Comment by Lerc

Comment by Lerc 8 days ago

5 replies

View on Hacker News

I have some of those minor symptoms.

One thing I have experienced is lying in bed and being unable to move, and I can't tell why. it seems like I'm just not trying to move, which I think is the feeling that distinguishes it from paralysis.

What I have found is I can open my eyes and move them around. Through this I discovered an exercise that helps. If I focus on the ceiling in the far left side of the room then switch to focusing on the far right, after about 5 to 10 if those switches, the rest of my body can move without issues. Whatever it was that felt like I was just being lazy simply vanishes.

My brain is weirdly configured. I have had MRIs, catscans, ultrasounds on though my eye (which is as it sounds,close your eye, pour some goopvon it, then waggle a gadget over the goop)

Some of those were before I had Touretts like symptoms turn up. All I really know at this point is there isn't a tumor in there. I have a feeling some of my doctors would have placed money on finding one.

I also had a thing where they covered me in electrodes and timed how long it took me to fall asleep, then immediately woke me up again to repeat the process

Separately I was diagnosed with ADHD and put on methylphenidate only to find it had no effect on anything (was like taking nothing at all). Now on Dexamphetamine with some benefits.

The dramatic difference in how it feels to do something that previously seemed to require insurmountable effort has made me wonder if laziness is not actually a real thing. Those who have not experienced it may feel like you should just put your head down and do the task at hand, but the way the ability or inability to do that seems to switch on and off like a switch really doesn't make it seem like a factor of willpower.

brianpan 8 days ago

> has made me wonder if laziness is not actually a real thing

I think a lot about the insane drive that professional athletes (especially at the highest levels) have and how it's not possible for me to have the same drive. I'm sure it's complicated and there's some level of learning or skill training that's possible to change your amount of laziness or drive. But, like physical abilities, there's probably only so much you can change.

Reply View 1 reply
  • KETHERCORTEX 6 days ago

    It's regulated by excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Former start and support the actions and thoughts, latter prevent or stop them. It's more complicated than that, but this explanation good enough for quick summary. And it's not only about the actions we think about, but also usual body function

    > some level of learning or skill training that's possible to change your amount of laziness or drive

    There are also things that don't require training. Music with tempo above 90 BPM (or better above 100) temporary increases the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters.

    Reply View 0 replies
Aurornis 6 days ago

> The dramatic difference in how it feels to do something that previously seemed to require insurmountable effort

Be careful about reading too much in to the early effects of stimulant treatment. The short, medium, and long term effects of stimulant treatment on perceived effort are different, so this will change as your brain adapts to the medication.

Reduction of perceived effort after taking stimulants isn’t unique to people with ADHD. It’s why people have used caffeine, nicotine, or harder stimulants for centuries. As everyone discovers eventually, those early effects are not durable for years.

The attention-promoting effects of stimulants are more durable. That’s why people with ADHD can derive benefits for a long time. However, people who get hooked on the ability for a pill to make it easier to do unpleasant work can get into a tough spot when that effect wanes over time and those tasks are back to requiring a lot of effort again (although concentrating on them is still easier). Consequently, the discontinuation rate for stimulant treatment is much higher than people would guess after their first few doses.

Reply View 0 replies
larsiusprime 7 days ago

> Some of those were before I had Touretts like symptoms turn up.

Author here. For what it's worth, I have BOTH Narcolepsy AND Tourette's syndrome, both formally diagnosed.

I'm not a doctor, but what you described about lying on bed does sound a bit like cataplexy to me. You might have a doctor who specializes in Narcolepsy specifically check you out.

Reply View 0 replies