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Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

endeavorrx.com

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Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#141

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Caffeine builds physical dependence easier than amphetamine, AFAIK

Is caffeine strong enough to have any serious effect on ADHD? It barely touches my concentration difficulties.

Compared to actual medication, no. It can help though… and that’s how you may unintentionally develop a pretty high tolerance for caffeine (200mg caffeine pills and energy drinks every day at sunrise).

Turns out I had ADHD and I had been using caffeine my entire life as a crutch.

Diagnosed in my late thirties, and although finding the correct medication and dosage that works is an ordeal… once you are there you realize you’ve been swimming with a hand tied behind your back this entire time.

It’s not a magical cure motivation-in-a-pill though, it requires you to do the work. It simply enables you to try instead of completely failing to attempt anything.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#142
post #124

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> Programming is not fantastic for ADHD. Especially when majority of people don’t have ADHD to begin with. They are looking for an excuse for their lack of ability to focus on a boring task. An excuse, or an explanation? I have ADHD and programming is and always has been fantastic for me, if the project is not boring.

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I couldn’t disagree more. I went to the doctors at 20 for suspect ADHD, I loved Maths more than anything but my degree was going terribly. I couldn’t focus on the correct things to get the work done, I had no sense of time or organisation, everything was an eternity away until it was due now.

Time went on and it got worse and worse. Even non-academic, fun became a chore. Making music, playing games, going out; thinking about them became this litany of choices and todos I’d spiral down and I’d end up just sat there. Wasting time. But thinking how I could be enjoying myself, but unable to break myself labouring in thought of the gravity of execution needed.

I got diagnosed last year, and a year ago on Thursday, at 31, started Elvanse. I can’t for a second understate how much my life has changed for the better. Not only can I now do the boring stuff that life needs (who knew mechanical engineers did so much dull paperwork and standards), the fun stuff came back too.

I have no doubt that even if the rat race didn’t exist, if we lived in some languorous, indulgent utopia where we could do as we please every second, that I would be in bed. Miserable and crippled with option paralysis.

It’s so one dimensional and offensive to whittle ADHD down to “everyone has a lack of focus, they need to do something else”. I don’t see any difference between that statement and saying “depression doesn’t exist, just be happy”.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#143
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The game itself isn't engaging at all > It's also an incredibly frustrating game I'm curious, is that intentional ? As in, progressively learn to deal with those two aspects that are instant triggers for an ADHD mind to run away? I mean, otherwise literally any other actually engaging and satisfying game would do.

> As in, progressively learn to deal with those two aspects that are instant triggers for an ADHD mind to run away? Regular life will do that to you anyway; not sure how a game is going to help. If anything, particularly when aimed at kids, it's main effect is likely exhausting the video game time budget parents allotted to the kid, possibly souring the whole class of entertainment to them. Which I guess may look lik…

Let's say you have an allergy to nuts, or shrimps, or some phobia. Life does throw a lot of this at you but it doesn't really help. What helps is following a protocol with controlled doses of exposure to make the body/mind unlearn "DANGER!!!1!11!!" and instead "oh actually this is safe".

Same difference as life making you lug objects/yourself around daily vs a workout plan. You start small and progressively build up to go from here to there. Also you don't stop all physical activity when following a workout plan, it's just that you have a framework to build up.

There may be a thousand ways to do these brain workouts, probably kids would not be too enticed to do meditation or read books so a videogame is more appealing on the surface.

Also I'm not saying this particular game is any good or not in that regard, I'm just saying maybe there's something to it, asking naive questions such as "was this actually intentional design?", and conducting some thought experiment.

Tangentially I'll be the old man yelling at clouds, but I've noticed that games these days are very much not frustrating, probably to cater for the widest audience: compare today's infinite respawn at magic checkpoints with automated difficulty adjustment and no mistake possible change-your-build-tree-anytime and deus-ex-machina health/ammo drops so that you never quite fall short to the likes of Megaman, Mario, Sonic, Gradius, Doom, Ikaruga, Baldur's Gate, Diablo... To be successful these days it seems like games must be pleasing with all frustrations removed, plowing like a demigod through hordes of prop opponents or gigantic bosses made of cheese. By endgame you can even max out all skill trees and be a warrior/wizard/necromancer/sharpshooter/thief all at once.

