AddLemmus

joined 4 months ago
[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 52 points 3 days ago (3 children)

"Being bad at stuff" is also so selective. The other kids are not expected to be two years ahead in math, but I am expected to be able to sit perfectly still for 4 hours and pay attention in an oxygen depleted room. Everybody has to have this nearly exact same skillset.

It's not what society needs, not even what the industry needs in the workforce, but that is most convenient for the teachers.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago

Indeed, I programmed in vim only, until IDEs just got too good. Still using it for everything else to this day. I've been thinking to get Neovim, but it doesn't seem essential when I stick with IDEs for programming.

I tried Eclipse way back around 2004, but found the advantages not sufficient to make do with a crappy editor. Years after that, IntelliJ IDEA just got too good to miss out on, though. It also had the feature that is essential for me to understand anything: To search for an action rather than click through & stare at endless menus.

 

I wonder whether that is an ADHD thing or whether I'm also an idiot: When a website has more than 1 clear menu and one content area, I don't get it.

E. g. a site is quite overloaded with distributed buttons for print, profile etc. When I gradually resize it, they suddenly "disappear" and a hamburger menu appears. I just stand there baffled where the buttons went.

Consoles work great for me, though. I have to remember a few commands, look the rest up as needed, and it's no problem.

A HUGE breakthrough for me was when operating systems and applications started this trend that you just type part of what you want and it searches everything for you. Started with OSX Tiger & Windows Vista, iirc. But now they enshittified the start menu with web searches and all sorts of things.

Basically the same as when I stand in the supermarket and can't find an item, even when looking at the correct shelf. Or the expiration date on food. Damn, could we make a law that the expiration date must be at least the same font size and be as prominently placed as the title?

So is it ADHD, or am I also an idiot?

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I get 0 done without lists. People laugh about my lists, because every tiny detail has to be on it. So let's say I'm in the situation you described, and it's 10:30 am. What I'd tell myself is: There isn't even a list, so let's make a list, and if it's the last thing I'll do before lunch.

The list is quite often as detailed as:

  • decide which task / ticket to work on
    • ask coworker for advice what is suitable
  • assign myself to the task
  • read the task start to end
  • understand the task
  • reproduce the problem (if it's like a bug that needs fixing) ... and so on

Then, even in my worst state, I can tell myself: You can check off just the next item. That's not overwhelming, that's not too much.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Stainless steel for me, too. For most dishes, sticking isn't much of an issue, and where it's a bit harder, such as sunny side up eggs, I rather have that little challenge than to deal with cast iron. Or non-stick, which scratch and poison the entire family if I ever pet it with the wrong side of the sponge.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Btw, it actually was kind of complex:

  • have a small, 0-installation one delivered
  • many pain points, though: 5 litres have to be filled in at the top slowly and painfully, and it can just hold plates, bowls and glasses for 2 people. still doing pods and pans by hand
  • to fix the first pain point, got a water tank with a tap. there is mould every 3 - 5 months though from the constant moist at the bottom that doesn't pour out completely
  • after that one broke, finally got a "real" one delivered
  • the delivery guys were not able to install it, although that was part of the package
  • I did my own research how to do it properly, measured stuff, ordered parts and did it myself. They should really bring a variety of parts and adapters, even at inflated prices, when they deliver!
  • happily ever after
[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 week ago

When I'm in my own messy kitchen, I can't find a starting point. I feel like I'd have to be this big octopus creature that stands in the middle and does a thing with each tentacle simultaneously: Threw this into the garbage, put that into its place, start a heap of things that need to go into different rooms, clean neglected things such as the area behind the sink, clean the floor and main surfaces (but there is too much stuff on it even if I had the 10 tentacles), do dishes, put clean dishes away, throw out expired food from every shelf and the fridge, complex sequences such as bagging the garbage -> put new garbage bag in ...

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Dishwasher was also my first thought. I "tried" to get one for over 20 years, but finally did it less than 2 years ago.

The complexity of getting one threw me off for 2 decades. Which model? How to deliver? How to install? How to get an extra water-in and water-out installed? Make appointments with technicians? Same company that sells & delivers the dishwasher or a different one?

