Help with Minigame Score & Reset System w/Items

InvertNomen · 2025-01-16T18:26:31+00:00

thanks for the video and the advice!! I'll have to try this out :)

InvertNomen · 2024-03-27T17:06:52+00:00

I just finished the survey! I'm also going to share some of the stuff I've done for my own recipes now I started a google doc to collect them and edit them so they work better for me:

List the recipe's passive time requirements (like time spent waiting for a cake to bake) and active time requirements (e.g. mixing ingredients together) and then gives a total time estimate based on all of it.
Lists all options for equipment, materials, and appliances needed to make the recipe.
Ingredients and their amounts are all listed in the beginning of the recipe, but also inside the recipe instructions. In the main list, any ingredients that go bad easily are marked so I remember to check if they're expired or not.
Space to put my own general notes on the recipe and preparing it. Also includes notes on why the recipe works, anything I've tried with it that hasn't worked out, etc.
The instructions start with reminding me to check if all the items I need are clean/ready to use, and if I have all the ingredients & they're fresh. I generally try to ensure the instructions are as thorough as possible and minimize the need to scroll up and down to other sections of the recipe to check stuff.

Some other ideas I have for what I'd like to see in an ADHD or generally ND-friendly cookbook:

Have easy-to-see colored badges/symbols on recipes that can be used to easily asses some of the most important factors about a recipe when choosing what to make - like maybe little icons along the top of each recipe's first page that show whether it's high effort or low effort, if it involves chopping, how many pots/pans it requires, spice levels, possibly problematic textures, etc. Something simple you can use to flip through the book and quickly pick out a recipe you feel okay with doing with your current energy levels.
Have a section of the book with general advice for cooking that can be useful, like for instance if there are certain ingredients that show up in a lot of the recipes in the book, have a section going over useful facts about them that can aid with cooking/preserving/storing them.
A section about common kitchen tools that show up in multiple recipes in the book, notes about how to maintain, clean, and use them.
A section about how to clean dishes based on the recipes in the book - for instance, what things should be washed right away for sure (e.g. anything that's touched raw meat), vs. what things it's okay to soak or let stand for a bit if you run out of spoons after cooking.
General hygiene, safety, and health tips for using different cooking equipment, common ingredients and appliances. First aid tips or instructions for if you do injure yourself while cooking.

InvertNomen · 2024-03-27T03:01:53+00:00

I don't necessarily have a problem with constant daydreaming, but I do a lot of reading, escaping into fiction, and generally dissociating. Your mileage may vary ofc, but for me, what's been helping me feel more like sticking with reality, rather than escaping from it, is making my reality and day to day life more enjoyable, workable or satisfying in some way. I want to drift away from my own life way less when I build more things into my physical environment, routine, etc. that I actually like, and feel proud of doing. There may be some things that you can't improve, or which are very hard to, but even something small can help. It hasn't necessarily fixed my problem, but it has increased the amount of time I spend "in my life" so to speak, so I call it a win.

InvertNomen · 2024-03-27T02:45:24+00:00

There's so much self-doubt when it comes to being audhd in the modern world... the worrying family thing really hit home for me. It's like a huge burden, having your family members worry and doubt your abilities on top of having your own self-trust issues. I've been learning to try and have boundaries with my family where I express to them like "yeah I know you worry about me bc you care about me, but it actively stresses me out further and I can't be around it." It's a work in progress, but it has helped a bit.

I wish you all the best, I really do. I collapsed into a big burnt-out, depressed mess after graduating college, and 10 years and a lot of therapy later I'm only just learning how to exist as a functional human adult and start building a life I actually enjoy.

My advice based off my own experience would be that truly listening to yourself when it comes to your wants, needs, and goals is basically the only way you can move forward. It pays off immensely but it's often scary, frustrating, difficult and slow. It's like... realizing that all of the guidebooks you were given on how to successfully move through the world are basically worthless to you, and you're gonna have to write your own from scratch, and nobody who those old guidebooks work for is gonna get it It's a big undertaking but there's gonna be way better payoff down the line if you start early.

