78

Post by DonHopkins »

funkyy wrote: post #71
rayalez wrote: post #64

It's weird and frustrating that people label many abnormalities as "diseases". When I read a list of ADHD symptoms I keep asking myself - how is that a bad thing? Being bored doing unenjoyable tasks, hating homework, "Not seem to listen when spoken to",Struggle to follow instructions,Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight, Have trouble sitting still during school and homework, Be const…

I knew a kid that had ADHD. Unfortunately it was just a label - way for a kid to get everything. The kid didn't had ADHD imo, he was just spoiled and his parents were failing to do any parenting. The kid would eat whole mountain of sweets, drink cola all day, play games and scream and cry whenever he was prohibited something. In school he wasnt interested in learning and he basically would do nothing or play portable…

Somebody was reading a list of ADHD warning signs to me from some self help book, which all perfectly described a mutual friend of ours: things like "interrupts other people while they're talking", "doesn't return phone calls", "no respect for authority", "always wants to be the center of attention", etc. I asked, "Maybe they're just an asshole? Isn't it possible to be an asshole without having ADHD?"

Oh, all right, I'll admit: it was really all about me. ;)

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#79

Post by adhd_anon »

I have severe inattentive ADHD.

1. There is absolutely no sympathy: The problem with ADHD is that it is a disorder of degree not kind. If I had epilepsy or cancer or had some of my limbs missing then people around me would be supportive and understanding. But not ADHD. Everybody's mind wanders. Everyone would like to only do interesting things. Everyone forgets things from time to time. But, the problem is the degree to which these afflict people with ADHD.

We don't expect someone without legs to walk normally or properly. Yet, when it comes to the mind we have little patience. Somehow, we expect people to get their act together. We label them lazy, unmotivated and indisciplined. A product of poor parenting. We get frustrated that they are not reaching their full potential. In a way, having ADHD in 2014 is like being Gay or having an interracial marriage in the 60s or 70s. Ignorant cynical judgmental people assume that you can will your way out of ADHD through discipline and will power.

2. ADHD does give you super powers: Insane creativity. The ability to think outside the box. The ability to make off the wall zany connections. Always looking for small advantages and using creativity to your advantage. I use mnemonics to remember things. I hired people overseas who follow up on everything I do. I built products that are on track to doing well. When I do succeed, people write it off as being lucky.

I wish I could write more. But I am actually supposed to be doing something else right now.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#80

Post by schalab »

ahknight wrote: post #13
austenallred wrote: post #11

I was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age, and have been doing battle with my attention span for most of my life. I had only read a half dozen books all the way through when I graduated from High School, despite reading at a college reading level before I was out of elementary school and having started hundreds of them. The few books that I had read included Les Miserables and War and Peace, both of which I binge…

Similar story here: early age, 0 or 100, high tests and little completion. The difference is I've been programming for most of my life (I'm not exaggerating; I started at 7y). It's likely because I started so young that I find that's my hyper focus outlet, though I still find that every time I try to learn Java it feels so painful I break something and run away (though I know C, C++, Obj-C, Swift, Python, PHP, Perl,…

The article insinuates that the core problem is the higher base line of stimulus required for motivation.

How does Adderall fix this?

Do you feel mundane repetitive tasks are more rewarding now?

What about tasks that would feel great even without the medication? Do they overload your circuits then?

Am curious as to how the drug manifests itself in your day to day routine.

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