Healthy dopamine reddit adhd Yes!! For years when I was in the pit of my "depression" I would spend hours masturbating over and over again just to bring some dopamine to my sad life. I’m hoping you all may have some suggestions for your daily go-to ~healthy~ dopamine sources (bonus points for healthy things to look forward at the end of the day!). So I’m wondering what are some instant (but healthy) sources of dopamine that you use? Think colouring, dark chocolate, self care/spa things, aromatherapy etc. She specifically talks about taking longer breaks from TV, Facebook, sugar, etc because they're cheap dopamine and how your brain can reset after taking longer breaks. Thats the reason to give those kinds of medication, to raise the dopamine level to a somewhat normal and healthy dopamine level. It’s normal to chase the rush of dopamine from new relationships…but I’m not certain it’s rooted in having adhd. Low dopamine can lead to depression since dopamine is your pleasure/happy hormone. This is why people with normal dopamine levels should not use stimulants that effect dopamine levels. I ended up getting my ADHD results and they suspect most of my inattention is caused by depression and smoking weed, and said that it is unlikely I actually have ADHD. An addict will get hit with a tactical nuke of dopamine upon the slightest whiff of their substance/experience of abuse, yet even when they consume that substance/experience, they may not experience pleasure. Nov 7, 2024 · Research has found a link between low dopamine levels and ADHD. Share your stories, struggles, and non-medication strategies. I take Dexedrine and sometimes I just want a day You pose a great question. I tried it and it seems to work! It's bad I feel like I'm always overeating. When you have ADHD, your brain doesn't keep enough dopamine floating in that particular pathway, which means you don't feel satisfaction when doing things that would normally be rewarding. I scroll nonstop on my phone. g. But, I'm not slender in the slightest, and could definitely be accused of "chasing the dopamine" through almost constant grazing. I have played a lot of videogames in my life, currently must have like over 4000 games on Digital shops. Essentially, dopamine detoxes use the same mechanism as addiction, but flips it on its head. This does not lead to psychosis, since dopamine does not cross the BBB. Yes. Other than that I don’t know. It fills a gap. Ritalin only affects tonic firing. I will consume my adderall only 15mins before walking into the gym. Adhd have very high phasic firing and low tonic firing. Trouble is, once I consume the bagel or chat with a friend or buy the Amazon thingie, I’m back to square one. But had to go to a Psychiatrist when I was 26 to find out on my own (3 Years ago) I kinda feel like I been living my life on autopilot and I feel like I’m already knee deep in all these addictions and it’s too late to crawl out and now that I know these things about myself and have been doing all this deep thinking I don’t I don’t have many healthy dopamine options - my healthier ones are gardening, watching tv and playing games on my phone. We intend this comment solely to be informative. ADHD is believed to be caused by an inbalace of two neurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine. I have binge eating disorder and I am almost positive it stems from my ADHD. Part of the ADHD profile is low and fluctuating dopamine production. Psychostimulants such as amphetamine work by blocking the reuptake of both of these neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine). So i am wondering if any of you have any healthy sources for dopamine? Hi, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Aspbergers when I was a child. I'm looking for ideas on how to get dopamine speedily but without too much expense/health impact. " Music during walks and runs help. I set aside time at work to work on problems which may yield "interesting" results. It is difficult to get where the rewarding neurochemicals are released, but once you do, health and happiness follow. Dopamine is not a pleasure chemical though. That means you will stock the outlet, the cannon if you like with even more dopamine. There is no such thing as dopamine Detox. Methylephebidate-based ADHD meds, like Ritalin and Concerta work by blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake. accomplishing something is a great dopamine boost (and boosts testosterone for men, too). Such as gaming, sex/masturbation, eating good food (mostly healthy, but tasty), using my phone (unfortunately tiktok/short form content), alcohol/green (neither of these as much lately due to anxiety). However I was wondering to what extent serotonin plays in the condition, given its varied complex role and wide distribution I would of guessed it had some role As an example, dopamine is used in emergency situations IV because it has beneficial effects for the circulatory system. Amphetamine-based ADHD meds (Adderall, Vyvanse, dexedrine) work by increasing the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine. K’s new course (ADHD & doing stuff) and I found the video about dopamine detoxing. And the question is, will any more dopamine be emitted is the warehouse if over-full. That's absolutely not how neurotransmitters work. I went to a behavioral health services place but they would not diagnose me because I was "too smart for ADHD and had a master's degree. Hi u/IAmA_Wolf and thanks for posting on r/ADHD! Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already. Therefore, changing/reducing the release of dopamine won't meaningfully change the effectiveness of the receptors, and is liable to aggravate symptoms of low dopamine. Top reasons for my ADHD brain being stuck on social media: Dopamine-seeking (solution: shop from my “healthy dopamine list” for something that catches my attention and hyperfocus on that instead of my phone) Burrowing to avoid difficult emotions (solution: find a safe place/person to express and process the emotions) I’m like this too. I’ve realized that it’s not really the sugar itself I’m craving, but a quick dopamine hit to bring some stress relief and curb my anxiety even for a moment. Then when I'm not on meds, but I'm ravenous. So naturally, I bought Dr. Doing a "fast", for which there is no scientific support, serves no purpose if your adhd isnt treated properly. The avalanche of dopamine can actually be incredibly uncomfortable. How to ADHD on YouTube has a video on creating a Dopamine Menu of healthy brain choices for when you're starving for it. So make a list of small and large things you can accomplish, do an item, check if off the list, and bask in the dopamine high. That lack of satisfaction is stored, marking the memory as unimportant. If dopamine was a pleasure chemical, this would not happen. (😐just being hilarious) Health misinformation is mine, too. Hi friends! I’m an autistic 30 year old with adhd. Any kind of novelty is going to be more likely to get your dopamine up, so if working out isn't working for you, try doing a different workout! Yoga requires a lot of concentration, which can help us improve our stamina and focus, and there's so many yoga videos on YouTube. Thank you! so idk, maybe theres a little truth in it, i do think that there are bad habits and things we over indulge in that we should work on, like i love sugar, easy short term dopamine, but almost every article on how to improve your brain and adhd symptoms say cut out processed foods. I’ve found because maintaining any kind of social interaction really difficult and anxiety provoking for me (fear of the unknown…mostly intense fear of rejection and being rejected by unfamiliar people) that I always Not a solution but video games are a really good way to have a replacement for buying things. So many non-ADHD individuals will experience of defecit of dopamine at some point or another, that isn't ADHD and (hopefully) their body can get back to normal function. Currently taking 10mg lexapro, was taking 10mg Adderall but now my doc wants me to try 20mg of Lexapro only. Hello! I tend to get stressed and anxious at work and find myself craving sugar, especially in the afternoon. It's hard to break away from the junk food dopamine from apps and games, and we can't go without completely, but if we make active choices and maybe you are correct that one of the genetic conditions of adhd is lack of dopamine. Jun 8, 2024 · Unlock a secret to managing ADHD with a "dopamenu" - a creative way to boost dopamine levels and transform your daily routine for better focus, motivation, and joy. What I REALLY enjoy is the combination of soft boiled eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes, and spring onions. - Overtime of chronic use it will activate the Striatum which decreases dopamine. e. I constantly want to search and know something as soon as it pops into my mmind. Creatine has been studied and found to increase dopamine levels and therefore effectively reduced depression symptoms. Aside from meds, it helps me to create “healthy” dopamine-generating moments intentionally and schedule them ahead of time. . Engage with friends. If you are posting about the US Medication Shortage, please see this post. Most ADHD meds, or coffee in your case, cause the synthesis of dopamine, along with serotonin and norepinephrine. Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 18 votes and 5 comments The causes of most mental health problems are poorly understood and the involvement of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin is inferred only by indirect evidence. This can give them undesirable side effects. Thank you! A moderator has not removed your submission; this is not a punitive action. Satisfaction. When looking at most information about ADHD, its treatments and causes the main neurotransmitters discussed and involved are dopamine and norepinephrine and I understand why of course. Adhd makes you produce less dopamine and dopamine detox can lead to depression-like symptoms and make executive function even worse! So be super careful. Stimulant medications work to correct this deficiency. Feb 3, 2025 · A dopamine menu lists an assortment of pleasurable, healthy activities — from appetizers like yoga poses to main courses like a HIIT class to sides like white noise — from which ADHD brains can choose when they need stimulation. I cut out video games during school semester for example because i get addicted, but i try not to be too strict otherwise with for example switching tasks etc. This resulted into things like videogames. Dopamine [reward] will have you always going for it. It's a really good investment I have so many games I couldn't possibly finish them all, 8 years of being on steam ive spent about 2000$ and have about 200 games and about 2000$ for building my PC a really good investment if you have the money and some free time. That’s why I’ve sworn off dopamine entirely until I’m 80 years old, at which point I will break my dopamine fast and start injecting meth and heroin for the remainder of my days. The meds people are given for ADHD do release norepinephrine, there are 2 main ADHD drugs/drug classes amphetamines and methylphenidate. And