For singles, a simple small one that requires nothing and can be filled with water manually is a good hack to get started. These can often be installed properly later for less hassle.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 17 points 2 weeks ago

Yes, weird with the teacher relationships. A kid from my class, strong on the hyperactive side, was really hated by some teachers. One threatened to beat him up in front of the whole class, another (of the super nice relaxed ones) just threw him out with a book to study on his own in the hallway. I suspect that he never did a single line of homework or studying at home, but his test grades were too good to let him fail.

I don't have hyperactivity. The best teacher I had really hated me, because he was all about punctuality, reliability, discipline - totally not my approach to math. His teaching was great, I didn't forget a single lecture to this day, and it allowed me to get all the math course certificates for a STEM field later, although I never finished the degree. A few STEM teaches though realised that my obsession with electronics and programming was really getting somewhere and tried to motivate me to put in the time in related fields, but I never put any work in, and only for computer science was that enough to still ace it.

My own son is even stronger in the extremes. He is barely old enough for his grade, but already has to take math in the grade above. Can't skip, because his reading & writing is just on par (although in two languages). But he is extremely disruptive. His teachers seem like they understand that he puts in the same mental effort to focus and sit still, just with worse results than the average. And they support my suspicion that he has ADHD and should get tested. Well, will probably take 4 - 6 months to get an appointment, and another 4 - 6 months until there is a diagnosis.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 19 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Amazing about the comments is that while a majority seems to "deliver" when the pressure is on, they split 50/50 on whether they feel great during it or suffer greatly, no middle ground.

I'm definitely in the 2nd group. I can get it done if the alternative has horrifying consequences, but it's not a good feeling.

Maybe two things are mixed up, though. One is like a thing where not doing it is horrible, such as vet appointment for the pet, crucial last deadline at work, kid's birthday party. The other is like working in a high stress environment, like a project where everything is on fire and under pressure, it's not about our condition, or an emergency situation like a sinking ship.

I, personally, suffer greatly in the former, but less than the average person in the latter.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

This is certainly very helpful as it is. The way I had to live below my potential, I need only like 50 good days in a year. If things don't work out as I hope, I could use Methylphenidate 50 times per year to achieve that.

Overall, I thought there is not such a clear separation between the euphoria and fixing the ADHD symptoms, as both are caused by noradrenalin, among other things. However, after some reading today, I realise that the intended effect of the medication works with such neurotransmitters in the prefrontal cortex and can very well do so over years, while euphoria is caused by the same neurotransmitters, but elsewhere.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 weeks ago

Definitely a good approach, maybe for people like ourselves even more so. But for it to work with my chaotic finances, I'd probably need a business account and pay myself a regular wage. If I'd do things in such an orderly fashion, I'd probably not be here in the first place, and we'd never have met :-)

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I was afraid it might be like that. Also quite possible that the euphoria does part of the job, so I actually need more. Low dose opioids have a similar effect on me - I'm euphoric, I get things done. So currently, it might even be like 60 % euphoria, 40 % noradrenalin, explaining that I need only 12 mg when the lowest child dose even is 20 mg. I might end up with something like 30 mg.

The danger I see is that I think I need to up the dose to match the euphoria from the start, while I actually need to get to the point where it's 0 % euphoria, 100 % noradrenalin.

Very much simplified, if not wrong, as noradrenalin might be a main contributor to the euphoria.

 

I have used Modafinil before occasionally, and it helped quite a bit, but the strong side effects forced me to save it for emergencies.

6 days ago first Elvanse. Within about 30 minutes of the first dose, many problems were gone completely! No mental effort to do what's needed, be it laundry or a subtask at work. It feels like my brain is a little butler whom I can just order around without doing it myself. Many things just happen, e. g. I put garbage in the bin, carry dishes back to the kitchen as I go anyway, without thinking about it. Complete instant fix. Also a constant feeling like a hundred bucks, better than many recreational drugs.

Almost feeling bad when gaming at the end of the day, keeping it brief, doing extra work hours right before bed. The effect has somewhat worn off by then, but the no-effort-to-do-things is still there.

