Social Neurodiversity

[ohko by scald]

I've spent the past couple of days procrastinating by looking into "dumb phones". After writing out what I use my phone for and what I really need my phone for, I realized that I can't replace my smart phone. I just live in an age where the world isn't built to be navigated without a computer in your pocket. Bummer, I know.
Still, I realized that I don't need my phone most of the time, especially not at home. That's why my solution has been to put my phone away in a drawer. Out out sight, out of mind.
It sounds silly, but that really worked surprisingly well for me.
I guess I could have written an introduction as to why I'm doing this in the first place, but I think most of us know the feeling of spending way more time on that addiction brick, than we want to.
This approach doesn't work on my laptop, since it's both work and destraction in one device, but overall the design is a lot less addicting, there's fewer notifications to distract me, and actvities provide separate environments for work and leisure, which does help keeep the two separate in my mind.

 

[bdt2002]

So apparently artificial food colorings and dyes have something to do with ADHD symptoms? Forgive me for apparently being uneducated, but how long has this been a thing? At my counseling appointment this past Wednesday, my counselor asked me some questions about my late ADHD diagnosis and at some point the conversation turned into conversation about my dietary health and what and when I’m eating. I feel the need to express that cherry flavored… anything has always been a personal soft spot of mine and basically all of it’s packed with this artificial red stuff. So that’s just great. Now, to be fair, my counselor didn’t say I could never have it ever again, but still.

 

[ohko by scald]

So apparently artificial food colorings and dyes have something to do with ADHD symptoms? Forgive me for apparently being uneducated, but how long has this been a thing? At my counseling appointment this past Wednesday, my counselor asked me some questions about my late ADHD diagnosis and at some point the conversation turned into conversation about my dietary health and what and when I’m eating. I feel the need to express that cherry flavored… anything has always been a personal soft spot of mine and basically all of it’s packed with this artificial red stuff. So that’s just great. Now, to be fair, my counselor didn’t say I could never have it ever again, but still.

So I did some quick research and there seems to be a link between certain food dyes and adhd, but there isn't that much research to go off.

This study finds a correlation between the consumption of sodium benzoate–rich beverages and ADHD symptoms, but correllation ≠ causation.
It seems like they didn't control for overal beverage intake, so this might aswell just imply that people with high ADHD symptoms consume more sweet beverages.
This meta analysis evaluated 15 trials on the effect of food dyes, but I wouldn't blindly trust that without looking into the methodology of these trials. Also the confidence didn't seem that high to me, but I don't feel qualified to evaluate that.
Many papers have a "Limitations" section, that's a good place to check out before you take the conclusion at face value.

My conclusion is: I have no idea. The general impression I get is that food dyes probably have some behavioral effects in certian people, but I would definitely look into this more thoroughly before making up my mind.
If you're worried about food dyes, in most legislations food dyes have an identifyer that producers have to include in the ingredients. That should allow you to quickly look up if there's any controversy around that compound.

 

[Eledyr]

Hey everyone.

After months of waiting, and several tests, I've been officially diagnosed with AuDHD (without hyperactivity), at age 27.

It was both something I've been expecting for a while, but on the same time... It's weird receiving the diagnose. I mostly suffer from poor concentration and struggling with starting tasks on an ADHD perspective, and from social interactions from an autism side.

Sooooo yeah. Hello everyone in the neurodivergent family. Wish you all the best and hope you're doing well despite the struggles of our conditions!