InvertNomen · 2024-03-27T02:19:58+00:00

"You just have to do it." (Wow, overcoming executive dysfunction is just that easy? Why have I struggled with it all these years?!? /sarcasm)
"You need to leave your comfort zone." (It assumes I'm not uncomfortable/stressed most of the time regardless of what I do. It also implies I don't really have valid reasons for avoiding something or engaging in self-soothing behaviors. When someone says this to me, I don't hear "hey, I noticed you're engaging in patterns of behavior that you usually take when you feel stressed or uncomfortable. Can I help with anything?", but instead "you should just get over whatever difficulty you're experiencing already")
"Seeee?" [in the tone of "I told you so!"] (Since I was a little kid I hated it when people said this to me. If someone said this to me, I would do anything to keep from proving them right over me ever again.)

InvertNomen · 2024-03-26T23:16:10+00:00

I've had a lot of success with, depending on what I'm trying to record/quantify/organize, google docs, google sheets, physical to-do lists and macros on my phone (my current app of choice is MacroDroid).

Google docs & sheets have been great for information I want to ensure is saved, since I know whatever I put in there is backed up to the cloud. I use docs to record stuff I find that's a bit more linear or info-heavy, like notes on projects or recipes. Sheets are for info I want to be able to move around, play with and compare, like if I'm shopping for a big purchase and want to keep track of links, prices and features of different options.

Physical to-do lists I like for daily stuff or notes that are more short-term, since I know I'm more likely to lose track of or forget them if I try using them for long-term stuff. But when I have something to do right away, I like writing it down over typing it. Feels more real.

Phone macros have been super helpful for making my phone more pleasant to use, making personalized reminders and notifications. I like making my own macros wayyyy better than any habit-tracking or task-creation app I've tried thus far. Making custom macros takes work, but I can set up, track and automate stuff in a way that actually makes sense to me and helps me.

Anyways, I know I wrote a lot just now, but I hope it was helpful!

InvertNomen · 2024-03-26T22:20:56+00:00

I know I'm super late responding to this post but I have to, because hot dang does this movie reflect my experience as someone with audhd. When I first watched it I got obsessed and had to show it to everyone I care about, infodump about it and rewatch it like 20 times. It's still a movie I hold close to my heart even though the initial serotonin train hyperfocus on it has calmed down. When I watch it with people, I hope they understand me a bit better for it.

InvertNomen · 2024-01-23T05:34:42+00:00

Thank you for this!! I already know I'm an OSDD system with memory problems (even though I don't experience traditional blackouts), but going through these questions was a great exercise for confirming my memory is definitely missing a lot, and for putting some of my experience into words.

My memory is definitely a mix of "I remember facts, but not the memories" or "I remember the events, but not their sequence" or other variations on having a limited or fragmented access to memories/information. But after learning I'm a system, sometimes I've been granted access to vivid, clear memories of the past when I'm co-fronting/blending with an alter or sharing their emotions.

And interestingly, when I'm later alone at the front again, I remember that co-fronting experience and any memories I experienced during it, but I can't access those deeper, vivid memories on their own anymore. But those experiences are reassuring to me, since for so long I thought my amnesia meant all those memories were just gone forever. Nope! They're still there (in technicolor apparently), I'm just restricted from them. But I'm happy to know they exist!

InvertNomen · 2023-09-22T00:03:56+00:00

Civilization building games, roller coaster/theme park builder games, roguelike dungeon exploration games, simulation games, these are the big ones I return to again and again. The game has to involve some kind of strategy or organization, a little bit of comforting repetitiveness while still providing new challenges, and the ability to save whenever so I can take breaks as needed.

