Adhd chasing dopamine reddit ” So when you try to explain ADHD is about not having enough/well regulated dopamine, it just furthers the narrative that we’re lazy and don’t want to do chores etc because “they’re not fun. Contrasts are important. too bad the only time I release dopamine is when I engage in an obessions most if the time I feel mind numbingly bored. Meaning if you rely on just dopamine, you will never be happy because you are chasing the next thing (which, honestly is fun for my adhd brain, but not for relationships). Music used to motivate me to workout or clean and video games are just something to pass the time now. You need to put more emphasis on what they call the "here and now" molecules (seratonin, oxytocin, endorphins) that let you enjoy what actually is. Aside from meds, it helps me to create “healthy” dopamine-generating moments intentionally and schedule them ahead of time. Also I can’t see the odd tablet a couple times a month having effects on hair like the daily meds are. Try to limit the amount of “cheap” dopamine you get in the first half of the day. I love solving "problems/puzzles"; it's a key part of my ADHD, gives me a huge dopamine rush. ADHD IS chasing dopamine, the goal is to STOP chasing the dopamine like a maniac. autistic here. 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. 257K subscribers in the adhdwomen community. Finally, please read our (very long, but very helpful, FAQ!) and do not hesitate to contact us. I’m like this too. No alcohol. And the question is, will any more dopamine be emitted is the warehouse if over-full. There's some super interesting science behind it and how neuro atypical brains react to it. One woman's story crystallizes the concept of "chasing dopamine. Like ADHD, Parkinson's is also caused by your body not being able to utilize dopamine correctly. It fills a gap. I was on my phone upwards of 10+ hours a day doing reddit, YouTube, games, etc. The more you chase it constantly, the harder it will be later. Thank you! How to ADHD suggests making a domamine-menu of things that give you dopamine personally, broken down into apps, sides, mains, and desserts (for how frequently you can do them, how much of a main thing they are)to get out of the fruitless dopamine chasing. I'm a little overwhelmed with hqving 3 small children, full time job, college courses, and trying to manage a whole house just about single handedly. It's that instant dopamine flood, and the fact that quitting requires abstaining from that dopamine fix for a couple weeks until the craving subside. I still get frustrated or try to snake my way out of the thing that is interrupting my plan especially when it's an activity that I know will reward me with dopamine. Sep 17, 2024 · Brain-imaging studies show dopamine-rich areas of the brain, like the frontal cortex, are affected in ADHD. Really trying to quit dopamine chasing. I CAN get this feeling from other things, but I never know ahead of time and am constantly chasing it to just feel not miserable for 5 seconds (such as really enjoying something to do with a hyperfixation or a craft that could be related to my hyperfixation or finding a new hyperfixation etc) but these are the only free things I can do. Option A: Solid choice, fun, reliable, predictable. People with ADHD tend to not get a dopamine release from continuing to do something, so that inclination disappears over time or possibly never exists in the first place. Destructive or frustrating dopamine sources: daydreaming, doomscrolling, hyperfixating on people, chasing unavailable people, seeking validation and reassurance, endless diet coke, vaping, and - in the past - drug and alcohol addiction. He said He didn’t need a night of cuddling or romantic dinner, stressful day, sex out fit, heart to heart moment to get in the mood. I think used to only be attracted to relationships with unstable people because I would get easily "bored" otherwise. This is even more important for people with ADHD. I’ve. Recently figured out that I have adhd and I’ve been focusing more on what makes me happy, aka what gives me dopamine, since that seems to be a huge factor for me and an important role with adhd brain. Option B: Unpredictable, unreliable, but when it works out - that's where the dopamine is. We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience. If you're always chasing and getting it, you never get "reset". Share your stories, struggles, and non-medication strategies. Welcome to r/ADHDWomen!We’re happy to have you here. That being said, there is a reported "lull" after stopping medication for ADHD. While impulsivity, rejection sensitivity (RSD), and emotional dysregulation are often considered as the underlying cause, conflict-seeking behavior stems from a different source: the brain's craving for dopamine. In plain English, ADHD meds don't linger long enough to do damage, and they don't have chemicals that can cause damage to dopamine receptors. I'm constantly hoping for the dopamine thrill, and give up fun experiences in hopes of getting it. In short, we are not used to giving ourselves dopamine when we do something right. 