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Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

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Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#171

Post by annie_muss »

christalwang wrote: post #169
annie_muss wrote: post #156

It's really great to see a service like this. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 30. It's shocking how much damage it can do in your life. On the outside you might see the lost jobs, career trouble and difficulty in relationships but the inner world of ADHD can be even worse. Frustration from unmet goals and shame from letting down those closest to you. Unfortunately, where I'm from insurance doesn't cover any kind of talk…

Thank you for your kind words, it goes a long way. I was also diagnosed as an adult and unraveling the inner world is the hardest part! Then for me, is communication and understanding with people around me that I care most about. Where are you from? I'd love to see if we can help support you (if you want)! hi@shimmer.care

I'm based on Japan, which can have a lot of hurdles on getting medication (stimulant medication requires a special registration card) and having an ADHD diagnosis can affect getting insurance, getting a mortgage and etc.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#172

Post by christalwang »

galangalalgol wrote: post #149
dec0dedab0de wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I heard of coaching in relation to ADHD over a decade ago, it's not something they invented. I don't know anything about Shimmer, so I don't know how well they fit the mold, but as I understand ADHD Coaching: The general idea is that the coaches are there to supplement therapy and/or drugs with practical "in the weeds" advice. A Therapist would worry about making you feel better, and might point you in the direction…

Yeah, my psych makes sure the meds aren't causing problems and does simple mental wellness checks before writing new scripts. My coach gave me strategies to fit my life. Usually in the form of me presenting a problem, and getting several tricks to try. I don't think the meds or the coaching would help in isolation. I don't do the coaching now unless I come across a new problem. I have my book of trivks and triggers t…

Thanks for sharing your experience, and glad that coaching has given you some strategies that work for you!

When you say book of tricks and triggers, do you mean a physical book? Curious how other folks hold on to their learnings etc.!

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#173

Post by christalwang »

annie_muss wrote: post #171
christalwang wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for your kind words, it goes a long way. I was also diagnosed as an adult and unraveling the inner world is the hardest part! Then for me, is communication and understanding with people around me that I care most about. Where are you from? I'd love to see if we can help support you (if you want)! hi@shimmer.care

I'm based on Japan, which can have a lot of hurdles on getting medication (stimulant medication requires a special registration card) and having an ADHD diagnosis can affect getting insurance, getting a mortgage and etc.

Ah! I wasn't aware of that in Japan. I'm sorry to hear it's hard for you to get what you need, or at least to try it... We're here to help brainstorm alternatives for you. Hang in there!

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#174

Post by christalwang »

triggercut wrote: post #161
Lionga wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would be very happy to hear your lifestyle changes that manage (what does that mean?) the symptoms. Honestly if they work that would help me an others a lot. For me the symptoms are loosing around a few ten to hunderd of thousands of dollars a year (maybe even millions) in my work/career. How can my lifestyle changes manage that? No attack, really really curious.

I get it. I'm lucky enough that I can spend thousands a year to get the professional support I need but simply turning up to talk for an hour a week isn't going to achieve much, you have to put in the work to set up your life, your environment in a way that works for you to help slowly improve the chances that your have more good days than bad and not get drawn into a black hole of bad days that just sucks all your e…

Your #2 is oddly one of my fav things I've implemented recently. I use 2 identical bottles with straws that I fill in the morning and just by them being there (I drink them whenever I'm listening in Zoom calls... looks a bit awkward, but I'm over it) I'll finish 2 full bottles a day without even noticing it. My whole life I've drank literally 0 water up until recently!

Another one that worked well for me is putting laundry baskets in each corner of my living space and swapping out my closed clothing drawers with open hanging shelves (from Ikea, It's experimenting with these small things to put on autopilot that have helped me a lot too!

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#175

Post by christalwang »

Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

Thanks for your response + clearly you have a strong understanding of ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition (and the stats around medication's efficacy!). Medication is by far the most effective treatment method for ADHD at 80%+, which is incredibly astounding given most mental health & brain disorders don't have such an effective treatment method.

We definitely understand that a software solution will by no means "fix" ADHD. It's an extremely complex condition layered on to extremely complex & individual human beings and we as a society have lots of work to do with education, awareness, stigma, medication, and other behavioral solutions (including coaching). We advocate for a mixed method that may include multiple of the above, potentially even all through experimentation, to find what works best for you uniquely.

