🧠Leveling Up with ADHD: How RPGs, Side Quests, and 3D Printing Became My Toolkit
Hey everyone, it’s Mr_Banani again—
This time, I’m sharing a post that’s a little more personal. I’ve talked about games like Donkey Kong Country 2 and how I met AniBanani at GameStop. But today, I want to talk about something that shapes the way I experience life, parenthood, and hobbies: ADHD.
🎮 The 90s Diagnosis (and Rediscovery)
I was first diagnosed as a kid, back in the 90s—an era when ADHD was often treated with nothing more than Ritalin and a shrug. There were no skills being taught, no symptom management. Just expectations.
And for me, those expectations were simple: get good grades and stay out of trouble. So I did. But it didn’t mean I wasn’t struggling.
It wasn’t until I was 26 that my doctor—after a few years of seeing my “quirks”—brought it up again. She noticed the self-developed coping mechanisms and gently nudged me toward re-evaluation. That was the start of everything making a lot more sense.
âś… Side Quests, Soundtracks, and Small Wins
If you’ve read any of my posts before, you know I love RPGs. What I didn’t realize for a long time is that RPGs trained me to manage my ADHD.
Big projects feel impossible. But break them into “quests”? Totally doable.
Need to clean the garage? Nope. Instead, I’ll “empty the mystery box in the corner.” Small wins give the dopamine hit. Throw on some upbeat instrumental jazz, EDM, or game/movie soundtracks, and I’m in the zone. It’s like battle music for real life.
đź’ľ Overleveling IRL
In an RPG, if I don’t feel ready for the next boss, I go grind some EXP.
Same in life.
When I start a new hobby or project—whether it’s learning GoLang or tinkering with 3D printers—I go full immersion. I live in the lore. I watch hundred of YouTube videos and join the Reddit communities. I deep-dive like it’s a research quest. Hyperfocus can be a blessing and a curse, but when channeled right, I level up fast.
❤️ AniBanani: Healer, DPS, and Alarm Clock
Ani and I both have ADHD, but in very different ways. Sometimes we clash, but more often we help each other see what the other can’t. She makes sure I don’t sleep in (literally) and that I don’t fall too deep into the hyperfocus pit.
Let’s just say if she wasn’t in my party, I’d probably still be asleep under a mountain of half-finished projects.
🔥 Final Thoughts
Living with ADHD feels like having 47 blinking quest markers and no clear main objective. But with the right party, music, and mindset, you can make progress—and have fun doing it.
One quote that’s stuck with me lately comes from Persona 5 Royal:
“No matter how many times I fall, I’ll get up stronger every time.”
That’s what this journey is about. Not perfect days—just consistent progress and remembering that it’s okay to reset and try again.
Until next time, may your guestlines give you dopamine and your 3D prints stick to the plate.
– Mr_Banani