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. And recovery and sobriety will be easier if you do a 90 day dopamine reset. Nicotine, in particular, has been my struggle (vapes). Some people with adhd have a low libido but I myself have a high libido and my friends with adhd do as well. In addition my friend with adhd summed it up perfectly. " Let's call her Sarah. However, what you describe does fall into the pattern of sexual addiction, something ADHDers can fall into easily chasing the tail of dopamine dragon. I have inattentive ADHD+autism, slow COMT and high tonic dopamine. Posted by u/Worth_It_308 - 6 votes and 4 comments We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. It had been suspected I’ve had it for a while but of course I didn’t go to my referrals and didn’t get on top of it. Sarah, a successful architect, was diagnosed with ADHD in her early thirties. Stop avoiding going to bed because you're chasing one last bit of satisfaction or dopamine high, just go the fuck to sleep it's 1am Rant/Vent So I know this is kind of contradictory because I am talking about being sensible and going to bed instead of other stuffReddit, while I am posting on Reddit. Then you spend the rest of your life constantly learning and improving to get that feeling more often. ” Firstly, your self-awareness is a commendable step towards enlightenment and transformation. It’s a gorgeous summer evening, nice and warm, perfect milkshake drinking weather. I (17m) have made a realization (I think). Low levels of dopamine + competition that releases dopamine = me chasing competition (which is just a proxy for that dopamine). Force yourself to do 30 minutes of whatever you consider to be your hardest task for the day. Nearly a million and a half users say they 'feel at home' and 'finally found a place where people understand them'. I. I (29M) struggle immensely with chasing a constant flow of dopamine. Just something that’s been bugging me recently. Ooh, a new comment! Yay dopamine! (I considered adding this as 2 separate comments to give you an extra boost because we all need it, amiright. Its hard to describe but i dont get it often and it reminds me of christmas as a kid, or hot chocolate and duvet on a rainy day. Oct 26, 2022 · ADHD brains have lower dopamine levels, which prompts urges to seek out stimuli that could provide more ‘hits’ of dopamine Too much dopamine can be harmful to your overall health Talk to your doctor about taking breaks from stimuli that release ‘too much’ dopamine (sex, alcohol, gambling, etc. But im only just realising the lack of this feeling could he a dopamine deficency. Now anytime I masturbate during the day for a dopamine hit it like triggers this really horrible time in my life. The problem is, many things in modern live are designed by cooperates to give you as much dopamine as possible and by giving in to that, you can screw your motivation system in a way that could deeply fuck with your life. 2. E. As a reminder, here are our community rules. Further evidence to support the role of dopamine in ADHD is the use of • 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. None of these things are necessarily "bad" by themselves, the problem comes in when you're not doing it for the sake of the activity, but for the dopamine. ) I have no experience with this. Posted by u/Upset_Piccolo7756 - 1 vote and 1 comment It is. We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. The more Dopamine you get, the more resistance you build up to it, and the more you will need. By chasing dopamine hits and instant gratification you'll just be stuck in loop like Dr. Sabroxy doesn't make more of anything, it just increases the amount of time dopamine hangs around outside of neurons. When you're chasing dopamine, you're engaging in one or more of these behaviors purely for the dopamine, and its usually really hard to stop. however I have noticed I end up feeling guilty or that I have done a disservice to myself in doing so. . Sometimes, difficult to do on your own. She noticed a pattern of seeking highly stimulating experiences, be it taking on ambitious work projects or engaging in intensive I feel a combination of natural methods with the medication 💊 when things are out of control or I’m dopamine chasing in the wrong avenues etc etc great idea. If dopamine was a pleasure chemical, this would not happen. I would suggest a life change, start with reducing easy dopamine tasks, and start adding some longterm dopamine tasks. You're forever chasing that perfect clean strike that reverbs through your body in a way that makes your arms go numb and your brain fill with dopamine. Worth noting is that he isn't diagnosed with ADHD, and I don't think he has it. It usually shows up in bedtime procrastination but it can also be difficulty eating meals at the same time or having difficulty remembering time-based daily activities (like taking meds). ADHD and Cheating / Adrenaline & Dopamine I'm not trying to excuse anyone's cheating or dishonesty or invalidate anyone who has been cheated on. ) I definitely think the dopamine rush of a new relationship can be more addictive with ADHD. So, the stimulation Recently I've been thinking about why that might be the case and this is my line of reasoning. 