4 ms·

The other good news, if it's ADHD, is that if it doesn't go away (or you don't want to wait), there's a lot of cheap medicine out there that works really well.

noonespecial 14y ago
They did work some for me, but "really well" would be a stretch. Your results may vary...
- derefr 14y ago
  But that shouldn't dissuade you, or anyone else, from trying. People have a visceral negative reaction to "ADD/ADHD treatment", as far as I can tell, because they think of it in the context of adolescent diagnosis, parents forcing kids onto drugs they don't need that turn them into robots because they aren't doing well in school, etc. But if you're an adult--if you get to decide what does and does not go into your body--and you find out you might just have so-and-so condition and you could be much better off just taking this-or-that pill every day--and that the worst that can happen is that the pill just doesn't help--then you should forcibly shut down the ugh field[1] associated with the treatment, and just try it. If it helps, keep going. If it doesn't help, stop. If you don't like the way it makes you, stop. Just find out, one way or the other. 1: http://lesswrong.com/lw/21b/ugh_fields/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/21b/ugh_fields/
seivan 14y ago
Depends where in the world you are from. The docs in Sweden told me I have to wait 30-90 days for treatment and that treatment itself will take even longer, and they are strict with prescription, many adults don't get any.
- mistercow 14y ago
  Yikes, that's awful. In that case, I can mark Sweden off of my "possible places to live" list.
  - seivan 14y ago
    It's actually better than 99% of the world. I just dislike it personally.
    - mistercow 14y ago
      Sweden is actually on my list of places I'd like to live over all, but being able to get adequate treatment for my ADHD is non-negotiable.
mixedbit 14y ago
I'm not sure if this a good recommendation. According to this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U ADHD are normal symptoms that occur when a creative mind has to perform dull tasks. ADHD becomes bigger and bigger problem, because today, there are much more stimulants that cause things like traditional school or work to be boring. According to the speaker, curing ADHD with pills solves the problem by reducing creative potential of a mind. A better approach would be to create an environment where people with ADHD can thrive. (Note, that I don't have any real experience with ADHD, this comment is based only on the talk).
- derefr 14y ago
  I have a friend. He has to be listening to music, watching television, reading some article online, chatting with people, and playing some video-game--all simultaneously, all the time--or he feels like his mind is collapsing in on him from the weight of all his thoughts and ideas and ambitions. He often gets drunk just so he can concentrate on only doing one thing--composing a song, say. Even when intensely interested in something--watching a movie with friends, say--he can't actually focus long enough to follow the plot. He ends up having to ask for a summary because he has no idea what happened. And this is in his optimal environment, completely under his control. He is not "thriving." He is cache-thrashing.
- mistercow 14y ago
  >According to this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U ADHD are normal symptoms that occur when a creative mind has to perform dull tasks. Yes, ADHD denial is a very popular position. It has about as much backing in science as climate denial. The idea that ADHD meds reduce the "creative potential" of the mind is pure nonsense.

noonespecial 14y ago

They did work some for me, but "really well" would be a stretch. Your results may vary...

derefr 14y ago
But that shouldn't dissuade you, or anyone else, from trying. People have a visceral negative reaction to "ADD/ADHD treatment", as far as I can tell, because they think of it in the context of adolescent diagnosis, parents forcing kids onto drugs they don't need that turn them into robots because they aren't doing well in school, etc. But if you're an adult--if you get to decide what does and does not go into your body--and you find out you might just have so-and-so condition and you could be much better off just taking this-or-that pill every day--and that the worst that can happen is that the pill just doesn't help--then you should forcibly shut down the ugh field[1] associated with the treatment, and just try it. If it helps, keep going. If it doesn't help, stop. If you don't like the way it makes you, stop. Just find out, one way or the other. 1: http://lesswrong.com/lw/21b/ugh_fields/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/21b/ugh_fields/

seivan 14y ago

Depends where in the world you are from. The docs in Sweden told me I have to wait 30-90 days for treatment and that treatment itself will take even longer, and they are strict with prescription, many adults don't get any.

mistercow 14y ago
Yikes, that's awful. In that case, I can mark Sweden off of my "possible places to live" list.
- seivan 14y ago
  It's actually better than 99% of the world. I just dislike it personally.
  - mistercow 14y ago
    Sweden is actually on my list of places I'd like to live over all, but being able to get adequate treatment for my ADHD is non-negotiable.

mixedbit 14y ago

I'm not sure if this a good recommendation. According to this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U ADHD are normal symptoms that occur when a creative mind has to perform dull tasks. ADHD becomes bigger and bigger problem, because today, there are much more stimulants that cause things like traditional school or work to be boring. According to the speaker, curing ADHD with pills solves the problem by reducing creative potential of a mind. A better approach would be to create an environment where people with ADHD can thrive. (Note, that I don't have any real experience with ADHD, this comment is based only on the talk).

derefr 14y ago
I have a friend. He has to be listening to music, watching television, reading some article online, chatting with people, and playing some video-game--all simultaneously, all the time--or he feels like his mind is collapsing in on him from the weight of all his thoughts and ideas and ambitions. He often gets drunk just so he can concentrate on only doing one thing--composing a song, say. Even when intensely interested in something--watching a movie with friends, say--he can't actually focus long enough to follow the plot. He ends up having to ask for a summary because he has no idea what happened. And this is in his optimal environment, completely under his control. He is not "thriving." He is cache-thrashing.
mistercow 14y ago
>According to this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U ADHD are normal symptoms that occur when a creative mind has to perform dull tasks. Yes, ADHD denial is a very popular position. It has about as much backing in science as climate denial. The idea that ADHD meds reduce the "creative potential" of the mind is pure nonsense.