Medication as Polytropic Simulation
"almost all the time am hyperficused when i take ritalin i am able to broad focus as if i can see more then one thing at a time this is unbelievable i am able to make a little eyecontact and get things done. normally my executive function is terrible." ā 2023-11 | Understanding Aspi Life Challenges
The Shift
Off Ritalin:
- "hyperficused" always
- One thing at a time
- No eye contact
- "executive function terrible"
On Ritalin:
- "broad focus"
- "more then one thing"
- "a little eyecontact"
- "get things done"
The Revelation
"this is unbelievable"
Not hyperbole. Literal disbelief.
Seeing more than one thing at a time felt like a superpower.
For polytropics, it's just... Tuesday.
What This Means
Ritalin doesn't "treat ADHD."
It temporarily simulates polytropic attention.
My brain isn't broken. It's monotropic. The medication lets me borrow a different mode for a few hours.
The Cost
Borrowed modes have overhead. The crash. The flatness. The "not quite myself."
Sometimes worth it. Sometimes not.