9 ms·

Anxiety: An Interactive Story

179 points by Dangeranger 7y ago

dmos62 7y ago
This hit deep. I liked the pokemon song and that there's a finishing move. Good concept, good execution.
LeonB 7y ago
In case you're not familiar with the work of Nicky Case, they've created many brilliant interactive works of art, games and "explorable explanations". Perhaps look through the ones that have previously been well-received here: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=ncase.me&sort=byPopularity&prefix=false&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=ncase.me&sort=byPopularity&pre...
- guiambros 7y ago
  I really love Nicky Case's work. Evolution of Trust [1] is one of my favorites. You can also support their work on Patreon [2]. [1] https://ncase.me/trust/ https://ncase.me/trust/ [2] https://www.patreon.com/ncase https://www.patreon.com/ncase
  - dmos62 7y ago
    Following a link in Evolution of Trust, here's a curation of interactive explanations of how things work: https://explorabl.es/ https://explorabl.es/
mensetmanusman 7y ago
I am mentoring a student with ADHD and anxiety issues on a technical project. Does anyone have any advice? I have dramatically paired back the scope of the project because it seems like it was too daunting at first. But I don’t know if making is super simple (to not stress the student out) is the right step either. The current pace of their work is very slow, and I’m not sure if trying to apply any pressure will help or hurt...
- CondensedBrain 7y ago
  Something to keep in mind is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria It passes if allowed to, but having someone complain about overreaction or try to push through it does not help. Sometimes an ADHD brain, especially an anxious one, can seem to react in an irrational way. And it's true! But there's nothing they can do about it at that moment. They can learn how to smooth the curve or avoid getting into it in the first place, but not mid-panic.
  - hiram112 7y ago
    Just to add a quick bit of advice. If you feel that rejection-sensitivity seems like you, along with depression, anxiety, etc. and no meds like SSRIs or anything else they've thrown at you have worked well, one of the most effective meds are MAOIs. Nobody knows why (like all psych meds), they aren't prescribed much - most younger psychiatrists know nothing about them nor do GPs, and there are some risks, but when all else fails... * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor * https://www.reddit.com/r/MAOIs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MAOIs/
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- rwnspace 7y ago
  Do you mean very slow by your general, working-world standards, or the standards you would expect from them given other signals (verbal fluency/evidence of understanding, education level)? If the latter, it could well be perfectionism getting in the way (shoddy existing work doesn't discount this possibility). Encourage 'iterated failures at any old sub-problem' perhaps? It's the only way I know how to deal with all three of those problems myself. When I was starting out with small-ish programs, IDEs gave me performance anxiety. So I'd write in bits and pieces in Evernote or notepad, converting plain descriptions into code, and only merge it all into a single file ready for execution right at the end.
  - 7y ago
Bakary 7y ago
Love the animation style and character design. I already conceptualized depressive feelings as a black dog, but a red fox for anxiety seems appropriate as well. However, I wonder if projecting the unhelpful parts of yourself as a different being actually works as intended. Especially if you automatically consider the helpful parts of yourself as not separate.
- xivzgrev 7y ago
  It can help to create distance. For example, if you simply name a feeling, eg “I am feeling anxious right now”, it loses some intensity / urgency. Imho this is because our emotional center are wired to take over our rational center to ensure survival. We can regain control but it takes time. Creating distance helps change perspective in that moment and short circuits the “I got to take action NOW” emotional path.
- cecilpl2 7y ago
  > However, I wonder if projecting the unhelpful parts of yourself as a different being actually works as intended. I have used that technique to great success in many instances in my life. It's helped me to deal with relationship distress, bad habits, addiction, and personal growth. I highly recommend it as a generally applicable principle. It allows you to work to kill or reduce the influence of that part of you without feeling like you are losing your identity. It allows you to negotiate with those parts to see if there is a compromise that allows both (all?) parts to have their needs met. It's remarkably effective and I have never heard it discussed before in general. I'm very curious if it's common practice in psychotherapy in any way.
univalent 7y ago
I visualize my anxiety as a snake. Similar to a desert or rattlesnake with stripes and sand on it. Starts at the base of my spine and curves around and its head is at my brain. Sometimes it crushes my spine, sometimes it bites my brain. And the thoughts that it brings to me are much much worse than what's in this story. This red fox cartoon and its warnings seems almost a blessing compared to what I go through :( Help...
- danielscrubs 7y ago
  It’s also what makes you sit in front of the computer endlessly hacking on toy projects I guess? For me it was like that. Took 6 months of traveling to understand I don’t have to have my worth connected to my programming skills. I have smiles and jokes to share and just that’s enough.
- hiram112 7y ago
  Have you tried benzodiazapines? I wouldn't take them for a long time - withdrawal can be worse than heroin as many long time users are currently discovering after the government recently began cracking down on prescriptions. But if they work for you, it will give you a clue that medication could be helpful, and there are lot of options that are less addicting. Some people will say that therapy is helpful. I'm sure it is for some people, but when you have a serious neurological problem - for me it was exactly like my 'fight-or-flight' response was permanently on for some reason. The longer it would be in that state, the more I would think about it, and it becomes a vicious cycle. You have to break the cycle for a while until your mind / body relearns how to relax.
  - totallynotabot 7y ago
    Yikes, please tread carefully with this recommendation. I was on benzos and it literally took years and multiple attempts to get off them (yes, super gradual tapering and all.) My brain is not the same, definitely feel less focused and dumber even years after. I’d try any alternative.
    - hiram112 7y ago
songzme 7y ago
Every weekend my wife and I host a Meetup group where we teach people Korean. Yesterday a high school girl came and started crying everytime she was paired into a group exercise, constantly apologizing for how bad at Korean she was (which was totally okay with everyone, we have had students come who didn't know anything). I'm guessing that she had an anxiety attack. My wife and I felt terrible because we didn't know how to make her feel better or even sympathize with what she was going through. Eventually, her mom (who also attended) took her home. This game definitely have me a little more perspective.
inlined 7y ago
I love the concept. I think the story commingled anxiety and depression. This is common and could have been explained. If you want to know more I recommend learning about (and even taking) the GAD7 and PHQ9 tests for anxiety and depression. They’re used by multiple therapists to measure mental health at both a point and over time.

