5 ms·

I was very defensive when my wife said that I should consider being screened for ADHD, I have the exact experience you do (a the OP) around this stuff. The def

by zhynn 5y ago

I was very defensive when my wife said that I should consider being screened for ADHD, I have the exact experience you do (a the OP) around this stuff. The defensiveness was something that I sorted out, and looking back on things, so many of my "vices" were just self-medication for ADHD. They were mostly coping strategies (with the exception of some social vices). My adult diagnosis has been a game changer for me. I know most people don't mean that literally, but I mean that literally. It changed the game.

slingnow 5y ago
So to mean it literally, it changed some literal game you were playing. What game did it change and how?
- zhynn 5y ago
  My game was: - follow my curiosity - take advantage of times when my curiosity and focus aligned with work - manage the anxiety that came as a consequence of focusing on things I shouldn't be. My new game is: - channel my curiosity to solve relevant problems (get distracted sometimes, but not near as much as I used to) - since I am more in control of my own focus, my anxiety is dramatically reduced, so I don't require as aggressive management of it as I used to (binge sessions to decompress, chemicals (alcohol, nicotine), meditation and breath practice. I still do the meditation and breathing, as I like it and feel like it is a net positive, but I don't need it to tame the demons.
  - golemiprague 5y ago
  - tgaj 5y ago
    I think is important to add that being able to control someone's focus is a skill that is necessary for everything in life. It's not just about work. It's the whole life - work, education, socialising, even recreation (travelling was a hell for me before stimulants, every minute trying to focus on not lose tickets, money, baggage)
romwell 5y ago
I describe the game change as going from hard mode to moderate/easy. Same game, entirely different experience.
- omginternets 5y ago
  Ha! Me too! I always joke that I spent my formative years playing in hard mode.

by zhynn 5y ago

slingnow 5y ago

So to mean it literally, it changed some literal game you were playing. What game did it change and how?

zhynn 5y ago
My game was: - follow my curiosity - take advantage of times when my curiosity and focus aligned with work - manage the anxiety that came as a consequence of focusing on things I shouldn't be. My new game is: - channel my curiosity to solve relevant problems (get distracted sometimes, but not near as much as I used to) - since I am more in control of my own focus, my anxiety is dramatically reduced, so I don't require as aggressive management of it as I used to (binge sessions to decompress, chemicals (alcohol, nicotine), meditation and breath practice. I still do the meditation and breathing, as I like it and feel like it is a net positive, but I don't need it to tame the demons.
- golemiprague 5y ago
- tgaj 5y ago
  I think is important to add that being able to control someone's focus is a skill that is necessary for everything in life. It's not just about work. It's the whole life - work, education, socialising, even recreation (travelling was a hell for me before stimulants, every minute trying to focus on not lose tickets, money, baggage)

romwell 5y ago

I describe the game change as going from hard mode to moderate/easy. Same game, entirely different experience.

omginternets 5y ago
Ha! Me too! I always joke that I spent my formative years playing in hard mode.