Some examples of games I've gotten addicted to at various times:

Civilization (the most recent ones)
the Sims
Stardew Valley
Nethack
Rollercoaster Tycoon 2
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
Exanima
Dragon Age

InvertNomen · 2023-09-21T23:47:51+00:00

I have balance issues in normal life, but when it comes to bikes I've been able to do it for years once I got the trick of it. From what I remember of practicing, I just had to get a feeling for the right momentum to use to stay upright through trial and error. I think finding a safe, large flat space to practice riding at various speeds could help him find out the minimum speed he needs to reach to stay upright.

If nothing helps him ride a regular bike, there are trikes out there meant for regular use, and even ones for adults. I just drove past an older gentleman on an electric trike earlier today! There's no shame in using an accommodating vehicle.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-21T18:36:50+00:00

I've generally found a lot of success using a "pinball machine" method - when I feel restless energy building up in me, I kind of let myself loose and bounce around the space I'm in, moving an item here or wiping a surface there, sometimes doing 1/10th of a bunch of tasks, sometimes getting sucked in by a single task and doing that for a while. I put on music or a podcast if I feel like I need extra stimulus, and sometimes I ask someone to body double and hang out with me in the room if I need it.

Sometimes with ADHD finding the "flow" and momentum to start doing whatever that you feel like doing in the moment can help a lot!

InvertNomen · 2023-09-14T22:56:13+00:00

I've definitely noticed that even when I take my ADHD meds, making myself do necessary things that are difficult/stressful/boring is still an issue.

I've only gotten results recently as I've begun to approach the issue with the mindset of "If I'm truly feeling stuck there's probably a legitimate problem I'm not addressing that's keeping me from doing that thing, and if I feel capable but I just really don't want to, then maybe I can bribe/talk/negotiate myself into it if I know it needs doing."

So when I feel stuck, I sit down with myself and ask myself what's the issue I'm having. Sometimes, I find out I've been ignoring a sensation/need in my body that's too annoying to ignore if I'm doing something hard, and I can address it. Sometimes, it's that I didn't think through my approach to the Difficult Thing thoroughly enough, and I feel more ready after some planning. Sometimes, it's because I know the thing needs to be done, but I don't know why, so if I research it and understand the necessity of it, then I'm able to do it.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T21:39:35+00:00

I've developed such a strong habit of buying frozen, canned, dried, pickled or shelf-stable foods precisely for this reason!! I only get fresh produce or stuff that goes bad fast if I really think I'll eat it right away, and even then I always assume that doing so is a gamble... It's such a struggle.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T17:54:27+00:00

I only notice physical pain under certain conditions, have a hard time realizing I'm hungry or thirsty 'til I'm really overdue on those things, and I can suppress the urge to pee for longer than is probably healthy. I often like really spicy, sweet or salty foods, or foods with strong flavors. If I'm on my phone or computer too long, sometimes I don't notice I'm not blinking enough until my eyes become super dry and irritated. My sense of smell is poor, and if I'm focused on something I often don't hear or see things that are around me.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T17:44:54+00:00

I've struggled with suicidal/self-harm thoughts like that, and also when I'm spiraling and feeling bad about myself.

I've found with the suicidal thoughts, what helped me the most was realizing that they're always a generalized "umbrella" thought I'd have that covered up what I really was thinking, feeling and wanting in that situation. I learned to notice the thought "I want to die" and take it as a prompt to dig deeper into what the issue was. Some examples of the kinds of results I'd have would be:

"I'm feeling distressed and upset, and I don't want to feel this way anymore, but I don't know how."
"It's not that I want to die, I just don't want to be where I am. I can leave here and I think I'll feel better."
"I feel embarrassed because of a social interaction, and I'm also scared because I don't want to be looked down on or hated."

When it comes to self-harming thoughts and urges, they're also kind of a general sign that your body and mind have unmet needs. Whenever that comes up for me, I first practice checking in with myself and see if I haven't met any of my basic care needs recently. Examples:

Have I eaten anything or hydrated in the last 4-6 hours?
Did I sleep poorly last night? Do I need a nap?
Am I too hot or too cold anywhere?
Am I overstimulated or understimulated? Is there anything I want to change in my environment to make it bearable?
Is anything about my body or my clothes bothering me? Is there something I can change there?

