Taking ADD pills for Melee

[hamyojo]

As do a lot of kids, I have ADD. I sometimes have a tough time focusing and things like that, so I get a pill for it. I take Ritalin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate), and it helps me from day to day.
At my school (I'm in high school, by the way) we have a few Melee set ups, and I've gotten a few kids to start to play semi-competitively and outside of school.
For a while I was off my pill during school, and apparently I didn't play as well when I wasn't taking it. Of course there are a ton of variables, but it's very possible the pill can help me focus and maybe think faster.
So, suddenly, I think I should take Ritalin before going to my next tournament. Melee steroids.

Would that be cheating? Should I only practice when I'm off the pill? Thoughts?

 

[VietGeek]

you need it so take it. period.

quite a few of people casually take adderall (another drug for ADD) for tournaments too who DONT have it as a prescription, so...there you go.

 

[Jockmaster]

Nah, I don't see it as being different than showing up to a tournament high as a kite (which people do all the time).

Come to think of it, the two guys who won P:M and Melee at a local tournament here last weekend were both using Adderall.

 

[GhllieShdeKnife]

Take medication if you can not find alternate methods of coping with the consequences of not taking your medication. I am no doctor but accomodations are made for people with impairments to help them live life with access to better opportunities. If you have an impairment that affects attention I believe you are at a disadvantage without accomodations in tournaments. If you can concentrate better and achieve better results then you should. Doping in smash is kinda funny, most of the players abusing similar medication seem to place moderatly well and i believe some are at medium-high level play. Although all the people at the very top of high level do not abuse these medication i believe.
just my 2 cents

 

[Massive]

It can definitely make you a better player, especially if you were prescribed it because of attention issues.

Adderall and Ritalin are very widely abused in the competitive gaming world. I don't think there's any way to really crack down on it successfully without hurting people who have been legitimately prescribed it.

In related notes, there was an abnormally interesting thread in the melee backroom, (visible to all from the MBR archive, here) that discussed this very topic.

 

[Dan Salvato]

I think you're better or worse simply by the environment in which you're used to practicing. If you practice while taking the pill, then going off it will make you play worse. If you practice on no meds and start taking them, then I think you'll also play worse. You're used to a certain mode of thinking while playing Smash, and altering that will hurt your game.

 

[rjgbadger]

http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=126188

mbr archive has some interesting topics. granted it was 4 years ago, the idea doesn't change. to many people, taking adderal/ritalin can make a player just objectively better than sober, and is pretty difficult to enforce. for instance, mew2king at least used to be prescribed it, but that is arguably different than recreational use. in many cases i've seen people be prescribed add/adhd medication and in no way need the drug, and personally, i believe that add/adhd is one of the most common mis-diagnosed conditions due to hyperactivity in children, which is incredibly common in the first place.

 

[Lovage]

Adderall and Ritalin are very widely abused in the competitive gaming world..

not really its just dumb *** nerds that do that lol


@op: the reason you played worse was because you had a worse day. because you're a high schooler taking crack lite.

 

[TheCrimsonBlur]

Good post on Wobbles' blog about this subject

 

[bolt.]

I love that when I read wobbles' blog I read it using his voice. Too good!

 

[flaw]

I think you're better or worse simply by the environment in which you're used to practicing. If you practice while taking the pill, then going off it will make you play worse. If you practice on no meds and start taking them, then I think you'll also play worse. You're used to a certain mode of thinking while playing Smash, and altering that will hurt your game.

Agreed. I've tried lots of things to try to make me a better player in tourney, but even a bit of caffeine makes me worse. I play best recreating the conditions I'm used to when practicing. Uppers can help certain aspects of my game but others suffer (become too aggressive, too much tunnel-vision).

 

[Deadgye]

If you've been correctly prescribed ritalin for add/adhd then you shouldn't really be off it. Should be taking it at about the same times every day, not just for tests/binges/games.

 

[Zodiac]

I have add as well, pretty bad too. And when I'm on ritalin I don't exactly do better, buts its easier to get into my concentration zone where I play at the top of my game regardless of the pill.

 

[DerfMidWest]

Iif you're supposed to take it, definitely do so.
It'll help your preformance a lot.

 

[Strong Badam]

I'm prescribed a medical equivalent to Adderall. I don't notice a significant change in my play with or without it, but I always take it just out of habit (Sundays are really the only day I don't take it).

 

[Bones0]

Anyone who johns about their opponent's taking any sort of amphetamine, prescribed or not, should just stop being a little *****. I'm sure its effects on the actual match are exaggerated. If you wanna pop an Adderall before our set even though you have no attention disorders, be my guest.

