“maybe we can talk about how with the internet there are more diagnoses of adhd now, and how the internet is rewiring our brains…”
“medicating childhood: the hoax of adhd”
literally all things ive seen in the past fucking WEEK let me out of this hell
i can debunk this all in a flash
adhd is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and develops around 12 years old. given that, and how many diagnosed adhd adults there are, including elders, this is something that predates the internet
adhd is genetic, so despite an attention given from parent to child, it’s incredibly likely that at least one of the parents or other relatives also has adhd
oh yes, and let’s not forget the myth that adhd symptoms are synonymous with child behavior. but adhd isn’t just hyperactivity - in fact, hyperactivity doesn’t always present itself. in addition to hyperactivity, other symptoms include:
echolalia
poor memory
racing/scattered thoughts
slowed social development (around 30%)
difficulty understanding tasks/organizing them into steps
struggles understanding time management
impulsive acts (impulsive spending is a major issue with many of us)
difficulty managing emotions, especially anger
easily bored (and boredom leads to greater frustration than others)
TROUBLE SLEEPING. many adhd people spend their entire lives not getting good sleep because of the constant “noise” in their heads. see the scattered thoughts. basically, the thoughts are always going. there is no shut off switch. insomnia is largely prevalent with adhd
losing details (like getting poor grades because you missed the fine print on a test even with knowing the material)
struggles with listening comprehension (words sound like nonsense)
struggles with reading comprehension (words look like nonsense)
memorization issues - a child skilled in math will have trouble with multiplication tables, for example
has trouble “waiting their turn” in conversation - frequently interrupts without realizing
hyperfocus - an often overlooked aspect, when one focuses to the exception of all other external stimuli, including needing to eat, sleep, etc. time almost ceases to exist
not a symptom, but adhd - especially adult adhd - is highly comorbid with anxiety disorders and depression later in life. this is because a person with adhd is working their heart out to achieve the same standards, contrary to the believe that they’re “lazy.” as you can see above, almost every aspect of daily life is impacted - social, work, school, family, money… and this can lead to a feeling of being unable to cope.
despite all that, people with adhd are also:
more solution-oriented
more resilient
more expressive
more curious
and better at multitasking - not just because of having to learn how to manage the other symptoms, but these are, in fact, also symptoms. you can imagine how useful hyperfocus can be as well.
i wrote all this because i really want people to understand me and understand how this all works. and i want misunderstandings to stop so people can respect who i am.
i also want to note that one of the classic presentations of primarily-inattentive ADHD in children is a spacey, quiet kid who daydreams a lot and doesn’t seem to be “present”, the very opposite of the stereotype of the bouncing-off-the-walls primarily-hyperactive kid we’re supposed to think is The Sole Presentation Of ADHD
ADHD also impacts social development in a very big way! children with ADHD lag behind their peers in social skills. (note: i re-read the list and saw this was mentioned already, which is p. funny, because one of the big deficits i have as a result of ADHD is skipping over details and being unable to deal with lists and instructions)
also, RE: insomnia associated with ADHD, a thing that’s frequently comorbid with ADHD is delayed sleep phase disorder. DSPD (which i have) is having your circadian rhythm shifted two or three (or four or five) hours later than everyone else’s. you have no trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, but it happens later than the norm and thus you wake up naturally later than the norm.
this is impossible to get around. trust me, even if i force myself to keep a schedule meant for people without DSPD, i will revert to my natural sleeping patterns sooner or later. quite often, going to bed early means i don’t fall asleep until my natural sleep time anyway. i’ve had this problem literally since infancy. i’ve never had trouble actually sleeping (even through noise or light or whatever) or getting restful sleep (even with the sun shining on my face), i just have a circadian rhythm that slicks its hair back into a pomp and wears a leather jacket and probably is saving up money from its part-time job at a gas station to buy a motorbike.
on the plus side, ADHD does lead to one being more curious, more spontaneous, able to make more unique and odd associations and able to devote oneself to one interest utterly and self-teach more effectively than others (at least, based on my own experiences, i find it to be so – i’m very good at teaching myself things from scratch and my boyfriend, who also has ADHD, is the same way; in fact, he’s a self-taught programmer who’s making a career out of programming with no degree; other ADHD people i know are very good at just diving into a subject and getting really into it, as long as it’s interesting to them).
