I'm reading Dr. Amen's book "Healing ADD" and in one chapter he talked about the "games" ADDers play. It was largely about the need for mental stimulation leading ADDers to start arguments just to be able to focus. I identify with that idea and can see that I do need mental stimulation or I can start feeling kind of depressed or irritable.

So I was wondering what everyone has come up with as far as a healthy form of mental stimulation? I'm trying to think of something I can take with me pretty much wherever I go and is mentally challenging but won't frustrate me. I used to have a chess game on my PDA that really seemed to help me focus after I'd play it for a while. But I'm thinking that maybe I need some kind of game I can play in my head or something for those moments when I'm feeling really bored.

Anyone have any ideas?

Playing music. Not on a CD, but playing a song on an instrument.

I have some hobbies too, but I tend to lose interest in them after a while which is probably why I have so many hobbies.

There are quite a few games I play....and usually in the car, but they do require that someone else is there. Most of them are silly, little games that just keep you thinking and conversation going.

One is the 7 Steps of Kevin Bacon. (I think that's what its called) Basically one person picks 2 people in movies....Say....Anthony Hopkins and Arnold Schwartinager (I know I probably spelled his name wrong). So now it is your job to find a way to relate them....Such as Anthony Hopkins was in Red Dragon with Edward Norton, who was in such and such with so and so, until you link him with Arnold. The object is to do it in 7 steps or less.

Another one involves the Alphabet....Starting with A - you think of a song, movie, any catagory you choose and the next person does B, the next C and so on and so forth.

Another thing I just thought of....if you are always alone you may want to carry a small notebook or some sort of pad to write on. I usually do this, because my mind gets to cluttered, and it helps sort things out. I may write about the silly lady in the purple dress I saw in the mall, or the fact that I just remembered to return videotapes to Blockbuster.

Something else that might sound childish/silly....I-Spy. I think this game is great because I naturally look all over the place, and looking for something is a good way to focus....even if you are looking for "something red". :)

I know there are more I just can't think of them right now. I will post when I do remember. Hope these help!

-Anty

I often play those quick little Shockwave games on the net. You know, the ones that move quickly and require strategy decisions fast. There is no time for plans of attack or strategic manuevers. It is wham- bam- They tend to cause me to quickly hyperfocus. I play them for just a few minutes then jump to what I am supposed to be working on. I am able to pass the hyperfocus to the appropriate project and get it done. When I finish, I go back to the game and play a few rounds to "unfocus" from the project. My wife can't understand it but I find it relaxing and lets my brain disconnect. (Example of games at: http://games.yahoo.com/ and look at the arcade games specifically)

Another good one is www.pogo.com

-Anty

I find that I need to be absorbing some kind of information at all times. That is one reason that I spend so much time online. When something pops into my head I can look it up instantly. I also like books on tape because they let me multitask. I don't always get everything from the tapes but it kills some of the background noise.

I also play games at Skill Jam. That takes enough focus that I can start to block everything else.

The way I see it is I am not physically hyperactive but I am mentally hyperactive.

I carry a small notepaper and a pen in my pocketbook,I doodle.

If I know I'll be having to sit quietly I bring magazines with me !!!

Yeah, Im really bad about starting arguments. Its good natured though, but it gets the other person all riled up. I like to be "devils advocate" and question peoples theories or stories. Then people get all mad and think Im trying to argue with them.

If Im going to be waiting somewhere, I usually buy a magazine or read a book. If Im at home bored, I usually start to knit something, or try a new recipe, or I recently started getting back into jigsaw puzzles. Also maybe learn a new song on my guitar. If all else fails, TV!

I do not start arguments, or at least I think I try not to. I am so sensitive, I hate discord, partly because I feel this need to try to fix it. So I try not to be a part of it so I feel less responsible and therfore not misunderstood.

My favorite stimulation is studying other people. My next favorite is dealing with them efficiently, sounds weird yah? Getting their best out of them in any situation. Or helping them to learn the most from our or any interaction/experience. And of course all the while I do that with myself. It is a real kick. I guess a lot of people do that without giving it much thought? I don't know.

My other mental stimulation is word games, making up stories, spontaneous out of nowhere stuff. Free association that is entertaining.
A while back I had a scrabble C.D rom. What a blast! I could play against the computer, really a great C.D, very informative. I misplaced it, now I found it but my C.D rom player is possessed.

My son and I have been making up board games, lately that is really fun to us. We have played one of them nearly evrynight for two weeks. (tired of it)Time for a new one.

The Stormy Ocean is the truest of stimulations
I feel my complete best when I am completely intellectually immersed or physically immersed. I realise that is why I often have a hard time being at the beach with small surf. So I have to make bizarre gravity defying sand castles, then no-waves days are fun too.

I also figured out that when I am surfing/swimming in the ocean with a lot of current and/or surf, I am not experiencing all my usual distractions. I am totally focused. Maybe hyperfocused? I got a "I love the ocean song" in my brain. The only person I will tune into to is my son. People who talk to me are little irritations, like flies. As the ocean absorbs my entire consciousness.


I love playing a types of music, but find the most intellectually stimulating therfore deeply gratifying once I get into it to be classical. Jazz comes next. But I am not a music snob, I like to fiddle too.

I don't do T.V or video games. Sucks my energy, I do enjoy them but pay a price, and feel anxious.
I like to read stuff about the brain/consciousness even though I don't retain facts very easily, just bottomline ideas feelings.

Just felt like rambling, thanks if you read my ramble, and sorry if you wish you didn't!! :D

I likes to play online Solitare or Free Cell, Deuces Wild....Mom and I play 500 Rummy on her days off or I play regular solitare offline. Anything that challenges the mind and makes you think..

Crossword Puzzles good one too:D

Game for mental stimulation Or may be game for mental feeding as i am not able to stand more than a few days without gaming ?

What gaming ? well mostly wargaming and role playing one. I fact in the games i looking for some sort of simulation where i can retreat for the real world.

Why ? Mainly because modern world doesn't provide me the kind of stimulation i need ? Our world are materialistic, is dominated by marketing and marchandising ( don't get me wrong i happy to livein a capitalistic country but too much business kills businness ! See Andersen and Enron )

I dream of a world where you can build your piece of work without being oblige of taking into account the politics of administration, the implicit behaviour of your social class and where there is no television to inflict upon me, day after day, the brute strength of the madness of our (in )human nature

the conflicts and the battles in these games don't really disturb me as they are not reallistic. It s a kind of "bande dessinée", like a comics.

I do a variety of things for mental stimulation, but for the most part, I have to say that I surf the internet for things I need/want to know for it.

Well, I'm on the net constantly (gotta love that for a timesuck), I play games on my cell phone when bored, and I always have to be listening to NPR or have the tv on the background. If I'm just sitting and watching tv I have to doodle, make lists, etc.--anything to focus on a pen and paper. For example, I'll write out menus for a month worth of dinners, draw genealogy charts, or do long math problems on a notebook while I'm watching tv. I will also read magazines, play solitaire or knit while watching tv. So basically I always have to have something to be doing in addition to whatever it is I'm doing.

Yeah, I just started playing guitar & singing, it's great.