Is Modern Life Worsening Our Attention Spans?

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#MentalHealth #Adhd

[itsmeheathermarie]

I told my therapist a month or so ago that I'm happy to be in a place in life where I can let my mind go where it wants to go, letting myself lean into my ADHD with no shame. Such a good feeling.

[PSG]

I went to the Himalayan mountains for a month and it felt like 10 years.
No TV, No radio, No phone, only Food, Water and Shelter.

[TheContrariann]

Stuart, its always good to see you brother.

I recently about a week ago left an ADHD Group, although I know very well I do have it, associating with the group and their thoughts made me realize that it was somehow normalizing the disadvantages that come with ADHD making me tolerant and ignorant towars all the things that I could about it, to learn to live with it.

Another aspect related of Dopamine detox, I'd like tell, reduce consuming and increase creation, creativity.

Consume less of Internet, fast food, social media, etc all the artificial toxic things that feed on you feeding them -less of that. Being ADHDrs we must be very sensitive and protectective of what we let in our minds by all visual or auditory senses. What we see, hear, etc. Because we cannot control our brains and our minds and stop our thoughts. Because to change the direction of our boat, if we cannot control the winds, we can control the sails. And by controlling the sails we can control the directions.

If you wanna consume - consume all the natural things - consume nature, consume fresh air, consume the calming breeze, consume the beautiful sight of sunset, consume fruits and vegitables. The company of animals and birds and plant trees and consume the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.

And Create - create more of Art, music, write journals, cook food and enjoy the process of creation. Create what your mind things and heart desires. Create what intrests you.

There are two monsters constantly fighting within you- the good and the evil one - who wins ? The one whom you feed the most.

[papercliprain]

I haven’t done a traditional dopamine detox but I have been focusing more on long form content instead of instant gratification short form content and that has helped. People really into the DD thing are all about no music while you do it, no food you like, no activities you enjoy. That’s stupid. Not watching YouTube and only eating sugarless oats for 24 hours is not gonna magically change your life. Instead I have been listening to audiobooks(Harry Potter because I’ve always wanted to read them) instead of short YouTube videos and just making that switch has done a lot for me.

[torreycat]

I’m 68 years old tomorrow 1/31, and I have struggled/enjoyed with the energy of being ADHD my whole life. While in our 60’s, my sister (15 months older than me) said, “Dad always loved you more because he always took you with him”. I said, “Sis….dad always took me with him because I upset the household with my ADHD meltdowns.” We both laughed. But, that story was a side note to what I wanted to say…. .

A couple of years ago, I found a book that has helped me so, so much with controlling the depression that comes with having ADHD. The book is called, LOST CONNECTIONS, by Johann Hari. And your video today is one explanation of depression with a lost connection with nature. I was feeling so, so low the other day with a depression that I couldn’t shake and I just felt the nagging pull to go outside, in my back yard, and lay on my back in the snow. Like I said…I’m 68 years old, it was 9° outside, in the dark and I wasn’t looking forward to facing those obstacles, but I did! I bundled up like an Eskimo and crunched through the snow in my back yard, laid down and looked at the stars. Talk about a dopamine high! I giggled and started rolling over and over on top of the crunchy, snowy ground. I connected with nature that night and felt alive and happy. (My arthritis didn’t like it, but hey…lol)

Have a connected day and God bless. 💕

[DanY-bsfp]

Video games have been a real killer for me. I have been recently diagnosed, finally at 29. It's been tough for me not being able to understand my behavior where i couldn't motivate myself for anything important in my life. At this point I just get rid of things which I impulsively go back to i.e. technology but Stuart is absolutely right here. We have replaced our source of dopamine from nature to screen and trust me the source of your dopamine really matters. A day itself in nature wouldnt just give you a dopamine boost but also will make you feel better when you realize that you were out the whole day and didnt get the urge to pull out your phone every minute

[whosoever]

DOOOD! I was just telling my husband this. What if my brain just doesn't want to focus on this system, this direction or this way of thinking. Uggghhh this world. Lord Jesus help us 🙏

[agelessarcheryt]

For a while now I’ve been struggling with this lately, you get so beaten down because “your adhd can just be solved by just stop stimulating your brain” it annoys me so much that it stops me from taking action to reduce screen time and instead getting trapped in a state of self loathing “you caused your issues and just try harder”

[Weeflowerofscotland]

Nature and walking is seriously the only thing that quiets my mind. I need it daily to function.

[mitthrawnuruodo]

I would agree. The longest I went without looking at my phone in over a decade is 3 hours a week ago. And with adhd that especially is a huge feat! I will continue to practice improving my focus and one day I’ll be in complete control of my focus and attention!

[iveneverseenahealthyvegan.]

I was bullied by a new manager who Gaslighted me enough to create an unknown level of anxiety and depression. This lead me to seek a diagnosis of ADHD in December 2020, at the age of 52.
I had worked 34 years with my employer, until I had been the only person to be made redundant.
I took myself off for 3 months at the end of last year to Africa, a small agricultural village in Ghana, volunteering at a school with small children. We didn't have running water, electric, or modern devices for entertainment.
Everyday I felt a high level of energy created by Human to Human interaction. I was overwhelmed in a positive way, like a child in a sweetshop. Everyone I met became a friend instantly, not judging me but interacting. I did walk around the village everyday, introducing myself and learning. I helped in so many ways. Special times, Dopamine by the bucket load.

[WatchingNinja]

I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and went on medication. It's changed my life and I wish I could go without it. My ADHD symptoms are worse than the effects of the medication.

[akaErma]

I stopped looking at Facebook sometime this past summer and my mental health has improved tremendously. I started taking an SDRI a few months later and it has helped me a lot in reducing the need to hop from one thing to the next just to keep my dopamine drip flowing. I'm not formally diagnosed so I'm not on stimulant medication, but I'm no stranger to it, and it just straight up stopped working to improve my focus, and just gave me a ton of energy to dump into distractions. Meditating every day helps me a ton. When I started I just let my mind wander and spent some time reflecting on *why* my mind was drawn to certain emotions or ideas. It helps me understand my mind a little bit better, and helps slow me down from falling into self-persecution cycles.

[tebohosefatsa]

"Petty trials and tribulations."😂😂😂

[stagehand]

Wow what an awesome landscape. Thanks for the good message. Peace

[beewise]

Self diagnosed 3 months ago. Meds are definitely working. Still mind boggling how stimulants calm me down. Yes meditation definitely, working on it.

[ritasjourney]

Beautiful country Stuart! I have done a dopamine detox for a day and I liked it. Kind of lessened my dependency on my phone. I could probably benefit from a once a week detox day. Yes it's quiet and boring but I kinda liked it. My mother, in her 80s has never been into these devices and she's fine. 🙂

[cheyenneb]

I think the fact that the detox makes you antsy is the reason we need to do it. From what I understand, we’re used to having unnaturally high dopamine levels because of social media and such, so when you cut it out it’s hard, because it’s similar to any other addiction. The detox I think is supposed to let your dopamine levels go back down to normal so you can enjoy simple things again without needing to be overstimulated. I did try it and I found myself becoming productive out of boredom. I still use YouTube, which I need to get control over, but cutting out social media has been super helpful to me. It truly sucks your life away. I hope we can all make an effort to take our lives back.

The next thing on my agenda is to get an alarm clock that won’t scare me awake, so I can stop using the alarm on my phone/iPad. That way I won’t be tempted to check notifications immediately upon waking

[celine]

I think that's why I used to romanticize the past so much. I just want simplicity more than anything.

[ricoender]

10 hours the longest I have gone without looking at electronics. And that was when I was working. I would work 10-hour shifts.