179 points by Dangeranger 7y ago

This hit deep. I liked the pokemon song and that there's a finishing move. Good concept, good execution.

In case you're not familiar with the work of Nicky Case, they've created many brilliant interactive works of art, games and "explorable explanations". Perhaps look through the ones that have previously been well-received here: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=ncase.me&sort=byPopularity&prefix=false&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=ncase.me&sort=byPopularity&pre...

guiambros 7y ago
I really love Nicky Case's work. Evolution of Trust [1] is one of my favorites. You can also support their work on Patreon [2]. [1] https://ncase.me/trust/ https://ncase.me/trust/ [2] https://www.patreon.com/ncase https://www.patreon.com/ncase
- dmos62 7y ago
  Following a link in Evolution of Trust, here's a curation of interactive explanations of how things work: https://explorabl.es/ https://explorabl.es/

mensetmanusman 7y ago

I am mentoring a student with ADHD and anxiety issues on a technical project. Does anyone have any advice? I have dramatically paired back the scope of the project because it seems like it was too daunting at first. But I don’t know if making is super simple (to not stress the student out) is the right step either. The current pace of their work is very slow, and I’m not sure if trying to apply any pressure will help or hurt...

CondensedBrain 7y ago
Something to keep in mind is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria It passes if allowed to, but having someone complain about overreaction or try to push through it does not help. Sometimes an ADHD brain, especially an anxious one, can seem to react in an irrational way. And it's true! But there's nothing they can do about it at that moment. They can learn how to smooth the curve or avoid getting into it in the first place, but not mid-panic.
- hiram112 7y ago
  Just to add a quick bit of advice. If you feel that rejection-sensitivity seems like you, along with depression, anxiety, etc. and no meds like SSRIs or anything else they've thrown at you have worked well, one of the most effective meds are MAOIs. Nobody knows why (like all psych meds), they aren't prescribed much - most younger psychiatrists know nothing about them nor do GPs, and there are some risks, but when all else fails... * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor * https://www.reddit.com/r/MAOIs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MAOIs/
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
rwnspace 7y ago
Do you mean very slow by your general, working-world standards, or the standards you would expect from them given other signals (verbal fluency/evidence of understanding, education level)? If the latter, it could well be perfectionism getting in the way (shoddy existing work doesn't discount this possibility). Encourage 'iterated failures at any old sub-problem' perhaps? It's the only way I know how to deal with all three of those problems myself. When I was starting out with small-ish programs, IDEs gave me performance anxiety. So I'd write in bits and pieces in Evernote or notepad, converting plain descriptions into code, and only merge it all into a single file ready for execution right at the end.
- 7y ago

