Comment by devcil | Hacker News Reader

Comment by devcil | Hacker News Reader

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 general discourse about ADHD moves towards easier access to those drugs, not replacing them.

Also, please don't speculate about ADHD, especially about people who suspect they might have it.

ADHD experience differ a lot among people and even in different situations for an individual. Because of this aspect, a lot of people have complicated relationships with their diagnoses.

Self-doubt, for various reasons, is a very common trait of people with ADHD. Strongly worded claims about ADHD might be very harmful to people who plan to seek help or struggle to follow their treatments.

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 routine is impossible (like me sometimes too), and then medication fixes some issues and one starts to almost automagically create habits and routines.

I've gone years unmedicated when I had a less demanding and more lax work environment and daily focus meditation has helped a great deal. If I'm not mistaken some video games have also vastly improved and kept alive quick reaction times and delayed reward mindset - stuff that this game seemingly also does - training being less impulsive and overriding other, negative habits.

It makes perfect sense - video games can release high amounts of dopamine on demand, while in our daily lives we lack release in key moments. Synaptic plasticity, learning and memory is dopamine dependent. In a dopamine deprived brain, if timed correctly, these sudden releases can be extremely habit-forming and beneficial.

I've read through their whole website and nowhere is mentioned that this is supposed to replace necessary medication. It's simply another tool in the toolbox, and as such should absolutely not be disregarded. I can 100% see this being extremely helpful and would love to try it out - unfortunately the apps are only available in US app stores.

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.

> please don't speculate about ADHD, especially about people who suspect they might have it.

Is this a joke? This is a discussion platform for speculating. Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

Love this comment. As someone with ADHD, I am drawn to technology and made a career out of it. I suspect many people here are the same, diagnosed or not.

By the way, the "ADD" diagnosis has been removed from the DSM, there's no longer a medical distinction between the two.

> Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

They've convinced themselves they have it. Please ignore the prevalence of obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet, and anti-social nature of tech workers plz. They are suffering from a natural affliction.

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