How to Read Books When You Have ADHD • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Read Books When You Have ADHD

#201

Post by gunshowmo » Fri, Apr 16, 2021, 3:01 AM UTC

JackMorgan wrote: post #196

gunshowmo wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds great and all but feels more like a cope. A proper dextro dosage will make you much more productive, more consistently, than you could ever "train your mind" to be naturally.

I had some pretty bad reactions to various medications. Also I'm very interested in being self-sufficient if at all possible, even if it means serious inconvenience and effort. I don't begrudge anyone else the tools they choose to improve their lives, and I expect the same attitude in return. If a medication gets you the same effect without a lot of work and that's what you want, awesome, and I'm glad you found it. I…

That's a very respectable mindset to have, cheers.

Re: How to Read Books When You Have ADHD

#202

Post by spiralx » Fri, Apr 16, 2021, 1:44 PM UTC

nicbou wrote: post #84

I really dislike this sort of blog. Every article feels like it was written for their affiliates and for search engines, and rarely for the readers. It's certainly not written for people with ADHD. Here's the only useful paragraph in the article: > This idea came from Megan, a guest on Hal Elrod’s podcast. Megan explained she keeps track of all the books she reads in a spreadsheet. Each time she finishes a book she a…

I read over a book a day last year and they certainly weren't "useful" or "worthy" in the sense of what your quote is talking about. But for my ADHD the problem I have is not reading, because for me the linear train of thought in the written word is soothing and settles my brain down in a way nothing else does. And for that purpose I don't want difficult to read, and I especially don't want clever literary tricks.

Re: How to Read Books When You Have ADHD

#203

Post by spiralx » Fri, Apr 16, 2021, 1:49 PM UTC

nicolas_t wrote: post #78

I have the opposite problem. My problem with ADHD is that if I start a novel and the novel is decent, I will not stop reading until I finish the book or series of book. No matter what work I need to do, I'll even forget to eat and will not go to sleep until I'm either finished or I'm so tired that I need reread the same sentence multiple times before I understand it. It's great in that I've read a lot of books, but i…

I'm very similar which is why I read easier to digest fiction, for me books provide a coherent linear train of thought that works to soothe my naturally chaotic headspace, which is an addicting sensation to someone with ADHD. I struggle with novels that employ complex writing tricks for this same reason, non-linearity just exacerbates my internal chaos rather than calming it.

Re: How to Read Books When You Have ADHD

#204

Post by EdwardDiego » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 11:12 AM UTC

splithalf wrote: post #185

EdwardDiego wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Best analogy I have is vaguely RPG like. Let's say "normal" is 0, and the medication at a given dosage adds, say, +5. So people without ADHD, take Ritalin, hit 5, get a buzz, smash out that project. Then there's people with ADHD, who're starting at -5. They take the drugs, hit 0, don't get a buzz, and maybe actually start that project now that they're better able to ignore the delights of Wikipedia articles on the ro…

Assuming normal distribution most fall in the middle of this spectrum. The notion that there’s some binary state of “chemical balance” where you either are -5 or positive 5 is a myth. I’m pro-medication mind you, but I’m also pro-reason. The reasoning here is filled with inconsistencies, bias and outright misinformation (eg debunked “chemical imbalance” theories)

It was an attempt at an analogy to explain to people without ADHD who get high from Ritalin why people with ADHD don't get high from correctly dosed medicine.

If you've a better one, please do share.