Bakary 7y ago

Love the animation style and character design. I already conceptualized depressive feelings as a black dog, but a red fox for anxiety seems appropriate as well. However, I wonder if projecting the unhelpful parts of yourself as a different being actually works as intended. Especially if you automatically consider the helpful parts of yourself as not separate.

xivzgrev 7y ago
It can help to create distance. For example, if you simply name a feeling, eg “I am feeling anxious right now”, it loses some intensity / urgency. Imho this is because our emotional center are wired to take over our rational center to ensure survival. We can regain control but it takes time. Creating distance helps change perspective in that moment and short circuits the “I got to take action NOW” emotional path.
cecilpl2 7y ago
> However, I wonder if projecting the unhelpful parts of yourself as a different being actually works as intended. I have used that technique to great success in many instances in my life. It's helped me to deal with relationship distress, bad habits, addiction, and personal growth. I highly recommend it as a generally applicable principle. It allows you to work to kill or reduce the influence of that part of you without feeling like you are losing your identity. It allows you to negotiate with those parts to see if there is a compromise that allows both (all?) parts to have their needs met. It's remarkably effective and I have never heard it discussed before in general. I'm very curious if it's common practice in psychotherapy in any way.

univalent 7y ago

I visualize my anxiety as a snake. Similar to a desert or rattlesnake with stripes and sand on it. Starts at the base of my spine and curves around and its head is at my brain. Sometimes it crushes my spine, sometimes it bites my brain. And the thoughts that it brings to me are much much worse than what's in this story. This red fox cartoon and its warnings seems almost a blessing compared to what I go through :( Help...

danielscrubs 7y ago
It’s also what makes you sit in front of the computer endlessly hacking on toy projects I guess? For me it was like that. Took 6 months of traveling to understand I don’t have to have my worth connected to my programming skills. I have smiles and jokes to share and just that’s enough.
hiram112 7y ago
Have you tried benzodiazapines? I wouldn't take them for a long time - withdrawal can be worse than heroin as many long time users are currently discovering after the government recently began cracking down on prescriptions. But if they work for you, it will give you a clue that medication could be helpful, and there are lot of options that are less addicting. Some people will say that therapy is helpful. I'm sure it is for some people, but when you have a serious neurological problem - for me it was exactly like my 'fight-or-flight' response was permanently on for some reason. The longer it would be in that state, the more I would think about it, and it becomes a vicious cycle. You have to break the cycle for a while until your mind / body relearns how to relax.
- totallynotabot 7y ago
  Yikes, please tread carefully with this recommendation. I was on benzos and it literally took years and multiple attempts to get off them (yes, super gradual tapering and all.) My brain is not the same, definitely feel less focused and dumber even years after. I’d try any alternative.
  - hiram112 7y ago

songzme 7y ago

Every weekend my wife and I host a Meetup group where we teach people Korean. Yesterday a high school girl came and started crying everytime she was paired into a group exercise, constantly apologizing for how bad at Korean she was (which was totally okay with everyone, we have had students come who didn't know anything). I'm guessing that she had an anxiety attack. My wife and I felt terrible because we didn't know how to make her feel better or even sympathize with what she was going through. Eventually, her mom (who also attended) took her home. This game definitely have me a little more perspective.

inlined 7y ago

I love the concept. I think the story commingled anxiety and depression. This is common and could have been explained. If you want to know more I recommend learning about (and even taking) the GAD7 and PHQ9 tests for anxiety and depression. They’re used by multiple therapists to measure mental health at both a point and over time.