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Brain in Hand follow-up post

NAS71657

I have recently been given the Brain in Hand app. as part of my DSA package. The app can store one's solutions to dealing with common issues, links to diaries, necessary phone calls etc, add reminders to a mobile home screen and enable contact with supporters. The big drawback for me is that I forget to look at my phone, or ignore any reminders unless they are aural. Also, the emergency support line at Brain in Hand can only talk the person through solutions to problems. I have not found any solution to my biggest problems and I have no family or support network that I can contact. Student services at college have minimal non-customised resources and multiple demands on their time. It can take weeks for them to get back to me.  Does anyone have any suggestions for what I might do to 

  • in reply to NAS71657

    The other thing that works for me, if I'm REALLY up against it, is sleep deprivation.  After about 30 hours without sleep, I do seem to have the requisite "calmness" to have about 7 hours of very productive "downloading" from my brain.

    I don't recommend this pathway because sleep deprivation is BAD for one's health.....AND....I effectively loose the next 24 hours from being productive and safe due to heavy sleep and brain fog.

    Sometimes.....despite everything, I simply have to wait until my brain is ready.....there is no simple hack that I've found.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    I know what you mean about the post-exercise exhaustion. I was recently hospitalised for a very fast heart-rate (genetic disorder) and only when they upped my meds did my body and brain relax. I spent the whole night 'writing' my essay. Now that I at home, I am back at square one-with an even poorer working memory and increased stress. I do try to go for a walk every day but I take the uncompleted essay with me in my head and do not enjoy the walk. I feel guilty when I come back.

  • in reply to NAS71657
    NAS71657 said:
    i just repeat this ad infinitum). I become very frustrated and anxious at being unable to articulate my thoughts and organise them efficiently to complete college writing assignments.

    This is one of my challenges too.  I find music VERY helpful......and I find exercise VERY helpful too.  Trying to impose artificial "timer" deadlines on my brain are doomed to failure.

    Music with a repetitive beat, and known form/structure, that are long and continuous (Lofi girl type streaming) seem to help me retain focus.....post-exercise exhaustion seems to help me attain focus in the first place.

    It isn't a sure-fire way of making progress with my work, but it certainly seems the most helpful pairing of strategies for me.

    Good luck.

  • in reply to NAS71657

    In terms of aural reminders I was actually thinking of doing it through your phone. Like a notification sound, but set the sound to a recording of 'you need to do this'

    I agree overfocus can be an issue. It's one I struggle with too, I'll get back to you if I figure that one out. One hard stop I've done in the past is to put chargers in another room, that way if the worst comes to the worst my laptop just runs out of charge. Another alert trick is to set an alarm but put it away from you, eg at the other side of the room, anything that physically makes you get up and move to fix it. One time I put it on top of my cupboard so I had to get a chair to get it down. 

    For the writing assignments, does your DSA also give you a study skills advisor? If so, this is what they are designed for, to help you organise and articulate your thoughts, and find skills to help you do so.

    I hope some of those were helpful, if you have more questions please let me know

  • in reply to Fibonacci Squid

    I overfocus on a task and do not recognise the need to take a break (though I set a focus timer for 45 minutes on my laptop, i just repeat this ad infinitum). I become very frustrated and anxious at being unable to articulate my thoughts and organise them efficiently to complete college writing assignments. I cannot pull myself away from trying either. Brain in Hand support says they have no way of setting aural reminders.

  • In terms of needing an aural reminder, it's probably not impossible to set an audio alert for brain in hand that is something like 'you have an appointment'

    For the problem solving we can't help unless we know what kind of problems they are?