Many of our members and community members either (1) are already on medication and use coaching to build skills & systems to further improve their lives, or (2) for whatever reason aren't able or want to be on medication [stigma, cultural barriers, can't be on because of other medications for co-occuring conditions, and many other reasons, or simply not wanting to] and use coaching either on it's own or with therapy/other modalities of care. Other benefits of coaching involve support & acceptance from someone who understands, and accountability to follow through on certain commitments in life.

We have built the service up with much care & love, alongside the ADHD community, clinicians, and ADHD experts & coaches, but are always open to more specific feedback on how we can improve. Our inbox is always open: hi@shimmer.care

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#176

Post by Twounwhe »

> It’s $99/mo

I'm clearly not one of your intended users because I don't have $99/mo, but I don't have $99/mo because of how ADHD impacts my ability to function in current society.

As for other feedback, 11 options for question 3 on the intake survey is just too much. It takes too much effort to adequately focus on this question, so I closed the page.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#177

Post by Grothendank »

beachy wrote: post #170
Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

Wooooaah. I don't know about this service, but I feel there would be a lot of value in having a person to bounce things off in real time / help with unblocking when things get challenging. Would that also be complete bullshit? Are prescribed stimulants the only thing that's not bullshit?

Hire a virtual assistant, not a virtual therapist. This virtual therapist costs $99 for 60 minutes of assistance. 15 minutes a week is too little time to bounce ideas off of someone. But you can buy 5-10 hours of virtual assistance with that money, or more.

A service that provides virtual assistance for ADHD ppl - without the veneer of medical treatment to raise prices - could be a lot more affordable and helpful in helping ppl complete tasks they're struggling with, bounce ideas and plans back and forth, and help with other executive tasks.

This is an assistance vs treatment approach. ADHD doesn't have to be seen as a disease you treat medically - it can be seen as a perfectly natural way of being that requires some assistance, but also provides special abilities.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#178

Post by addthrowaway75 »

Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

My friend it is you who should consider being ashamed. Suggesting stimulants as the first line of treatment rather than cardiovascular exercise, good sleep, and a healthier relationship with food is at best dismissive of the body of modern research and at worst introduction of a dangerous 'just pop a pill' crutch. Stimulants are not at all the only way out of the ouroboros of adhd symptoms making today hard and tomorrow too.

I don't disagree that things like this can be exploitative and if it happens even once then I agree with the 'you should be ashamed' thesis statement. You're treating the solution as a very black and white thing in this comment of yours though and the vitriol with which you wrote it left me with the impression that pushback is warranted.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#179

Post by jeznag »

Uptrenda wrote: post #164

Oh look: another service that thinks ADHD is an inability to do scheduling or some other bullshit. ADHD is literally a neurological disorder that effects dopamine in the brain. It reduces wakefulness, concentration, the ability to filter out distractions, and the ability to motivate yourself. A software solution won't fix this. What ADHD people need isn't a normie couch to tell them to 'prioritize' differently or a b…

It's not a normie coach. I use this service and my coach has ADHD herself (plus some other traits). I've been using it for 3 weeks and have found it very useful. I think you dismiss the role of metacognition. There are strategies that work for my brain, they're just different to what works for most people. I have found it very useful and have recommended it to other people.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#180

Post by jeznag »

Grothendank wrote: post #177
beachy wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wooooaah. I don't know about this service, but I feel there would be a lot of value in having a person to bounce things off in real time / help with unblocking when things get challenging. Would that also be complete bullshit? Are prescribed stimulants the only thing that's not bullshit?

Hire a virtual assistant, not a virtual therapist. This virtual therapist costs $99 for 60 minutes of assistance. 15 minutes a week is too little time to bounce ideas off of someone. But you can buy 5-10 hours of virtual assistance with that money, or more. A service that provides virtual assistance for ADHD ppl - without the veneer of medical treatment to raise prices - could be a lot more affordable and helpful in…

Have you tried the VA strategy yourself? I don't think it's that simple to get a VA to help. I have used a lot of VAs over the years and there is a significant time cost for me in training them up to help. It's not necessarily a quick win and I have found it very frustrating when they don't understand my needs. Delegating boring work to specialists absolutely works well and I do this a lot.

It would be cool if there were VAs that were trained in how best to help people with ADHD. I would see that as being supplementary to Shimmer. I use Shimmer myself and find it useful in coming up with strategies that work for me.

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