I get it. I always thought I was an introvert because I hate crowds and navigating new social situations, then I thought I was an extrovert but autistic, because I hate crowds but love having rowdy infodump conversations with other ADHD/autistic folks, and now I'm thinking maybe I AM an introvert, I just also rely on dopamine from (safe, comfortable When I see my adhd kid eat a skittle I feel so guilty cause I know it’s just gonna flare him up. You can leverage your ADHD and do the opposite of what you do for building healthy habits: raise the barrier of entry, remove it from your sight. The mobile apps are broken and are missing features that this subreddit depends on. It's a NDRI, a noreponephrine-dopamine-reuptske-inhibitor. healthy choices will probably improve your life, do i think you I've seen lots of stuff about ADHD women forgetting to eat all day, or accidentally doing intermittent fasting. the dopamine is sucked away before it can properly bind to the receptors. Tell me about the healthy things in your routine that help you with dopamine. I need dopamine to stay motivated in all areas so I’m always on the hunt. It’s not something I can change, only mitigate. Basically, ADHD medications help by giving you more dopamine. A few years ago, shortly after being diangosed with ADHD in my 30s, I found myself in a pretty severe mental crisis that was rooted in work and personal issues, but wouldn't have happened without ADHD/BPD Posted by u/monalisahan - 32 votes and 10 comments Posted by u/candycoatedhostility - 20 votes and 12 comments This might be a strange request, but can people talk to me about how you manage the impulse to BUY THINGS to get that dopamine rush in ADHD? I have it, and so does my daughter, and I’m trying to teach her smart money management techniques, but I’m not that great at it myself. " Hello everyone, In the episode about dopamine,Huberman says that you can raise your base line “wavepool” of dopamine by taking a cold shower. I sometimes add salmon and pine nuts, but they are expensive af so it’s really a treat then. 🤯🤯🤯 It might not help ADHD to 'increase dopamine in the synapse' if it is taken back up into the synapse so fast. Hi u/tillymint259 and thanks for posting on r/ADHD! Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already. Nearly a million and a half users say they 'feel at home' and 'finally found a place where people understand them'. However, it can go to an extereme when I get hyperfixated on only eating healthy and I will almost under eat if I don't have healthy options when I'm traveling (or used to for work, etc. I try to keep only healthy alternatives in the house now. I once made myself a “dopamine menu” with like 20-30 more healthy things I loved doing (arranged as quick appetisers, full entrees, and fun dessert, hell you could even put a seasonal special on there)! I have inattentive ADHD, generalized anxiety, and a history of generalized depression. Healthy dopamine rush for replacing the dopamine rush associated with We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. I'm 35 and Yes, I do have ADHD. I love the dopamine rush of eating good food, and I'm very impulsive and have trouble stopping. For example he loves Pringle’s and Oreos. I’ve been vaping and smoking the devil’s lettuce for years now, and have recently come to the realization that I’m using both for a quick dopamine hit (no pun intended—HA). If you decide to go off meds permanently or for a longer period of time, the withdrawal cravings will settle down and all you’ll have to deal with is the dopamine seeking, but taking a “day off” will always lead to intense hunger. [1] While low dopamine alone may not directly cause ADHD, it contributes significantly to its symptoms, making it harder to stay on track, especially with routine or uninteresting tasks. It turned out to be bipolar 2 on top of the ADHD — I’m not saying that you have it, but if this issue becomes destructive to your life it might be worth checking if you fit the criteria at all. My symptoms mostly appear concurrent with someone who was assigned female at birth and has ADHD as an adult. When we feel dopamine as being lower that drives us to use more of the drug Well, actually. but I will say that when I cut way back on my drinking my sugar craving went through the roof! I hardly ever used to eat sugary things, I’ve always been a salt girl, but jeeze now I’m in candy world. Now anytime I masturbate during the day for a dopamine hit it like triggers this really horrible time in my life. one of the apps that has you grow virtual plants bc you don’t move your phone. Replace it with something even more dopamine generating, e. It seemed like the right approach to me, and seemed logical. 2. Healthy/constructive ways to get dopamine hits? Tips/Suggestions Mine are mostly super unhealthy: fast food, impulse shopping, weird and inappropriate crushing/fixation on people (I’m married- definitely wouldn’t cheat but my mind can be a total slut), doom scrolling for hours, coffee, making outlandish decisions like trying to rip up the This subreddit is a space for women to find support and discuss living with ADHD. Low dopamine leads to executive disfunction which makes me want to do nothing. You know what the main problem with ADHD is? To little dopamine. I'm adhd as well, the point of a dopamine detox is not to remove dopamine, we all have a "set point" of chemicals in our brain, some people have less/more, this does affect us in different ways, but there's not much difference between you on Adderall and another person that has a higher set point of dopamine that