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Comment by pcthrowaway | Hacker News Reader

I used to play poker pretty seriously (not necessarily super well, but let's say break-even on the game itself over about 2 years going to a casino at least once a week)

The moments between going all-in and before the showdown (where the pot is decided) were pretty exciting, but not nearly as exciting as outdoor rock climbing

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Physical activity doesn't make me feel good. At best running on a treadmill for around 30mins gives me energy that feels good physically but doesn't really translate to mentally.

I've tried intense hikes and other activities but it really doesn't do much. I have ADHD and on and off depression. Maybe borderline personality disorder as well. I did try anti depressants once but it only removed whatever little emotions I experienced, not worth it.

Out of curiosity, have you tried "extreme" sports like skydiving or downhill biking? I have a theory that people into extreme sports have often muted emotions compared to ordinary folks.

Mountain biking is generally not extreme but can be super joyful (in retrospective maybe only the downhill segments are joyful).

Rock climbing is great for people with ADHD (speaking from personal experience) because you're mentally engaged, all-brain-cells-on-deck, gears turning at full capacity in what can feel in the moment like a life or death situation.

But it's actually a clever brain hack; if you're following best practices regarding safety, and choosing routes which are also safe, there's very little danger

Treadmills are boring. Try strength training. Can do it at any gym, low barrier to entry, good for health and provide more neurostimulation.

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