I always did feel better when checking things off my todo-list, even untreated, but now I get a lot more done, since there is no pain to just do it.

I can also work out until the body just physically gives in; there is no mental barrier to fight like "ONE MORE REP!!!". It might have been a mistake to exploit that in the first few days, leading to exhaustion and more difficulty to judge the right dose / side effects. When I saw someone who was very buff, I used to think: He may not look like it, but he has fantastic discipline, focus and willpower. Now I wonder if some of these people are just normal, lol

This is a completely different life, and slightly better than Modafinil! I am a little worried about when the effect wears off and I need a break, but I've been there before: A lot can get done with just about 50 "super-days" per year.

What did not improve one bit is my forgetfulness and other cognitive problems. Just as stupid as before, e. g. packing a suitcase, putting things next to it to stash something else and then forgetting them. Leaving my phone in insane places. Barely able to use the self-checkout at a supermarket. It's always an adventure, looking confused between the card screen and the items screen, often needing an employee, forgetting my card there and not realising before the next day etc. Problems with web UIs & pop-ups. That's what my GP wanted checked out 1 1/2 years ago, but no appointments.

 

As suggested myself and encouraged by the doc, I'll take a fraction of a normal dose to check it out first. He signed off on any dose that is lower than the one he prescribed (30 mg in the morning), and the capsules are intended for opening and dissolving in liquid.

So, I'm very sensitive. Low dose opioids for a cough give me euphoria, and when I tried Modafinil, 1/4 of a pill (2 pills is normal!) turned out to be just right for me.

On one hand, I could really use the full productivity boost tomorrow, which would mean trying 1/4 of 30 mg, 7.5 mg. On the other hand, safer would be 1/8th again as it was with Modafinil. Then again, 1/4 of the Modafinil dose was "bearable", it was not intense suffering.

Trying 1/8th in the morning and another 1/8th at noon if the effect is really as low as a cup of coffee could also be an option, with the risk of losing sleep. I tend towards that option.

Some of the worst hours of my life were on the minimum dose Venlafaxine (and many report that), so I'm careful.

What do you think? Doing the super-low 1/10th test at 4 pm would still take away my sleep, right?

 

After waiting for many years, I thought I've been at least on track to get treatment for the past 6 months. All out of pocket, in addition to the nearly EUR 1000 health insurance premium per month.

Lengthy psychologist sessions, official diagnosis by a licensed therapist in writing. Doctor appointment with the written diagnosis, but he said only a licensed psychiatrist can do the initial prescription. Find one, make appointment.

But then he needed up to date blood count and ECG first, appointment cancelled 2 hours before it started. The blood count was at a different doctor than my usual one, because last time, mine was on vacation. So ECG and blood count from two different locations. All during hours I actually had to be at work. But what can I do - botch one last job before I get treatment and everything will be great for the future, right?

Sent it all in upfront, and another problem: Apparently, the ECG must be evaluated for findings. Which any doctor is trained to do, but it needs to be returned to the doctor who did it, like this magic quest, because in theory, I could send an ECG that is not mine to a different doctor for the findings. (Cui bono?)

The last 4 steps, I've been told that this is "this one really really really last thing", and it sounds like one of these advance fee scams that are like "just one more Apple gift card for the taxes, and we can transfer your lottery winnings".

I bet all of these things would be easy for somebody who does NOT have ADHD. They just do them one by one, and somehow that happens at a magic hour where the doctor office is open but also their workplace is not.

The lack of understanding how ADHD works, by the very people who are supposed to diagnose and treat it, reminds me of this scene from Groundhog Day: He explains the problem of being in a 24 hour time loop to a seemingly understanding therapist, who then is like: "I understand completely, come back in 3 days for a solution!" Ah, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFdwLNiZq7M

 
 

The only thing that really works for me is when I make it a 25 minute hyper-focussed challenge: Set a timer and make the maximum progress that is theoretically possible in that time. No getting water, no toilet breaks, no looking at the phone. Beats 3 hours of getting a glass of water, toilet breaks, getting hungry, realising I should work out and shower first and finding more reasons to jump up any day - surprisingly. Got to always treat it as if it were a competition.

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