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. 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. It's very important you aim to address this independently of addressing treatment for ADHD, the medication is essentially tables that produce dopamine and if you're hard wired to seek dopamine and don't have any plans to reduce it then you might also be at risk of abusing the medication. I can use everything on my laptop still, including WhatsApp, and I don’t really text much as it is, so getting a dumbphone might just be me chasing the dopamine high that comes with buying something new. I have no idea if that's actually me chasing dopamine or not but fun to think about. Major redflags here tbh, it's already hard when your values and life goals clash with your dopamine-chasing behaviors but if your life goals is dopamine-chasing you're in deep shit. We get a lot of posts on medication, diagnosis (and “is this an ADHD thing”), and interactions with hormones. Also have this, I think I recall reading there's something related to non 24 hour disorder which is common in ADHD-ers. The mobile apps used for Reddit are broken or are missing features that this subreddit depends on. Like how it helps with emotional disregulation and helps to keep you from getting distracted and going off track (chasing dopamine!). It iced several things that I used to do to chase dopamine in my life and was wondering if others could relate: • I’d have seriously string cravings for a nice cold beer straight after work to bring my mood up. She has really risky behavior while I don't go outside mostly haha. Now, I am a sucker for a chocolate or strawberry milkshake from McDonalds. No video games. Chasing the dopamine leads to me hating myself Seeking Empathy / Support I recently got medicated earlier this year and my overall mood has increased and my ability to chase the dopamine has greatly improved. If that is too much, start slower, or you can dive into the deep end and do a dopamine detox, but you need a strong plan after the detox to remove the easy Off medication I chase dopamine like a dog chasing a rabbit. Meanwhile, our successes, especially for mundane tasks, are viewed as expected rather than accomplishments. My entire life seems to in an endless cycle of pain. Some days are better than others such as I can go a couple days to a week with out masturbation or porn and then maybe 2-3 days of watching every day. Unstable relationships provided me with dopamine and that feeling of excitement of being "alive". On meds I now just don't think about dopamine. If you would like to contact the mods, send us a modmail instead of DM-ing the moderators directly. I set aside time at work to work on problems which may yield "interesting" results. This can give them undesirable side effects. Dopamine is the Apr 22, 2024 · In individuals with ADHD, there is scientific evidence to suggest that the brain's dopamine pathways function differently, leading to a perpetual seeking of activities (or substances) that provide instant gratification to boost dopamine levels. No pop junk food or sweets. I read that this is dopamine chasing and that because i get that dopamine hit my brain just wants more, but I just can't understand it because the articles about it are so wordy and go off on these unfollowable routes that just make me so confused. Interestingly enough, reasons for the drama are often misinterpreted. I’ve always been chasing that dopamine, for lack of a better phrase. Doing ok, reasonably productive, maintaining relationships well enough Finding something to obsess over Satisfaction. Piercing is midlife crisis, posting about it is chasing dopamine. As you accomplish this you will experience natural dopamine. Mar 26, 2021 · Breaking tasks into small parts, rewarding baby steps, externalizing motivation, and other cognitive-behavioral strategies can help create motivation where none exists. so yeah, um hopefully maybe some of you adhd oldies know what this feels like I've seen lots of stuff about ADHD women forgetting to eat all day, or accidentally doing intermittent fasting. No tv. The more graphic, shocking, or anxiety inducing, the better. If you would like to… Your dopamine chasing is destroying your brain. And you need to get it back to baseline. This subreddit is a space for women to find support and discuss living with ADHD. I can’t do that all the time, but every time I find myself indifferent about nice stuff suddenly, and kind of empty- I just say: Ok your dopamine level crashed, so now nothing will make you feel better - reaching out