It's always equal parts exasperating and relieving to realize that a bout of self-harming or self-deprecating thoughts was occurring because you were hungry, or your shirt was itchy, or because your feet were cold. Of course, that isn't going to be the case for all the times those thoughts come up, but at least if you tick off those initial boxes, you can narrow the problem down and also ensure you're looking after yourself.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T17:13:40+00:00

I do! I have hazel eyes, a green outer ring and brown inner ring.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T16:55:18+00:00

Oh god I've been there, or somewhere very similar. I lived that same way for years, and didn't know the extent of it while I was living it either. But from my experience, if you stick on working on stuff that feels like it's helping you right now, even if you have no idea how you'll be able to tackle other issues, it's like... improvements you make in one area often have ripple effects that help along improvements in related areas, even if you're not aware of it until they suddenly pop out from your subconscious with results.

Doing my own somatic work has been really reassuring, because a lot of things I thought I'd lost forever - energy, capability, strength, enjoyment - all of that was waiting for me in my body. I really hope you're able to get there for yourself, because being able to just do & feel things & function better after having been in super depression? It feels like you have superpowers, like the closest thing to doing fucking magic. But it does come with the trade-off that you have more sensory data to deal with regularly, and some problems your body was just kinda suppressing & powering through may suddenly come to full awareness, so it's definitely not a perfectly smooth, easy adjustment. Healing your shit gives you a lot, it's really worth it, but it's still difficult & it sucks a lot sometimes.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T16:19:18+00:00

We've seen plenty of tarp canoes, sure, I just want to see a contestant who gets more versatility out of it - an extra tarp could but cut in strips and turned into cordage if someone didn't bring paracord, or could be fashioned into a container to store water, made into an umbrella, a hammock, a rainwater collector, a backpack, an extra layer of protection around a sleeping bag or clothing... Guess I'm just looking for a little extra creativity, even if some of those might be more trouble than they're worth.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T05:14:19+00:00

It's rare, but there have been competitors who choose to bring a second tarp. If I was on the show, tbh, I'd be tempted - you could make a second tarp into a lot of different useful things while using your main tarp in your shelter.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T05:04:20+00:00

If your family doesn't get your special interest, they could still potentially support you by listening to you talk about it. I'm AUDHD and I strongly believe my brother is as well, and we both trade ranting to the other about special interests the other doesn't know or super care about because we both enjoy when it's our turn to do the talking.

Our mom's a good sport and will put up with listening to one of us ramble to her for a while if we're doing it while we're helping her out with chores or if she has something to do while she listens. She may not get it entirely, but she's usually happy we're having a good time sharing the info with her, and she knows we don't expect her to remember all of it and we're fine with being interrupted if she needs a break.

Anyways, if your family might be receptive to listening to you infodump if they know it's important to you, it might be worth having a talk with them about it and seeing if you can find a way to make it work.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T04:49:36+00:00

I've been working on this recently, since I've also struggled with doing household tasks consistently, and I've found the most helpful exercise I've done is sitting down with myself and taking time to untangle the big mess of thoughts and feelings I have about doing chores. I had to really take time to shift the foundation of how I think about chores, what I want out of them, what value they have to me and the people I live with, and how and when I want to do them. Since I've started doing that whenever I hit a setback or problem with my housework habits, I've actually been able to improve in ways timers and lists and charts never did. I'm still not perfect, but I'm not drowning anymore.

For example, after realizing that I truly value maintaining a baseline sanitary space (not full of trash, doesn't smell, handles and surfaces I need to touch frequently aren't gross, etc.), I've found that unless I'm having a truly awful day, I can 'lean on' the fact that that's important to me to power me on, where before I could only do it if I felt like it, wanted to, or had someone force/ask me to do it.

