I am definitely an ADHD person who went hard on my hobbies (music/art/sports) BECAUSE they worked w how my brain functioned. FGs feel addictive & gratifying for me bc pulling off long combos clears my brain of the usual overwhelming noise the same way playing the piano does. 1/3 https://twitter.com/pattheflip/status/1285269159840935936

Memory is my biggest hurdle, so having a Google notes file I can access from anywhere has been crucial. I've separated it into daily shit I need to maintain & practice, things I'm currently working on, matchup notes, + combo notations. I have it open every time I play. 2/3

If "out of sight, out of mind forever" sounds like your type of ADHD, I cannot rec enough having an obnoxious post-it reminder to look at & add to your notes before/during/after u play in the most conspicuous place possible (eg your monitor, or rename the game shortcut icon). 3/3

As an aside, music has a deep connection to brain function & therapy, & learning an instrument can help provide structure for ADHD minds when everything else feels overwhelming & exhausting. Playing piano when I'm having a bad brain day helps me reset & refocus like nothing else.

Learning combos gives me the same kind of satisfaction and structure bc a lot of it is understanding the rhythm of button presses. Adjusting my approach to this one part of learning fgs has helped immensely - and in focusing on combo practice, I've unlocked knowledge elsewhere!

Learning my first Jam PK combo taught me CH fS > iad ppp, and that rhythm is now burned into my mind and I can feel it during matches - which in turn made me realize how to play my neutral better, proper distancing, etc. Everything bloomed from there.

I feel like some of the things I've seen in response to the ADHD+fgs topic is that ppl are going into the lab with only the most nebulous of goals, and so ofc that's gonna feel bad and unproductive. Have notes, pick 1-2 things to practice for 1 hour, then *take a break*.

Once more because I can't stress it enough: GO INTO PRACTICE WITH A CLEAR, SPECIFIC GOAL. You don't have to meet it, but having direction beyond "practice neutral" or "lab this matchup" is necessary for a productive session. Choose 1 combo to drill. Pick MU specific tech to lab.

I've gotten as far as I have in only 9 months of playing my first fighting game for a few reasons, but mainly because I've had extremely focused practice sessions, and that's an approach I apply to both labbing and netplay.