their brain naturally produces. So, the stimulation How do you get your dopamine? I have a whole load of things in my toolkit, gardening, exercise, craft stuff, diy… but I tend to exhaust them quickly… I snack CONSTANTLY for dopamine (chocolate, crisps, string cheese, sweets) and beyond the obvious negative health effects, it's really costing me an inordinate amount of money at this point. Eating is a quick dopamine fix for me, but I try to eat healthy. • Turn to dopamine high of whatever nature (weed, video games, spend money, waste time on Reddit) • do the above until there’s no time left for the work to be done and my persistent fear of complete failure makes me do the work in a mostly mediocre fashion and my grades reflect that, in my opinion. K offers, this one is by far the most useful to me. While Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a norepinephrine (and dopamine) reuptake inhibitor. Never knew it was because of my adhd till I started learning more about it. Why it works? Because dopamine is what is dysfunctional in ADHD. So I quickly put myself back onto maintain my health goals and workout schedule. Having to little dopamine causes you to be unconcentrated, nervous, unable to start tasks and so on. We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience. The weirdest thing is it dose not matter what I'm eating as long as I'm eating. Lots of articles on the internet if you dig deep. Skip forward an hour or two and im a grumpy hag. I'm diagnosed with adhd, take adderall and dexedrine. There were childhood clues as well. Amazon, pinterest, reddit, instagram. I’ve seen a few times in this community that people really push the ‘dopamine deficiency’ and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine as a scientist - Whilst there is evidence to suggest that dopamine is involved, we certainly don’t have enough of it to be able to go around saying that ADHD is rooted in dopamine deficiency. But in the case of ADHD even substances like amphetamine can have long term benefits on the dopaminergic systems by restoring the rewarding effects and rewiring the brain to focus on tasks that ultimately lead to gratification. - The drugs will stimulate the PFC and Hippocampus improving ADHD symptoms - Whilst initially you get relief and improvement in ADHD symptoms from using drugs, this effect is temporary. Like ADHD, Parkinson's is also caused by your body not being able to utilize dopamine correctly. That’s exactly why we do not give dopamine for Parkinson’s, we give medications that mimic dopamine (agonists) but CAN pass the BBB. However, I developed a strategy a few years ago as a coping mechanism that has kind of snowballed into a healthy source of dopamine. I love solving "problems/puzzles"; it's a key part of my ADHD, gives me a huge dopamine rush. food is just a very good easy source of dopamine for me. 5-3 GPA isn’t terrible, but I know I That said, I don't feel like my diagnosis is complete. I even started finding it in scientific papers, not actual misinformation as such, but their findings worded in ways that fit in with the people that funded the research, subtly manipulative, but still in an objective sounding way so scientific journals publish their findings as they present it- it's doing my head A good working understanding is that the ADHD brain has not only a general defecit of Dopamine but doesn't handle the management of regulation of dopamine well either. The effect is not actually a “dopamine detox” but rather an upregulation of dopamine receptors that makes previously unfun things fun. It’s not just for dopamine. I don’t think most nuerotypical people behave the same way. Plus they have different roles in different parts of the body, and even in different areas of the brain. Through working with my therapist, I have come to accept that I end up on my phone in the first place when my nervous system needs a break (autism), which is a few times a day. Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 1 vote and 4 comments I’m just as bad at eating healthy snacks and meals at normal intervals, but once in a while, I will feel the need to eat healthy and stock my fridge with easy snacks such as carrots to eat with ranch, fruit, salsa to eat with chips, sliced cheese to eat with crackers, and boiled eggs (for nutrition). I was curious myself so I googled it, if it gives you any hope you are already almost 2/3 of the way *to dopamine reset ️ "Normal, healthy dopamine production depends on a wide variety of factors, but many medical professionals believe that your brain's dopamine production will return to pre-substance misuse levels over a period of 90 days. It's used to help quit smoking, against narcolepsy, around seventh in line for what doctors prescribe against depression, and may be used as an "if all else fails" ADHD medication, but it targets the dopamine reuptake which we all know is a great part of what messes us up. I’m wondering what are some things you do or have at your disposal on days where dopamine is severally lacking? I noticed recently that I pretty much spend all of my time pursuing high dopamine activities. My brain loves listening to music, watching movies and series ; reading and writing fanfiction, role playing games on forums, browsing Reddit and Facebook; reading (when my ADHD brain lets me), getting good grades, attending some stimulating classes in college, my job as a vet assistant and pet attendant, shopping, high carbohydrates sugary and salty foods, singing, pets especially cats We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Because I'm gaining weight and it's