5 ms·
> only the catastrophic is worth addressing This is a very privileged view of the mind. I have ADHD (and autism). But I also have a quite high IQ, if one cares
by KPGv2 1y ago
> only the catastrophic is worth addressing
This is a very privileged view of the mind. I have ADHD (and autism). But I also have a quite high IQ, if one cares about such things. I'm pretty successful, professionally.
But it took until around 40yo to get the ADHD diagnosis and get a prescription for medication that has been life-altering. Was I suffering from catastrophic failures? Absolutely not: married, have kids, in the 1%, etc.
But have the meds had an incredibly positive influence on my life? Hell yes. I can do things that everyone else acted like was normal, but I straight up couldn't do it before. Housework is a prime example. It was like torture. Sitting around waiting for people to finish their sentences because they're "talking as slow as molasses" made for often unenjoyable social experiences.
But with the meds, this stuff is either tolerable or fun. My life is significantly better thanks to medical interventions. Instead of my wife blowing up because I didn't do something like mop the kitchen floor, I actually get it done (without meds I straight up cannot hold that kind of task in my mind if I'm not in the room looking at the mess; I will flit between ten other things in a different part of the house, then walk through the kitchen to get into my car to pick up the kids, see the kitchen, and think "ah, fuck me")
I'm happy that you're neurotypical and have a great life, but that's not true for a lot of us, and the idea that "only catastrophic mental issues should be dealt with by professionals" is you just telling on yourself and your ignorances.
- birn559 1y agoI stopped using house work as example because people always answer "oh yeah, I also dislike housework". People just don't get it when this example is used. I switched to "not able to go outside for a walk even though I like being in nature" and "often not able to follow or participate in long talks with multiple persons". There also is a good chance I don't have children because just being alive and by myself was super exhausting before I got diagnosed in my late 30. Having children was unthinkable until then. But was it catastrophic? I don't know. I finished college except it took two times as long and got a job where I of course suffered pretty much the whole time. But that was all very normal for me, just the way I was, at least that's what I used to believe.
- suggestion 1y agoWhy do you presume I'm neurotypical and undiagnosed with any psychiatric disorder? I'm formally diagnosed with severe OCD, depression, and ADHD. I was on SSRI, then SNRI and additionally methylphenidate for years. Eventually I got tired for feeling like a shell of a human being, and weaned off of the SNRI. It took a lot of effort to induce neuroplasticity and ease my OCD and depression, but I did it. Eventually, I weaned off the methylphenidate because I believed I could do it if I tried. Later in life, I also gained and eventually lost weight, which was a similar acceptance that "bad" things, like hunger, are ok and a symptom of something good, my body consuming fat. Then the same for sore muscles at the gym. Over time, I accepted discomfort and the fight or flight my brain was constantly trying to force onto me was a lie, and eventually my brain and nervous system caught up. My physical and mental health improved, my social life, my professional life, etc. I bet if you knew your house would burn down if you didn't do "normal" things you would have done them no problem. Stimulants make otherwise unenjoyable things enjoyable? Who would have thought? Do you think people that do "normal" things enjoy them? Is it necessary to enjoy everything all the time?
- maximilianburke 1y agoJust because something works for you to lead a normal life doesn’t mean it works for everyone.
- suggestion 1y agoWhat the DSM defines as normal is far too narrow and we're too eager for quick fixes without discomfort or discipline.
- autoexec 1y agoA person's treatment doesn't depend on what's "normal" it depends on the level of impairment/improvement. Why do you even care if somebody takes medication for a condition they have and it makes their lives easier? Why should anyone avoid a "quick fix" to a major problem because you think they should suffer more discomfort?
- jay_kyburz 1y agoHold on.. did you just say there is a drug I can take that will making talking to people less boring and doing housework fun?
- jasonfarnon 1y agoyou clearly have not experienced any range of uppers
- e40 1y agoThey didn’t call them mother’s little helpers for nothin’. Edit: ok, that was vallium. ;)
- aidenn0 1y agoThey don't work for everybody though; I have ADHD and Ritalin/Focalin help just a little (and only if I take them to the point where I feel like pressed-meat in the mornings), while Adderall gives me hallucinations.
- elcritch 1y agoNo, the drugs don't make doing chores fun or any of that. For those with ADHD they turn on the prefrontal cortex which reduces or removes the feeling of utter torture and pain from doing chores. It's sort of like taking a drug that takes away the fear and almost physical inability to to touch a hot stove most people have. Normally that'd be bad. Except here the hot stove is actually harmless and useful to touch.
- lelanthran 1y agoHonestly, sounds like a plot out of futurama.
- jeltz 1y agoYes, uppers can do that.
- OldfieldFund 1y agothere are many drugs that can do that but they have massive side effects ;) Benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants, opioid-like substances like carisoprodol (there is a reason why people call it Soma). these are the first that come to my mind. contrary to popular belief, downers often give you euphoria.