You can't make a mistake, you can't paint yourself in a corner, you can't lose, you never have to roll back to a savegame 10 hours back or live with your erroneous choice for the next 40+ hours, or, god forbid, start over.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I couldn’t disagree more. I went to the doctors at 20 for suspect ADHD, I loved Maths more than anything but my degree was going terribly. I couldn’t focus on the correct things to get the work done, I had no sense of time or organisation, everything was an eternity away until it was due now. Time went on and it got worse and worse. Even non-academic, fun became a chore. Making music, playing games, going out; thinki…

I think everyone should be prescribed Elvanse. I don't have ADHD but Elvanse feels like taking NZT. I become a superhuman.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I couldn’t disagree more. I went to the doctors at 20 for suspect ADHD, I loved Maths more than anything but my degree was going terribly. I couldn’t focus on the correct things to get the work done, I had no sense of time or organisation, everything was an eternity away until it was due now. Time went on and it got worse and worse. Even non-academic, fun became a chore. Making music, playing games, going out; thinki…

Can relate to that story. Got my diagnosis at 32. The effect wasn't as severe for me under medication, but I can definitely notice it.

And that's the point, which sadly often gets "ignored". Yes, meds can have a shitload of side effects. Yes, they might offer no benefit to some people. Yes, there are even tons of ADHD people that don't even need them. But there are many many other people that manage to get a grip on their life. The fact that I now know that I can manage life was the biggest eye opener to me. Now I just have to figure out the best possible way to do that. With or without meds, I don't know. Only the future can tell. But for now, medication is a good helper

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#147

>The current cost for EndeavorRx is $99 for a 30 day prescription. Why is everything subscription based nowadays? Even without a subscription $99 would seem a lot to me. I guess because something something server costs and update development? Or is it just plain greed? PS: Programming is absolutely fantastic, too, when you have ADHD (an probably even if you don't have it). It also doesn't cost a dime and there is ple…

Digital therapeutics often require ongoing development

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#148

>The current cost for EndeavorRx is $99 for a 30 day prescription. Why is everything subscription based nowadays? Even without a subscription $99 would seem a lot to me. I guess because something something server costs and update development? Or is it just plain greed? PS: Programming is absolutely fantastic, too, when you have ADHD (an probably even if you don't have it). It also doesn't cost a dime and there is ple…

everything is subscription based, because companies have a continuous income stream (as opposed to one time large payment). With an continuous income stream you can plan better.

Yes, it is favored by companies for its ability to provide a steady flow of revenue. It makes financial planning and forecasting more reliable

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#149

>The current cost for EndeavorRx is $99 for a 30 day prescription. Why is everything subscription based nowadays? Even without a subscription $99 would seem a lot to me. I guess because something something server costs and update development? Or is it just plain greed? PS: Programming is absolutely fantastic, too, when you have ADHD (an probably even if you don't have it). It also doesn't cost a dime and there is ple…

Pretty amusing. They make more money when you're worse at treating your ADHD since you'll be unable to actually cancel the subscription.

Is it like possible that they thought it through to take advantage of individuals with conditions like ADHD?

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I couldn’t disagree more. I went to the doctors at 20 for suspect ADHD, I loved Maths more than anything but my degree was going terribly. I couldn’t focus on the correct things to get the work done, I had no sense of time or organisation, everything was an eternity away until it was due now. Time went on and it got worse and worse. Even non-academic, fun became a chore. Making music, playing games, going out; thinki…

Can relate as well. I thought it was bullshit before also. I was convinced. That assumption (from pop culture takes by people who poison the discourse because they can’t separate a “feeling” from an informed opinion) kept me from treatment way way too long.

It’s amazing to me as someone who is always careful to consider the source of my positions and how my words affect people that there are people out there who just say/write things. They feel it then they write it.

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