CAUTION: This Nice Maker contains lasers.
Protective eyewear is recommended but not required.
“The currency you spend in your life is your voice. Spend it as often as possible.” - Kevin Smith.
Howdy, Nice Maker.
I want to kick this off by thanking Andrea, Karen, JP, and the rest of the awesome teams at Google for hiring me to deliver one of my Nice Method communication workshops last week in Toronto. If you’re interested in working with me for a workshop or presentation for your next company event or conference, please hit reply, and I will send you details.
When I was a teenager, I struggled with cigarette addiction; I was hooked on smokes. Quitting seemed impossible, and despite countless attempts, I couldn't stop. Looking back, I now realize that my undiagnosed ADHD played a big part in this challenge.
Enter my friend Mark's mom. She had successfully quit smoking using laser therapy, a method that promised to help people quit. Encouraged by her success, I decided to give it a try. I paid a hefty sum—around $100—for the treatment, convinced it would work for me too. The experience was surreal: I walked into an office resembling a dentist's, complete with a reclining chair after a series of cotton ball preparations where a nurse-like person dipped the balls into a liquid and pressed them into my pressure points on my wrists, hands, head, and neck, a doctor-type person wearing a lab coat appeared with a laser that looked like a simple pen light. I was nervous but excited, believing this was my ticket to a smoke-free life.
After a quick session, I was declared a "non-smoker." Elated, I felt transformed, even disgusted by the sight of cigarette butts littering the street as I left. But within days, the cravings returned. Despite my initial resistance, I found myself smoking again, and to my disappointment, I discovered that Mark's mom had also resumed smoking.
Can lasers help ADHD?
This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the dangers of pseudoscience. Recently, I came across a video by Dr. Russell Barkley, a renowned ADHD expert, warning about the rise of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as a supposed treatment for ADHD. Just like my experience with smoking, there's little scientific evidence to support LLLT's effectiveness. According to Dr. Barkley, research on the therapy is sparse, with one study involving only eight participants and no rigorous controls. Yet, despite the lack of evidence, some people are buying into this costly treatment.
Dr. Barkley's warning resonated with me. Just as I wasted time and money on laser therapy to quit smoking, people are now doing the same for ADHD treatment, risking their health in the process. It's a reminder to always approach new treatments with skepticism and ensure they are backed by solid scientific research before jumping in.
In a world full of snake oil solutions, doing your due diligence is crucial. Don't let pseudoscience cost you time, money, and your well-being. I encourage you to check out this article and Dr. Barkley's timely video for more on this. The happy ending to the story is that I successfully quit smoking over twenty-five years ago, but it wasn’t thanks to lasers.
NICE SONG
NICE NEWS
If you missed the news, October is ADHD Awareness Month, and to celebrate this, the great people at News Channel 5 in Nashville featured yours truly and Wise Squirrels in this special featured segment.
THIS SHALL PASS...
If you ever feel blue, contact me or someone close to you. Understand that as crappy as life can get, it does get better. If you get very dark and are considering suicide, visit 988lifeline.org or call 988. Or Google for support where you are.
Thank you for being here.
Be nice.
Dave.
PS. If you’re getting ready to sponsor a conference, you’ve got to give this a try.