#IssuesFriendsDealWith # ADHD Get specific. It is a disorder of [[executive function]] There is a good chance you are [[I am procrastinating|procrastinating]] good chance you are here [[Optimization procrastination trap]] - [[narrative therapy]] ## First aid... - [[strength training|lift weights]] - [[set at timer]] - Set your [[MIT]] and [[make it smaller]] - [[breath]] and [[mindfulness]]...who is it that is suffering? - Check in on your body. Hydrate, fresh air. Big breaths. Have - [[switch back and forth - computer work then body work]] - [[vagus nerve]] stimulation - [[ear vagal nerve stimulation with TENS unit - Auricular tVNS -]] - humming - [[co-working|co-work]] - [[Reset routines]] - Clear desk, tabs ## Caution & Anti-list - [[Optimization procrastination trap]] - That includes doing research on ADHD Consider [[environmental psychology]] and the systems around you. Can easily take something from [[subclinical]] to clinical. Remember everything is a [[it is a matter of focus|matter of focus]]. It is badly named. [[ignore the narrative]] Use it. Understand it. It is may often feel like disorder even though it is a gift. - It is not strange that you find rigid environments uncaptivating. - It is not strange that you find the world incredibly captivating. ## Do I have it? - You don't believe you have it - You are fairly certain you have it - You think its a good thing - You think its a curse - You love your brain, you hate it too - Your doctor thinks you have it - You think you tricked your doctor ## Is applying a label helpful? - [[labels]]? ## Qualities of ADHD (inattentive type) that I have struggled with... Let us be [[be specific]] with problems that might fall under and near the ADHD umbrella... - [[I get lost]] - [[I am forgetting something|I forget]] stuff - I struggle with [[disassociation]] - [[I get distracted]] and deal with [[distractions]] - I get [[overwhelmed]] - I struggle with [[escapism|escapes]] - [[I struggle trusting myself]] - [[The struggle to start things]] / [[motivation]] - [[The struggle to stay on task]] / [[focus]] - [[The struggle to finish things]] / [[faith]], [[momentum]], [[perfectionism]] - I struggle guessing how much [[time]] - I struggle with [[negative self judgement]] (because the above stuff leaves me with a worse win/loss ratio) - I fixate and obsess on small things - Racing thoughts - Lots of [[if only]] thinking - co-morbidities of [[anxiety]] and [[Depression - the fog]] - [ ] what is a good resource for inattentive ADHD? ## But it is a gift? - [[when you complain you ignore the whole]] There are parts to it that a clear gift. [[neurodiversity]] for example is a gift. And there are many parts that are a struggle, but the struggle can be a gift ## Things that make ADHD worse - # Types and symptoms of ADHD ## Inattentive - getting distracted - poor organizational skills - forgetting routine chores - not finishing things ## Hyperactive/impulsive - never seeming to slow down (this is not me) - talking or fidgeting (less and less me as I age) - never seeming to stay on task (maybe a little bit) Note, many of the resources around ADHD are for hyperactive type. ## Some tools that are helpful - Set a 5-11 minute timer. - Pennies - Body double - [[Breathe]] ## My experience with ADHD medications - They enabled my [[workaholism]] - They made my [[axniety]] and [[panic]] worse - I felt an odd [[addiction]] to them - They were helpful in the short term but if I could choose between knowing even a few other coping strategies or having access to the drug, I would choose the coping strategies ## Related - When I think that [[I do not know anyone like me]] I tend to be forgetting about the people with ADHD. - [[Depression - the fog]] - [[anxiety]] - [[I have struggled]] - [[be here now]] - - [[work vs ADHD]] - [ ] take parenting classes re: ADHD - [[Comic Sans]] - focus mates [[co-working]] - [ ]