… so what ADHD can lead to is the very frustrating status of 2e, twice exceptional, a child (and later, adult) who is both gifted and disabled. it’s a unique kind of struggle, because people assume being bright and spontaneous and creative means you’re capable and will point-fucking-blank ignore signs of disability in you, instead ascribing them to laziness and lack of caring. i’ve been in special education in my time in school. i was also in gifted programs. it’s a Ride.
is it wrong that the first thing that gets me mad at the lines about how the internet causes adhd is that i can remember that being said the exact same way 20 years ago, except about tv and sometimes video games and music?
It’s time for another Hiveswap developer interview!
Hey there folks, Ash here! It’s that time again: time, that is, to grab a snack of your choice, get nice and comfy, and settle in for another illuminating interview with one of the people working tirelessly to bring you Hiveswap!
In the spotlight for today’s interview is Tauhid Bondia, one of the incredibly talented individuals on our art and graphic design team who also happens to be Hiveswap’s user interface (UI) maestro! He’s responsible for most of the game’s UI design, including visual elements like the heads-up display (HUD), cursors, menus, achievement and item icons… really, if it requires a special interface, chances are he designed it! He also helps out anywhere else he’s needed on the art and animation side of things; for example, he’s done clean-up and added color to rough animation. As you read through the interview, make sure you pause just long enough to gaze lovingly upon the examples of Tauhid’s work peppered throughout… and above all, enjoy this latest sneak peek at some of Hiveswap’s visual elements!
Introduce yourself to the fans! What is your specific role on the Hiveswap team?
My name is Tauhid Bondia (Tah-heed Bon-Dee-uh) and I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, and web designer. On Hiveswap I’m the UI designer.
When and how did you get your start on the Hiveswap project?
I’ve been with What Pumpkin for a little over three years now. When Hiveswap began to take up more of the company’s time, they asked me to pitch in with some of the web design and Illustration. I said, “Okay.”
(The top image shows a “style guide” Tauhid prepared for the game’s HUD. This guide was then used to implement the HUD into the game itself, which you can see in the bottom image. – Ash)
Tell us a little bit about your career background! How did you get your start
in art and graphic design? Do you have any advice for others looking to enter this field?
I’ve worked in graphic design for 15 or 16 years now, mostly freelance and local stuff. I am also a self-taught web designer. Everything I’ve learned about animation and game design has actually been on the job!
We’re making a video game, so of course the question must be asked: what’s your favorite game of all time, and what games are you playing currently (if any)?
My answer has to be World of Warcraft, just based on the sheer volume of years of my life and personal relationships it has eaten.
Are there any games that you currently use or have used as inspiration for
your own art and graphic design work here on Hiveswap, or just in general?
Not really. I mostly draw from print and web comics.
What are your preferred programs and applications as an artist and graphic designer? What are the tools of your trade?
Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel Draw. I do all of my drawing on a Cintiq Companion these days, but I’ve worked on some model of Cintiq since they first came out.
What’s your workstation like? Do you like to listen to any particular kinds of music while you work? If so, tell us about it!
I work in a recliner in my living room. I’ll usually put The Office on Netflix as background noise. Barring that, I might bump a little Mos Def or Chance the Rapper. Basically, any authentic hip-hop that’s got my ear at the time.
Favorite Homestuck character?
My blackest secret is that I never mustered the stamina to finish it. But I like the one with the horns. He honks, I think. Gamgam.
Favorite Homestuck ship?
It has ships? I didn’t realize it was science fiction. Maybe I’ll finish it.
Favorite Homestuck flash?
Are you trying to get me fired?
Do you have a personal message you’d like to relay to all the Homestuck and Hiveswap fans out there?
Probably just that I really hope you enjoy this game. I don’t really know if there is another project I’ve been prouder to be a part of. The amount of talent that’s been poured into this game is just obscene!
Where can people find more of your work? Link us to your own little corner(s) of the Internet!
You can find plenty of examples of my work and more – including my own comics – on my website!
I am Silver Tongue, I am an artist. I have many characters and you can check out my art in the art tag. I occasionally practice witchcraft though I don't do anything too complicated. I am girl 2 and don't know what else to put here.
