6 ms·

Opening up devtools during ADHD test is so ADHD, almost as if he didn't even need the psychiatrist to explain the results :D

schlauerfox 17d ago
That was my first thought. I only wish my type was to put in the work for a blog post instead of just thinking on it and getting overwhelmed with all I need to get done.
- nullpt_rs 17d ago
  Trust, this blog post was in the works for weeks and was actually supposed to have a YouTube video accompanying it that I never finished T_T
nullpt_rs 17d ago
I didn't think of this until after haha
Muromec 17d ago
That doesn't have to be ADHD, could be the *tism too. The tells are usually somewhat overlapping. In general, if you are in the industry, save yourself (and your kids) some trouble and get diagnosed before it becomes a problem. Add: I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course
- mcmoor 16d ago
  Yeah it feels like the diagnosis itself is useless, compared to just straight up trying some of those drugs and see how much you feel better. If none works, then no use in diagnosis.
  - Muromec 15d ago
    Right? If the meds work, they work, I just want someone to control the side effects and help with sourcing and dosage. If they don't, I can't get disability or whatever work/military/wife-slavery exemption with that paper anyway.
- aidenn0 17d ago
  > Add: I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course I have been screened a few times for ADHD and each time was found to obviously have it. Ritalin does not make me feel calmer. I have been told by those close to me that there are externally visible improvements in my behavior. At doses to reach that effect, it also impacts my sleep quality enough that I don't take it. Adderall causes mild symptoms of psychosis and mania before it has any theraputic effect. Dexmethylphenidate (aka Focalin) has identical theraputic effects to ritalin, but slightly reduced side-effects.
  - fv3y 17d ago
    I'm still on my journey of finding meds (and dosages) that work but I would highly recommend for anyone who has a inattentive scatterbrain to try lis/dexamphetamine. Methylphenidates can be quite numbing (zombifying) in my group of ADHD friends but dex seems to have a more consistenly helpful effect. The unfortunate caveat for me is that I personally seem predisposed to pelvic floor/urinary issues, which you'll find anecdotal evidence of being exacerbated by amphetamines (research seems yet to catch up), but aside from that the theraputic effects, particularly in emotional regulation seem so far unmatched. It's unfortunate we have such a tentative model of how our body and, particularly, our minds work so drug treatments often require a trial and error process.
    - throwawaya7e81f 17d ago
      I have exactly the same problem with pelvic floor and urinary issues when I take adderall, although with continued use and PF therapy it's gotten moderately better (and my dr and I decided that the benefits outweighed the risks and issues). I found methylphenidate-based drugs to be useless after a few days. Have you tried pure lis or dexamphetamine? I know dex can be prescribed without the mixture, maybe lis can too. I keep meaning to ask my doctor about it. The other issue I find is tolerance, though even with this I'm still far more focused than when I'm not taking adderall. It really is amazing how much better it makes me feel. I find no problem with addiction whatsoever -- if I forget to take it, then I just have full blown ADHD, but I'm no worse off. I also find it's more effective if I minimize coffee, but I haven't yet cut coffee entirely. (I find caffeine is vastly more addictive than amphetamines.)
- gavinmckenzie 17d ago
  That’s basically how the end of my diagnosis went because aspects of my results were borderline, so she suggested that I just try meds to see. But keep in mind that only one type of ADHD involves being hyper. Some of us are inattentive types where our brain feels like an old 70s pony car engine, and if you pull up to a stoplight you need to keep the motor revving or it will stall. Taking Ritalin for us is the equivalent of keeping the revs up.
  - poopmonster 17d ago
    Great simile. That really is how it feels.
  - jaggederest 17d ago
    If you're borderline, talk to the doc about a trial of guanfacine. (note that some people HATE it, for exactly this reason) It's the opposite - if your engine is always redlining, it sets a rate limiter and gives you the chance to look out the window and enjoy the scenery, metaphorically. And in the most interesting cases, you can find a lot of value in both - stimulants keeps you going, guanfacine gives you perspective and the ability to unclench.
    - austhrow743 17d ago
      As an ADHD person who was already planning to ask my psychiatrist if we can try different medication at my next appointment, thank you very much! That description sounds exactly like what I want to achieve.
      - jaggederest 17d ago
        I cannot overstate the degree to which it has been lifechanging, after years of trials of various other things. Honestly it was overwhelming - like a months-long mild psychedelic trip. I never want to go back. I am much, much less of an asshole now, and I say that advisedly. (note: lower assholery indicates nothing in absolute terms - I am probably still quite a bit of one. But less! and gratefully, joyfully so.) Edit: And this is me trying to restrain myself so I don't look like someone starting a cult...
- jrapdx3 17d ago
  > ... I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course In ADHD (and most conditions) diagnosis by medication response is not acceptable. Response to drugs is highly variable and fails criteria for acceptable tests. Also drugs can produce side-effects. According to professional standards, it's unethical to expose people to nontrivial risks without good cause.
- jaggederest 17d ago
  So this is the cheats with "give everyone ritalin and see how they feel" - it works for most neurotypical folks too. It's just a very small increase compared to the annoyance and side effects, so it's usually not worth it. To extend the car analogy from a sibling comment, putting race fuel in a volvo. So they can't test by response, because everyone would be like "yeah I can focus better", you have to test with the drug on, and the drug off, to see whether the "horsepower increase" is worth the fuel price. Increasingly strained metaphors are my strength.