 

[KUSH.]

have add and prescribed adderall, not gonna lie i feel like i play more on point with adderall but went to a tourney recently and didnt take it that day and played fine. however when im baked thats when i play the best, but only b/c im having more fun.

 

[Achilles1515]

^^ true that. I always feel connected with my character in a way I can't feel when I'm sober

 

[Bones0]

My theory with recreational drugs is that people don't actually play better, they just feel better about how they played. Sort of like that drunk guy that thinks he is impressing everyone with his juggling skills when in reality he is throwing a bunch of empty beer cans into the air. Just a theory. I'm sure there are some benefits in terms of helping someone calm down and deal with anxiety and stuff.

 

[Lovage]

nope that's pretty much it

 

[S l o X]

bones0 strawhats pops at least 5 pills before playing his tourney sets with you

hes quite the addict

 

[Zodiac]

Ok here's the thing, Ritalin/adderal don't actually enhance your conentration, it DOES make it easier to concentrate though.

For example if I am playing below my actual skill level I can just concentrate and fall into "the zone" where I can play my best. But if I'm on ritalin then its easier to do that, but regardless of whether or not I am on medication at the time I can play at the top of my game, it is just easier to get there while on ritalin.

 

[Jockmaster]

no I objectively play better (with Ganon) after smoking (every other character gets much worse/slower)

I just get a better feel for the character

 

[Bones0]

no I objectively play better (with Ganon) after smoking (every other character gets much worse/slower)

I just get a better feel for the character

Well have you kept track of your matches and compared those results against placebo drugs? lol

 

[Jockmaster]

I mean, I beat people I don't normally beat when using any other substance. Im obviously not going to go scientifically calculate this ****, but the effect it has on me normally causes me to play better with Ganon and much worse with everyone else (most other characters' tech skill requirements and movement starts to feel too fast.)

Also, doesn't placebo effect only really apply to scenarios where the drug doesn't really actually have much effect? Like, 5-hour Energy and what not? How can there be a placebo if the drug really does have a quite noticeable effect?

 

[Bones0]

A 5-hour energy can have a placebo effect. If you gave someone a 5HE and tell them they just took a drug that will make them calm and relaxed, they're probably going to feel calm and relaxed. Some people may not succumb to the effect and will feel the effects of the 5HE instead, but then they might overestimate how much the drug is energizing them. People have crazy effects from drugs and non-drugs all the time simply because they have a belief that's all in their head.

 

[Jockmaster]

The thing is, marijuana ACTUALLY does have a somewhat profound effect on brain processes. So much so that saying it's a placebo is silly; it's different with 5HE or even milder doses of ADD meds in that those things can be almost unnoticable, thus leaving room for the mind to convince itself of an effect aka placebo.

If you get someone totally hammered drunk, then they play smash and suck ***, then go and say they suck *** at drunk smash, you aren't going to be like "nuh uh placebo"..

 

[Bones0]

The thing is, marijuana ACTUALLY does have a somewhat profound effect on brain processes. So much so that saying it's a placebo is silly; it's different with 5HE or even milder doses of ADD meds in that those things can be almost unnoticable, thus leaving room for the mind to convince itself of an effect aka placebo.

If you get someone totally hammered drunk, then they play smash and suck ***, then go and say they suck *** at drunk smash, you aren't going to be like "nuh uh placebo"..

Well if they only had 1 or 2 drinks, not enough to get them drunk, and then they start acting drunk and uncoordinated, that would be the placebo effect. Studies have been done on all of this, it's not like I'm just making it up. I remember reading one where they gave a bunch of college guys non-alcoholic beers, and because they thought they were real, they were all acting drunk and belligerent after a few drinks. Also, that story about Leffen. lol

 

[Metameme]

I play much better on meth. real talk
1. You never get bored of playing
2. You actually think this game is fun
3. Your fingers move at hyper speed
4. Its not intoxicating so youre still sober

 

[Svetsunov]

Anyone else as hardcore as me with a bottle of water?

 

[Bones0]

Anyone else as hardcore as me with a bottle of water?

Right as I read this, a girl next to me in the library jugged the remaining half of her bottle of water. O_O

 

[Beat!]

You guys must be soulmates or something.

 

[Svetsunov]

You guys must be soulmates or something.

I can only date someone equally hardcore, ofc.

 

[Spife]

you guys are weak
I do bath salts, THEN I EAT MY OPPONENTS FACE!
I mean, they're both amphetamines so I don't see what the problem is.