starting to become a problem. Pick Mr Seems Compatible and focus on creating opportunities together that release dopamine in positive ways”. The problem with ADHD is a lack of dopamine. That’s how I’ve operated since I was an infant and it has caused many problems for me. I don’t have ADHD, but I think from all the courses Dr. Sabroxy doesn't make more of anything, it just increases the amount of time dopamine hangs around outside of neurons. Thank you! With adhd, it’s a constant state of seeking stimulating experiences because you’re unconsciously looking for something to raise dopamine. It’s for food. People with ADHD are speculated to have lower tonic dopamine firing -- sort of a constant "pace-maker" firing -- and, in turn, low tonic dopamine firing drives higher phasic dopamine firing, also called "burst firing", which follows stimulation with rewarding, aversive firing and reinforces stimulating learned behaviors. If you're always chasing and getting it, you never get "reset". Questions/Advice/Support I am on the tiniest dose of methylphenidate, one of the things that is important with it, is, it’ll only work if there are enough neurotransmitters bubbling around in my head, so I have had to consciously come up with things that can help. Doing nothing is boring, and leads to less dopamine. I want to find a replacement source of dopamine/happy hormones that isn't so destructive. The more you chase it constantly, the harder it will be later. If it could be summed up in one word, it’s a motivation chemical instead. Thats why people with adhd can get easily hooked to social media, video games ect. Recently I had gotten a boost to improve myself. So I’m not sure what you’re trying to achieve, if not a medical solution to the disorder. there are two types of dopamine secretion: during rest (tonic) and during signal (phasic). What are your healthy dopamine fixes? I have realized this pattern and it totally makes sense when I think of ADHD as a dopamine deficiency. Podcasts are also an option. Then there is probably the need for a dopamine detox because I have been on a computer all day every day for the past 15+ years. Use all the tricks - gamify progress in your health by random healthy rewards - whatever it takes - be creative. I bought the healthy brand Pringle’s, and the HEB organic “oreos” are pretty good We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Since we (people with ADHD) have low dopamine anyways, I've been trying to get as much dopamine wherever I can for my whole life. That way when it kicks in my mind is associative the feel good/dopamine reward with exercise. Contrasts are important. I have a serious problem with too much screen time on my phone. I need to find something that can replace food and give that instant safaction that is more healthy. In the arm metaphor, the cell that wants to move it and the cell that wants to stop it can't communicate properly, so they'll fire independently of one another in this horrible back and forth of stop and go, leading to that tell tale shaking that She smiled, reminded me I had ADHD, and then said something I will never forget: “if you want a healthy relationship, don’t pick Mr Incompatible who gives you dopamine because he generates negative experiences. I mean, a DNRI (Ritalin) or DRA (Adderall) would be healthy for someone with ADHD. Low Dopamine is shit, but hanging around high-Dopamine a lot, makes it the new zero. I'd recommend her channel in general, but specifically that video for you. Yeah it's really hard to tell what is causing what. My therapist has adhd and suggested I prolong dopamine-inducing activity on purpose and speed up low-reward tasks. Why this backstory, you may ask? Well it seems im unable to find any healthy sources of dopamine. However, if you have ADHD, the issue is very often overactive dopamine transportation, i. The author seems very distinguished but it sounds a bit similar to the whole dopamine detox movement, given she's referenced quite a bit by them. We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. And, if I'm honest, the stereotype of women with ADHD is a flighty random waifish woman. It’s sooo good and so rewarding, even more so knowing it’s very good for me. Look into Wellbutrin (bupropion). Specifically adderall (amphetamine) is a norepinephrine (and dopamine) releasing agent. The more Dopamine you get, the more resistance you build up to it, and the more you will need. I actually learned how to control dopamine for my benefit. The effect of Ritalin on adhd is a very interesting topic. I’ve done this and it’s worked great but… I was wondering what are some other ways you can increase your dopamine naturally ? I’m really struggling to focus these days even though I’m on It's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Posted by u/shortasiam - 9 votes and 6 comments The mobile apps used for Reddit are broken or are missing features that this subreddit depends on. All the saved up dopamine flooding my receptors on top of the drugs will turn me into a Euphoric God-King Superman. The mobile apps used for Reddit are broken or are missing features that this subreddit depends on. In the morning, without medication i have a tendency to get some random burst of dopamine, but in the evening i fall pretty short. ) or at work or personal events. It might be good to limit social media and technology if you use the spare time for healthier hobbies, but it doesn't mean that "your reward system will reset" or any other bullshit self help people might say. hesrewy hmojkjh faxtr dazvs sxolwu ezzzi ikiqx aap sslnkr mcfyr xwtt pcxjvm bhcs esr wovd