Hacker News Reader

Comment by outworlder | Hacker News Reader

> The Thing Standing Between Procrastination and Daily Progress Is Ritual

Or executive function issues.

Came to make this comment. Lots of people (myself included) struggle with building habits/rituals despite years of continued attempt. Once I accepted that it might not be a character flaw and I might need some external help, I was able to stop reading articles like this and find methods that helped me specifically.

Can you share the methods?

Indeed, it could very well be physical and, because of that, not be something one will ever be able to fix.

Disagree. Executive function deficiencies have been proven to be an essential symptom of ADHD. ADHD is the most treatable mental disorder out there, even if medication is only option being considered [1]. If you have had long-term problems with executive functioning and you feel like you've tried everything, then you should get medically evaluated for ADHD.

[1]https://youtu.be/_tpB-B8BXk0?t=720 [2] https://www.understood.org/articles/en/difference-between-ex...

That's precisely what I was alluding to.

I myself have severe ADHD combined form or whatever it is called in English. Medication helps to level the playing field somewhat and I'm glad it exists and that I have access to it, but it is not a definite fix by any stretch.

Not. Even. Close.

Thank you for saying this. People, including doctors and other mental health professionals, that I have met with are completely awestruck when I mention my experiences with medication not being something short of divine intervention.

I describe my experiences as not being life changing, but better than nothing.

You're not taking the right medication.

I know it's nigh impossible what with the prescription racket and the quality of doctors out there, but the meds are out there and it's possible to create a regimen that would make your brain work like you want to.

We've tried everything short of antidepressants (e.g. Wellbutrin). I was treated by specialised ADHD centre (they don't treat anything else) that we have here in the Netherlands.

In a lengthy conversation with the specialist after having tried and shot down every option under the sun, I was asked why I believed none of them worked and what I was then expecting. Turns out what I was experiencing was the norm; Current ADHD medication options are a lot like crutches or wheelchairs. Mitigations, nothing more.

My doctor was similarly surprised when I inquired about applying for the disability tax credit. I believe he said something like "Doesn't the medication work?" and then went on to emphasize the tax credits use for mainly severely physically impaired people. Yes, it works a bit, but it doesn't give me sufficient short term memory recall, it doesn't work if I haven't taken it, it doesn't help me maintain a livable sleep cycle or prevent me from burning out and keeping a job, or having even a remote sense of time passing. It helps me focus, a bit, under the right circumstances.

There are outliers to everything. I'm in a similar boat as the parent comment. I've tried multiple classes, multiple formulations, multiple dosages, and all of which I have tried multiple times.

It's been 7 years, and I eventually settled on one that worked the least worst, and just try to do the best I can. I am even considering quitting all together. I believe if the withdrawal effects were not so serve, I would have already.

This was my experience as well -- having the less worst med. Withdrawal was hard, but doable. I've been clean for a year and a half. My symptoms are still wild but it was a choice I made, I was medicated for about 5 years with different meds, trying out different stuff and it got to the point where I didn't really know what was working and what wasn't. Now that I've been off meds for this long I feel like I can re-evaluate them again. I guess I'm trying to say, it's hard but doable.

Never?

No in the same sense as how an amputee cannot simply grow a new set of legs. Not with today's knowledge.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com