for fast dopamine hits like social media/youtube/food whatever won’t change that as the baseline is just too low and in order The reason I'm asking is that I feel like I'm chasing dopamine whenever I'm not on it. to even out my dopamine releases more. From my experience with ADHD and addiction, it's a baaaad combo. The avalanche of dopamine can actually be incredibly uncomfortable. I've always watched tv shows and movies with a high level of horror, suspense, or plot twists. however, masturbating several times a day (even when you aren't horny) just to get that dopamine hit is pretty unhealthy and can lead to addiction, even more so if you are watching p^rn whilst doing so but thats a whole other Yes, the ADHD brain craves dopamine, any food or activity that tastes/feels good. Edit: While not strictly about ADHD I thought this article could be useful for folks who have ADHD and also smoke marijuana since folks with ADHD have decreased brain dopamine activity and, according to the article, marijuana users have decreased reactivity to dopamine. How I view my tonic dopamine is a constant high dopamine flow. Jan 9, 2024 · The Chase: Understanding Dopamine Infatuation. Or at least limit them to the absolute minimum. I don't know if this is more ADHD or childhood trauma/cPTSD or something like that. 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. Fun fact: People with ADHD have too low dopamine in their system. I feel like I want to sit in front of my PC and game all day, get high and have sex all day, pursue my current hyperfixation all day, etc. after the alcohol crash and dopamine depression my hangovers are a nightmare. I'm currently in a relapse, and I curse myself for falling back in this trap. I've just had another epiphany in the "I wonder if that's related to dopamine" series of my life. The key is identifying the pattern: trigger, the high, the shame/down period. I went out today to buy 1 new pair of sneakers. Welcome to ADHDUK! Do you think you might have ADHD and want some advice on where to start? Maybe you'd like to share your experiences! Perhaps you want to vent your frustration at the recognition & treatment in the UK. So I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD, but I saw this guy on instagram talking about how people with ADHD get over attached to people very fast, which I do, but I’m not diagnosed. Thats why people with adhd can get easily hooked to social media, video games ect. Even knowing this is difficult. This takes 4-12 weeks, and it can make you more productive. Engage with friends. I love the dopamine rush of eating good food, and I'm very impulsive and have trouble stopping. honestly its worrying me a lot more than ADHD itself. He said that their chemical imbalances fucks with their dopamine to the point where they depend on a person for happiness. I want to find a replacement source of dopamine/happy hormones that isn't so destructive. That means you will stock the outlet, the cannon if you like with even more dopamine. Your brain can barely function with its one dopamine receptor right now. We can still get a dopamine release from other things. All the rhythms I had before went out the window — trying to finish the second half of a paper that was due a month ago :((( It is pretty miserable chasing dopamine constantly and channeling that energy towards the appropriate task, not gonna lie. 5-3 GPA isn’t terrible, but I know I The effect is not actually a “dopamine detox” but rather an upregulation of dopamine receptors that makes previously unfun things fun. If you suffer from ADHD try to think about how good chocolate tastes. Stimulant medications work to correct this deficiency. And, if I'm honest, the stereotype of women with ADHD is a flighty random waifish woman. i feel like if i stand up my legs dont have the strenght to support my weight. I guess it becomes a problem when you're more in love with the idea/fantasy of the person than the actual reality. Hi u/tillymint259 and thanks for posting on r/ADHD! Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already. This is because you're not chasing dopamine and chose to do the boring things, because it's better than just waiting. Your dopamine receptors go into overdrive, giving you energy and satisfying your brain, allowing you to focus on other things. Why it works? Because dopamine is what is dysfunctional in ADHD. This includes. My brain had already forged my neural connections based on an unmedicated brain, so medicating it now doesn't change the pathways, it just puts my brain into a 'normal' state where I can try to rewire those pathways now as a 41yo. 