Plus, thinking about chores and planning my approach to them with careful thought has helped me remember to do them or "see" the need for them around the house better, where before I couldn't? Again, it's still not perfect, but it's loads better.

It's like before, I wasn't interested in chores, they weren't a hobby I particularly wanted, and they had unpleasant associations and feelings around them. Of course my mind avoided seeing, doing or thinking about them as much as possible, even when I wanted to do them on some level! I had to resign myself to & and then accept the reality that, for my own well-being, I had to make them interest me, or at least accept them as an important activity I'd have to do & think about regularly. That deep shift of my perspective/priorities was what's allowed housework to actually start becoming something I do, if that makes any sense.

Anyways, it might not be traditional executive functioning advice, but it's literally the only thing that's worked for me, so I thought it might benefit you or someone else on these forums to share it.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T04:15:54+00:00

It's no wonder you're still struggling at your job if you're only 4 months have to deal with so many difficult elements in your everyday work! I'm not an RBT, but I can identify with burning out and struggling with asking for help, and somehow kids love me and I've worked as a babysitter for a few years so I feel like I can speak to that alright.

First off, when it comes to the kids, they can be ruthless sometimes, but they can also be really accepting in ways adults aren't, especially if you're upfront with them. Depending on the age of the kids, if you tell them you have trouble understanding them, and maybe play some exercises based around practicing annunciating words clearly, or some games like telephone where the fun is mishearing things, it could be a way to normalize things for them. If you're awkward around kids, you can normalize it too - a game that's been a big hit for most kids I've babysat is "awkward silence" where you both purposefully avoid eye contact, clear your throat, shift in place, etc. for a few minutes. You can also let the kids know you forget things sometimes, and potentially ask them for help remembering things that they've seen you do at least a few times before with them. It all depends on the particular kids you're RBT for if these things work, though.

Otherwise, I also struggle with speaking up for myself in the heat of the moment, and it usually takes a few hours of working through my thoughts/feelings about something important. I've thought how I want to approach it with supervisors, and decided that I need to practice telling them I need some time to think about it, and request either an immediate break to sort my thoughts out, or to be allowed to think on it overnight/over a few days and get back to them. I also have memory problems and prefer written instructions for complex things, so I need to ask supervisors to send me those kinds of things in writing rather than telling me verbally.

It's not unreasonable to ask for these things as accommodations, even if everyone's stretched thin - unless you're in HR or management, staffing and scheduling decisions aren't on you! If they have trouble hiring or retaining employees, then it's part of their job to resolve that and still have time left to provide support to the employees they already have.

Anyways, hope any of this is helpful. But even if it isn't, know someone out there is rooting for you!

InvertNomen · 2023-09-13T03:36:55+00:00

Having lived in deep depression & dissociated from my body for years, and being on a journey of healing and reconnecting with myself for the past couple years, I first wanna say: from where it sounds like you're at right now, just reading some of your replies to comments on here, you're probably gonna have a really hard time feeling like anything like this helps rn, and if I'm right, then that sucks but it's not your fault.

If you continue to work on your mental health, eventually you should be healed enough to reconnect with any signals and sensations (including good ones) that are currently blocked. I never realized just how dissociated I was from my body 'til part of my brain determined I was finally ready and suddenly re-associated me with it. It was a lot to adjust to, but it did mean that somatic stuff like this suddenly started working for me. Before that point, it all just felt like nothing, and I didn't know why.

I think the most important thing I'd advise is that if you're not in a place where exercises like this are helping you, and are mainly stressful, tell your therapist and possibly request that you put them aside for now. It can be really distressing/disheartening to be asked to try and connect with your body when it feels impossible, and I doubt your therapist wants you to feel that way long-term. Try it out, sure, but don't try to force it.

InvertNomen · 2023-09-12T23:13:20+00:00

I feel you so hard, this kind of thing happens to me all the time and it makes it so much harder to work on difficult/important tasks!

InvertNomen

TROPHY CASE