But real talk, I actually have ADHD and have recently been not taking my aderall every day because I'm poor and don't like the idea of being on stimulants since I was like...8.
Huge difference off the meds. It takes a tremendous effort to do menial things (like using good/employing new strategies) for a prolonged amount of time and it is super easy to go "herp derp pushin' buttons". This extends itself beyond smash, and I find it's hard to stfu and relaaaaaaaax when I'm drained (i.e. no energy to hold everything back, which is interesting because when I get no sleep I can forgo the meds because I'm to tired to go nutso)

Although I believe in conditioning and figure I can over come this crap if I work at it.

But honestly, I think it's detrimental. I can't imagine getting good sleep while putting this cal in your body. Plus, the effects of amphetamines cause you to be impatient and anxious, which can't be good for competitive anything.

tl;dr come at me bro, I'll john my way through everything you got!

 

[ranmaru]

A 5-hour energy can have a placebo effect. If you gave someone a 5HE and tell them they just took a drug that will make them calm and relaxed, they're probably going to feel calm and relaxed. Some people may not succumb to the effect and will feel the effects of the 5HE instead, but then they might overestimate how much the drug is energizing them. People have crazy effects from drugs and non-drugs all the time simply because they have a belief that's all in their head.

Lol dude you gotta hear this story.

Ok so I am going to a harrisburg tourny (why the **** did we go there xD) and I guess i was hyped to the point that I didn't get enough sleep. So I HAVE to get up early to be able to get to Harrisburg, cuz it's so damn far.

Ok then, i'm sleepy, and the tournament is soon. What do I do? I buy a 5 hour energy so I can be able to play! Now let's see... it was a pretty small tourny.

I was playing this Captain Falcon, and I was about to lose a stock... and I was down to two or one stock. So I was entering desperation mode. (Keep in mind this is the last match)

I start to make a come back, and bring him down to one stock. I have him off the platform, and I FEEL it. I'm hyped. I'm soooo pumped-- I jump off the platform and airdodge to my death.

>>>>

I then feel like CRAP. I am so down. Not that much, but more than I ever have. I think it was the 5he.... Anyways...

======================

I have a question to people with ADD/ADHD. I was wondering, do any of you sometimes lose focus on some things of the match? Example:

Fox is hitting me, ow ow ow. If he gets enough hits on me, he'll get my percent up fast. BUT, then I realize that I AM high percent, and didn't REALIZE that since I wasn't really paying that much attention to the percent, and sometimes forget about it until I get upsmashed. I wonder if you guys have that problem.

Can't remember any other problems. Would like to hear what other problems you guys have and how you cope with them.

 

[C.SDK]

Lol dude you gotta hear this story.

Ok so I am going to a harrisburg tourny (why the **** did we go there xD) and I guess i was hyped to the point that I didn't get enough sleep. So I HAVE to get up early to be able to get to Harrisburg, cuz it's so damn far.

Ok then, i'm sleepy, and the tournament is soon. What do I do? I buy a 5 hour energy so I can be able to play! Now let's see... it was a pretty small tourny.

I was playing this Captain Falcon, and I was about to lose a stock... and I was down to two or one stock. So I was entering desperation mode. (Keep in mind this is the last match)

I start to make a come back, and bring him down to one stock. I have him off the platform, and I FEEL it. I'm hyped. I'm soooo pumped-- I jump off the platform and airdodge to my death.

>>>>

I then feel like CRAP. I am so down. Not that much, but more than I ever have. I think it was the 5he.... Anyways...

======================

I have a question to people with ADD/ADHD. I was wondering, do any of you sometimes lose focus on some things of the match? Example:

Fox is hitting me, ow ow ow. If he gets enough hits on me, he'll get my percent up fast. BUT, then I realize that I AM high percent, and didn't REALIZE that since I wasn't really paying that much attention to the percent, and sometimes forget about it until I get upsmashed. I wonder if you guys have that problem.

Can't remember any other problems. Would like to hear what other problems you guys have and how you cope with them.

Yo, I hear you on not being able to sleep the night before the tournament. I always get too excited. That, and I also don't have the best sleeping habit

 

[ranmaru]

Yeah haha, it shows. Look at what time we are up at xD (it's 10 to 6)

I try to remedy the 'too excited' mode with just sleeping in a little bit more. That way I won't be at the tourny all excited while I wait for people to get there. (This is usually for tournies near me, not the case with out of state tournies/out of city)

 

[Jim Morrison]

Go to more tournaments if you're too excited to sleep. If this is tournaments like Apex, it won't work though, since that's huge.

 

[Punzz]

it works for some people because it makes them focus more but it wont necessarily make you better just mayb help you do the best of your capacity