😎 good plan I feel lol I CAN get this feeling from other things, but I never know ahead of time and am constantly chasing it to just feel not miserable for 5 seconds (such as really enjoying something to do with a hyperfixation or a craft that could be related to my hyperfixation or finding a new hyperfixation etc) but these are the only free things I can do. It's a NDRI, a noreponephrine-dopamine-reuptske-inhibitor. Most ADHD meds, or coffee in your case, cause the synthesis of dopamine, along with serotonin and norepinephrine. This helps produce natural dopamine. I have binge eating disorder and I am almost positive it stems from my ADHD. The very realization that you are caught in the dopamine-driven loops of constant stimulation is the beginning of a deep inner journey. Adderall and related drugs essentially makes your brain release a megadose of dopamine. Also the dopamine chasing with shopping but more so in store rathe4 than online. Low Dopamine is shit, but hanging around high-Dopamine a lot, makes it the new zero. Doing a "fast", for which there is no scientific support, serves no purpose if your adhd isnt treated properly. Not only was I chasing the rush from new relationships, but the dopamine I received from chaotic ones, landing me in abusive relationships on more than one occasion. I compare it to my ADHD hyperactive female friend with fast COMT who has the pulsating kind. Never knew it was because of my adhd till I started learning more about it. That lack of satisfaction is stored, marking the memory as unimportant. So my whole life ive been chasing that warm calm happy feeling you get while feeling content. Left with 2 pairs, 2 leggins, socks and a jumper. After my ADHD diagnosis, and realizing the dopamine addict that I was, I did a lot of research on the concept of love and discovered that, for almost everyone, the initial dopamine 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. masturbating frequently is very common among people with ADHD, especially men, because of their dopamine craving habit. I 29M have been diagnosed with adhd for the better part of 20 years and recently in the last 2-3 years I've been trying to identify and change negative behaviors from adhd and one I've recently become aware of is chasing dopamine in conversations. People think about dopamine as the “pleasure hormone. I am not a great promoter if 'special interests' if it is extreme. Once I realize I'm driven by dopamine seeking activities, its a little easier adjusting myself to be more "normal". No smart phone. im drinking heavly 3-4 times a week. Because of this, ADHD people tend to get far more criticism than NTs and that gets internalized. Dealing with chasing dopamine I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD I am a 21 year old female. What do you all do when your dopamine well has run dry? Apr 22, 2024 · Conflicts are part of the daily experience for many ADHDers. Am I correct in assuming that it is because I have low levels of dopamine that I like the competition more than the reward? It wasn't until a while later I learned exactly how ADHD, dopamine, and neural pathways are related that it made sense. We're very different when it comes to stimuli. I'm wanting to probe how much of these patterns I notice in my relationships have to do with ADHD, or am I just a selfish, egocentric, attention loving whore LOL. less loud music and caffeine and more meditation, exercise, books. It might not help ADHD to 'increase dopamine in the synapse' if it is taken back up into the synapse so fast. Then it can stray into maladaptive daydreaming or limerence. When we find something or someone that gives us dopamine we invest ourselves in it or them to an unhealthy degree (hyperfocus) the brain doesn't want to lose the thing thats stimulating such a big release of dopamine, which when mixed with a good old fashioned dose of the anxiety and rejection sensitive dysphoria that usually comes hand in hand with having ADHD, that leads to the overthinking you are correct that one of the genetic conditions of adhd is lack of dopamine. Look into Wellbutrin (bupropion). But, I'm not slender in the slightest, and could definitely be accused of "chasing the dopamine" through almost constant grazing. Naturally, after being with someone for 4 years, the novelty wears off. Now I wouldn't say I am out of control but I have noticed that I do low energy dopamine items, IE scrolling instagram, masturbation, watching porn, etc. My screen time is mainly Reddit or mobile games (other than the things I use for daily life like productivity apps). 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. But I have to get out of it if I want to achieve something. While I’m currently suffering the consequences of chasing dopamine and listening to the goblin. 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 We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. It's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Strange "Dormammu, I've Come to Bargain" Creating Systems to free your brain: With so much technology and ADHD-friendly strategies around you can offload/automate mundane tasks that you would never want do voluntarily. Essentially, dopamine detoxes use the same mechanism as addiction, but flips it on its head. No sex. nbctej nrcw yseee qwfk ecsags isjpin vjd fbwouug oej rnxcqn usnq ujt eayndw afeq cieayg