schlauerfox 17d ago

That was my first thought. I only wish my type was to put in the work for a blog post instead of just thinking on it and getting overwhelmed with all I need to get done.

nullpt_rs 17d ago
Trust, this blog post was in the works for weeks and was actually supposed to have a YouTube video accompanying it that I never finished T_T

nullpt_rs 17d ago

I didn't think of this until after haha

Muromec 17d ago

That doesn't have to be ADHD, could be the *tism too. The tells are usually somewhat overlapping. In general, if you are in the industry, save yourself (and your kids) some trouble and get diagnosed before it becomes a problem. Add: I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course

mcmoor 16d ago
Yeah it feels like the diagnosis itself is useless, compared to just straight up trying some of those drugs and see how much you feel better. If none works, then no use in diagnosis.
- Muromec 15d ago
  Right? If the meds work, they work, I just want someone to control the side effects and help with sourcing and dosage. If they don't, I can't get disability or whatever work/military/wife-slavery exemption with that paper anyway.
aidenn0 17d ago
> Add: I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course I have been screened a few times for ADHD and each time was found to obviously have it. Ritalin does not make me feel calmer. I have been told by those close to me that there are externally visible improvements in my behavior. At doses to reach that effect, it also impacts my sleep quality enough that I don't take it. Adderall causes mild symptoms of psychosis and mania before it has any theraputic effect. Dexmethylphenidate (aka Focalin) has identical theraputic effects to ritalin, but slightly reduced side-effects.
- fv3y 17d ago
  I'm still on my journey of finding meds (and dosages) that work but I would highly recommend for anyone who has a inattentive scatterbrain to try lis/dexamphetamine. Methylphenidates can be quite numbing (zombifying) in my group of ADHD friends but dex seems to have a more consistenly helpful effect. The unfortunate caveat for me is that I personally seem predisposed to pelvic floor/urinary issues, which you'll find anecdotal evidence of being exacerbated by amphetamines (research seems yet to catch up), but aside from that the theraputic effects, particularly in emotional regulation seem so far unmatched. It's unfortunate we have such a tentative model of how our body and, particularly, our minds work so drug treatments often require a trial and error process.
  - throwawaya7e81f 17d ago
    I have exactly the same problem with pelvic floor and urinary issues when I take adderall, although with continued use and PF therapy it's gotten moderately better (and my dr and I decided that the benefits outweighed the risks and issues). I found methylphenidate-based drugs to be useless after a few days. Have you tried pure lis or dexamphetamine? I know dex can be prescribed without the mixture, maybe lis can too. I keep meaning to ask my doctor about it. The other issue I find is tolerance, though even with this I'm still far more focused than when I'm not taking adderall. It really is amazing how much better it makes me feel. I find no problem with addiction whatsoever -- if I forget to take it, then I just have full blown ADHD, but I'm no worse off. I also find it's more effective if I minimize coffee, but I haven't yet cut coffee entirely. (I find caffeine is vastly more addictive than amphetamines.)
gavinmckenzie 17d ago
That’s basically how the end of my diagnosis went because aspects of my results were borderline, so she suggested that I just try meds to see. But keep in mind that only one type of ADHD involves being hyper. Some of us are inattentive types where our brain feels like an old 70s pony car engine, and if you pull up to a stoplight you need to keep the motor revving or it will stall. Taking Ritalin for us is the equivalent of keeping the revs up.
- poopmonster 17d ago
  Great simile. That really is how it feels.
- jaggederest 17d ago
  If you're borderline, talk to the doc about a trial of guanfacine. (note that some people HATE it, for exactly this reason) It's the opposite - if your engine is always redlining, it sets a rate limiter and gives you the chance to look out the window and enjoy the scenery, metaphorically. And in the most interesting cases, you can find a lot of value in both - stimulants keeps you going, guanfacine gives you perspective and the ability to unclench.
  - austhrow743 17d ago
    As an ADHD person who was already planning to ask my psychiatrist if we can try different medication at my next appointment, thank you very much! That description sounds exactly like what I want to achieve.
    - jaggederest 17d ago
      I cannot overstate the degree to which it has been lifechanging, after years of trials of various other things. Honestly it was overwhelming - like a months-long mild psychedelic trip. I never want to go back. I am much, much less of an asshole now, and I say that advisedly. (note: lower assholery indicates nothing in absolute terms - I am probably still quite a bit of one. But less! and gratefully, joyfully so.) Edit: And this is me trying to restrain myself so I don't look like someone starting a cult...
jrapdx3 17d ago
> ... I wonder why they don't just give people some ritalin and ask if they feel calmed down? Except the obvious reason of course In ADHD (and most conditions) diagnosis by medication response is not acceptable. Response to drugs is highly variable and fails criteria for acceptable tests. Also drugs can produce side-effects. According to professional standards, it's unethical to expose people to nontrivial risks without good cause.
jaggederest 17d ago
So this is the cheats with "give everyone ritalin and see how they feel" - it works for most neurotypical folks too. It's just a very small increase compared to the annoyance and side effects, so it's usually not worth it. To extend the car analogy from a sibling comment, putting race fuel in a volvo. So they can't test by response, because everyone would be like "yeah I can focus better", you have to test with the drug on, and the drug off, to see whether the "horsepower increase" is worth the fuel price. Increasingly strained metaphors are my strength.