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Comment by schneems | Hacker News Reader

I’m not clear. Are you someone who has ADHD or is this recommendation based on experiences with someone with ADHD?

I have ADHD and meditation, for me, is very difficult. Painful even.

Meditation practitioners have been writing for thousands of years about the problem of "quieting the monkey mind" which reads just like your typical description of ADHD, only in the specific setting of a meditation retreat (which is typically an intentionally challenging, spartan, uncomfortable environment - hence one where pretty much everyone is enticed to get fidgety and hyper). It's difficult for everyone at first!

Next time Please state that upfront: you don’t know anyone with ADHD that this has been effective for and you dont have ADHD yourself.

“Have you tried” comments from people without firsthand experience is basically asking others to be your guinea pig. I didn’t say “hard” I said “pain” as in a physical reaction. If you don’t have the same pathology I don’t think you can truly empathize or understand what you’re asking me to do (even if you think you do).

I’m glad you found meditation and that it’s helpful for you. I’m asking that you modify your evangelism in the future to give people maximum context on where your suggestions are coming from (and associated limitations).

There is a lot of data that meditation is beneficial for people with ADHD and potentially even more so since they “need it more”. Yes it is extremely challenging which is why in my parent I stated that according to what I have read, it takes someone with ADHD potentially twice as long to see the benefits of practice in comparison to healthy controls. I have ADHD and have learned to meditate; my mind was out of control, and I feel as though I have control of it now, without stimulant medication. I encourage you to look into the data if this is something you find interesting.

Thanks! Have you found any types of meditation work better or are easier? Suggestion where to start if it hasn’t stuck in the past?

I've only tried mindfulness meditation, but as others have chimed in in the thread, other types may be easier depending on your circumstance. As I started, even being able to focus for 5-10s uninterrupted by thought was a huge win. It may be slow, but eventually you will be able to extend these periods and get to a point where it's actually 'working'.

Also, I don't think using stimulants or other adhd meds (like atomoxetine), if they're part of your routine is necessarily cheating. I like to think of them as 'training wheels', which will help you focus internally and less on your thoughts. It will still be difficult (like it is even for those who don't have ADHD), but it may help your brain start shaping those neural important pathways a bit sooner and more easily than it'd otherwise come unmedicated.

There’s a nut bar on Reddit who talks about the dangers of “quietism” and I have to grudgingly agree with some of his points. I did quiet my monkey mind, but then discovered that without my constant, rapid fire internal monologue, I had difficulty engaging in other self improvement activities. I would later discover I was working predominantly from Fast thinking (Thinking Fast and Slow) which has trouble moralizing on your actions.

Mindfulness is not the same thing, but I’m not sure it’s a solution for us either.

I have unmedicated ADHD (Psychiatrist diagnosed) and I really struggled with mindfulness meditation (Even tried a Vipassana retreat). However Transcendental Meditation (TM) worked really well. I find my mind is more organized after a year of practising.

I had a bad back before trying meditation so it was doubly bad.

I have a trick for you but quieting your mind won’t necessarily make your life better. I would instead encourage you to look at “walking meditation”. Forest bathing, cycling, walking. Tai chi is remarkably good. A lot of people with emotional issues are detached from their bodies, and part of healing is accepting that “you” is both your mind and your body.

Alright, caveat served: count your breaths. Count to ten, then start over. This gives your brain something to do, connecting the math and verbal centers but without triggering deeper thoughts. You will catch your mind has wandered when you realize you just counted 13. Just stop and start over, don’t get into judging yourself. It happens to everyone. Just go back to 1. You can analyze the sitting afterward, not in the middle.

But seriously, tai chi is fucking amazing.

Strong agree

Breathe in: ONE. Breathe out: TWO. Next: THREE... reset at 10.

If you find yourself breathing in on an even number, or out on an odd number, you've gotten lost. No problem, just reset to 1. Got to ten? You win! Also, reset to 1.

Very useful and simple technique for calm and focus.

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