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Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

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211–220 of 243 posts

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I would be surprised if it were to do with "not liking them" and not "consistently getting them is highly difficult for a person with ADHD" due to their controlled status in most countries. In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often do…

> In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often don't have stock, so you have to try many pharmacies, all the while being treated as a possible drug seeker by staff. I live in the US and take Adderall, the only part of this that is even slightl…

It varies by state. In Ohio, I had to get physical paper with a physical signature from the doctor’s office. Every single month. I’m somewhat thankful I turned out to have been misdiagnosed in childhood and I’m actually bipolar. At least I can get my meds as a 90-day supply and have over a month of spare medication.

I don’t understand the hyper-regulation of adhd meds when they hand out benzos like candy. Unadulterated opioids are a bit more difficult but I’ve still have a month’s supply of those from a previous dental surgery.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I would be surprised if it were to do with "not liking them" and not "consistently getting them is highly difficult for a person with ADHD" due to their controlled status in most countries. In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often do…

> you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out I think it's more like a week before.

3 days in Ohio

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#213
post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on the ADHD-content I get recommended online, I agree there seems to be a bunch of people wrongly self diagnosing with ADHD and romanticizing it. It's really cringe and annoying. However, I can assure you that it exists and that people really do suffer from it. I would never use it as an excuse for anything, I actually never mention my diagnosis IRL, but it is useful to know why I struggle with some things that…

Only comment I upvoted so far. But just want to clarify that I never said it doesn’t exist. Just the majority of people don’t have it. I’ve only met 2 people who really have it and they could barely function without drugs. But I’ve met multiple dozens of people who say “oh I have adhd” like it’s fashionable simply because they get bored at work. It bothers the hell out of me knowing there’s people who truly have adhd…

I think you might be confusing visibility with existence. Someone with a partially treated disorder very much looks on the outside to be faking it. Someone who is managing their ADHD by orienting their life around it with a complex system of high-effort strategies to get by and isn't visibly ADHD (especially the inattentive variant which is more common in women) around others nonetheless deserves to not have to do all that if possible. They shouldn't have to perform their rock bottom for you to take them seriously.

I'm sure there are people who are knowingly or unknowingly "faking it" but there's no one to be offended on behalf of, I have pretty severe ADHD and I couldn't care less. They're not hurting anyone least of all me.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#214
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your perspective. I've known and lived with several people who have ADHD, and you've expressed exactly the perspective I expected to hear from them. "Games as treatment" are a new frontier of "selling bullshit". This happened before in education, and it's now making its way into health care. The problem, here, is that the users aren't any part of how these games are designed. Everything about them is just…

And let’s be honest they’re just torturing people with no positive outcome. The net effect is you have a poorer, more frustrated patient, who has this stupid game burned into their memories.

I feel like playing a video game for 30 minutes a day is pretty far from torture.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And let’s be honest they’re just torturing people with no positive outcome. The net effect is you have a poorer, more frustrated patient, who has this stupid game burned into their memories.

I feel like playing a video game for 30 minutes a day is pretty far from torture.

ADHD is a weird disorder that's hard to explain to people who don't suffer from it. Understimulation is a physically painful experience, one that pain killers don't really work with. Before I got on a regimen that works well-enough for me I had to regularly leave social events and check out of work to lie down and sleep it off. And it's not really a boredom thing, I can be actively enjoying the thing I'm doing — hell I can want to be doing the thing and it still happens.

Forcing yourself through 30 minutes of a video game likely isn't much compared to their day-to-day painful experiences at work or school but given the high likelihood that it doesn't actually work it's unnecessary additional suffering likely imposed on them by a frustrated parent who wants them to "get better" for their own sake instead of the kid's.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often don't have stock, so you have to try many pharmacies, all the while being treated as a possible drug seeker by staff. I live in the US and take Adderall, the only part of this that is even slightl…

It varies by state. In Ohio, I had to get physical paper with a physical signature from the doctor’s office. Every single month. I’m somewhat thankful I turned out to have been misdiagnosed in childhood and I’m actually bipolar. At least I can get my meds as a 90-day supply and have over a month of spare medication. I don’t understand the hyper-regulation of adhd meds when they hand out benzos like candy. Unadulterat…

Do you know if that’s a consequence of Ohio law, or your insurance provider?

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#218
post #195
post #188

To acquire strategies to alleviate some problems, this might be helpful, similar to coaching and therapy. I have, however, serious doubts that it can be a substitute for stimulants. ADHD affects so many parts of one's life such that attention sometimes seem a very small part of the disorder. Miraculously, at least for some people, stimulants create a kind of automatic improvement in other areas too. I hope that gener…

I have ADHD-PI and am medicated. I too believe this cannot substitute medication in anything but less severe cases (if that even exists), but I cannot overstate the importance and usefulness of coping mechanisms and attention training. It really defines to some extent whether medication is necessary and in which form (only working hours, all waking hours, etc). Now, granted, for some even building habits and a routin…

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am also able to work without medications but doing it for a long period makes me miserable:) Glad to hear that it is possible with some right habits. I also didn't want to be dismissive about this game or coping mechanisms, sorry if I worded it like that. Even seemingly small changes can bring great improvements. There is a stigma around stimulants and I just wanted to highlight their benefits for people who are doubtful about them.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you actually have a normal functioning brain (imo) the detriments out weigh the benefits: you will do more but the quality will be lessened and you’ll have fewer insights. (Also this is apart from the ethics of abusing a medicine that is tenuously situated in the public mind but is literally life saving for a small population of people (untreated ADHD increases risk of early death and reduces lifespan more than sm…

That's not really true. There's a reason why in many countries (including mine) medicine students take them en masse for studying/exams.

I’m thinking of this study:

“‘Smart’ drugs can decrease productivity in people without ADHD, new study shows”

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/june/smart-dru...

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#220
post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you actually have a normal functioning brain (imo) the detriments out weigh the benefits: you will do more but the quality will be lessened and you’ll have fewer insights. (Also this is apart from the ethics of abusing a medicine that is tenuously situated in the public mind but is literally life saving for a small population of people (untreated ADHD increases risk of early death and reduces lifespan more than sm…

Not my experience at all. I feel exactly the same as people with ADHD describe the effects. Why gatekeep such a miracle medicine?

> Why gatekeep such a miracle medicine?

The key word here is medicine. Like the opioids it’s a powerful double edged sword. Using amphetamine to get a supra-physiological advantage is illegal, extremely unethical and probably a really bad idea health-wise (doubly so if you “prescribed” it to yourself).

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