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Posted 3/17/2021 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone!!

I recently got a promotion in the company I work for. I've moved for managing software and basically working on break/fix issues and software integrations to being a project manager for our web development.

I really love the new opportunity, but I'm taking on a huge project backlog and trying to soak in all of this new information. Plus, I've got to understand every piece that our developers are working on so I can speak to the executives about progress and hurdles.

I feel like when I have meetings, I have trouble taking in all the new information.. not sure if it's because my mind wonders, but it seems like it's hard for me to stay focused which I think is most of what this is attributed to.

Has anyone had success with dealing with situations like this? Learning techniques or nootropics, or mushrooms like lions mane?
Posted 3/17/2021 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, Nic!! I have no reliable suggestions, but I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on your promotion!!!👏🎉🎉🎉
Posted 3/17/2021 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I've definitely been there with the difficulty focusing and processing/integrating new information for work.

My most helpful method for coping is trying to learn/stay on top of my daily "pattern" of ups and downs in attentiveness, brain fog, etc. which are usually linked to to time of the day, time after meals, and/or time after herbs/supplements. Then I try to schedule as many meetings/things that require learning new material during "good" times, or when I don't have a say in the timing, rearrange meals and/or supplements to increase the likelihood a meeting will fall at a "good" time.

I did try some Nootropics but nothing that could really be sustained. Rhodiola gave me perfect attention and focus but also terrible insomnia, even 24-36 hours after a tiny dose. Black cumin seed oil provided a nice window of energy/focus/enhanced mood followed by what was probably a herx-like reaction or cytokine storm, so the net plus/minus wasn't quite there. Maybe you'd have better luck, though.
Posted 3/18/2021 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
I have tried Modafinil, Dexedrine, Piracetam, Phenylpiracetam, Adderall, and those are all I recall.

Piracetam doesn’t do much but the rest all hit pretty good unless u are herxing. I have not found any stimulant or the like that will overpower a herxheimer. I can take extra days off my abx and not be wiped out but I am still brain dead if I take too much medication when I am restarting...regardless of what else I take. It will not replace sleep either...none of them except maybe Phenylpiracetam but it makes u jittery a bit like a Meth head.

Try Modafinil for pure focus and alertness but not being “hyper” in my opinion.
Posted 3/18/2021 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
"Nootropics" is a newer term. If you post just said "herbs/supps" you might get more responses.

That said, these supplements, amino acids and herb work a little different on different people all depending on their current bio-chemical makeup. Gaba, choline, cortisol all influence each other and most supps your seeking are going to work on these three in some way. There are supp mixtures (again, not individual) today marketed toward thinking / cognitive health that would be worth looking into. Its usually a combo of these working together to get results. Calming while attentive but not stimulating it tricky to achieve, and one magic ingredient is usually not going to cut it.

I would drink small amounts of redbull before meetings. It brought calm focus (used in small amounts) as opposed to crazy energy like other energy drinks that have much more caffeine, But thats me. Others might go bonkers or get no effect.

RB has no more caffeine than coffee and comes in sugar free. Its the tuarine and B vit combos that do the work, not the sugar or caffine as some assume. Tuarine in pill form has minimal affect though.

Post Edited (astroman) : 3/18/2021 9:18:30 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/18/2021 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
possibly try some of the adaptogenic herbs

as Astroman says - they tend to do different things for different people
Eleuthero is about the best for me - overall energy and focuses increased improves the ability to deal with stress - the Russians tested it on typeface setters and proof readers and found a much lower error rate when they stressed the subjects with noisy environments etc
i used to take extra when i needed to drive more than 20mins - as driving was one of the things that used to trigger my PEM more than pretty much anything else )

ashwagandha works for some - it's more calming / less jittery than most

also perhaps Gingko - for CNS circulation and alertness - again some swear by it

l-theanine is good for calming - and can help offset the effects of more stimulating herbs - or caffiene
Posted 3/18/2021 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have a similar problem. For me, I feel I've had to train my brain not to space out. For a while, my brain would always space out when I was driving.
Now that is better, but I notice when I encounter certain problems, my brain shuts off. At my job, they stress doing professional development, but it always overwhelms me when I look at the list of possible programs, so I haven't done anything.
Posted 3/18/2021 10:06 PM (GMT 0)

Notime4lyme said...
I have a similar problem. For me, I feel I've had to train my brain not to space out. For a while, my brain would always space out when I was driving.
Now that is better, but I notice when I encounter certain problems, my brain shuts off. At my job, they stress doing professional development, but it always overwhelms me when I look at the list of possible programs, so I haven't done anything.

I can relate. All those inner company "programs" bigger corporations have really are a lot of hot air and waste of time for the employees and the company. Not to mention the brain washing "culture" that some have the ba//s to push on employees. When I was young I just went with the flow till I had enough. I later went with a smaller place that has no time to deal with that BS and its a lot better work environment. They communicate directly, no "corporate talk" bs to translate ect.
Posted 3/18/2021 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Use a 23andme type service and see if Modafinil is counter indicated for your genetics. I've tried Modafinil and it wipes me out for days. Later I learned Modafinil and me just weren't meant to get along. So I stick to sleep, coffee, dark chocolate and exercise.

Mucuna Pruriens is dopamine precursor that might help.
Posted 3/19/2021 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
FYI I read about the ingredients of different energy drinks a few years ago quite a few consist of Very high sugar and very high caffeine.

This is where Red Bull is different. It actually has less caffeine per ounce than coffee , it comes in sugar-free has the amino acid Taurine in it and B vitamins that’s it. In moderation it does nothing really harmful to you.

Consuming them every day for days in a row would not be good because it has lots of vitamins same goes with that five hour energy drink which some people drink those every day, not good

Personally I stoped because I don’t need it anymore and I also do not process hardly any B6, It pools in my blood.

When young people go wacko on it , it’s from slaming several of them in a row or mixing them up with alcohol .

Funny thing is any ER in the country has all kinds of stories about people overdosing on caffeine - drinking too much coffee can kill you. : o
Posted 3/19/2021 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, Nic:

See https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4241837

Also, congratulations on your promotion!

Take care,
Dude
Posted 3/19/2021 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Then compare that to the five dollar (6-7?) chemical , Caffeine and calorie loaded latte at Starbucks that some Americans splurge on several times a week or more. In that case the Red Bull is prob safer of the two evils (joking here, but still).....

What’s really funny is when you see someone slurping on one of those as they’re walking into the gym and then light up a cigarette when they’re walking out of the gym ....yes it happens.

Out of all the chemicals from the food that we intake not knowing, I personally don’t think a little bit of aspartame now and then is going to suddenly kill us. Daily? Obviously not good then. Most of us aren’t going to go skateboarding down the freeway either.

I would guess the wide use of daily overdosing on natural sugar is responsible for more long term health issues. That whole movement towards natural sugar a couple years ago certainly wasn’t a good one.

Besides honey on bland warm cereal, I don’t add artificial or natural sugar to anything , don’t have any in my home and don’t understand why anyone would.[code]

Post Edited (astroman) : 3/19/2021 8:01:56 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/16/2021 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Bump for Nic...

Brain Support (Nootropic) Supplement Experience and Personal Recommendation
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4241837
Posted 4/16/2021 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much everyone!! I might check that Brain Support supplement 1000Daisies! Is it still working well for your son?
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