Last updated: April 2nd, 2020
If you have ADHD, then your brain probably doesn’t produce enough dopamine by default. Therefore, people with ADHD sometimes need big and bold rewards in order to trigger dopamine production, and develop lasting motivation.
Dopamine is a very serious need for people with ADHD. Because, if you don’t find healthy ways to get your dopamine, then you might end up using negative rewards to acquire your dopamine (usually through sugar and television).
So, this article dives into the following important topics:
- The relationship between ADHD and dopamine
- 10 healthy rewards that your ADHD brain will love
- The 3 most common negative rewards that people with ADHD need to avoid
- The truth about using ADHD medication to boost dopamine levels
Let’s get started…
Contents
The relationship between ADHD and dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that motivates you to seek out rewards (1).
It’s commonly accepted that the ADHD brain does not produce enough dopamine by default.
In fact, some physicians like Dr. Gabor Maté actually believe that ADHD is caused by a deficit of dopamine in the brain. In his book Scattered Minds, Dr. Maté explains that people with ADHD have trouble producing dopamine because of a neuroplastic adaptation to stress experienced prenatally, or during early childhood. And because our brains were likely stressed during our most formative years, we now have trouble performing under normal conditions today.
For example, the dopamine deficit in the ADHD brain is thought to be the reason why most people with ADHD have issues with motivation, task avoidance, starting on projects, and many other seemingly normal aspects of life.
We need dopamine in order to get things done. Actually, we need lots of dopamine in order to get things done.
Because your brain most likely doesn’t produce enough dopamine, you may need to seek out big and bold rewards that trigger dopamine production, and motivate you to get the most out of your career, personal life, and aspirations.
It took me a very long time to realize this. I spent most of my life wondering why I wasn’t motivated enough to take care of my coursework, and pass my college classes, while my peers blazed by me in school.
Finding the Right Dopamine Sources
Finding the proper motivations and rewards (sources of dopamine) is one of the most helpful exercises that people with ADHD can do. Figuring out the right motivations and rewards will stick with you for a lifetime, and help you stay on a great path in life.
Think about these questions for just a moment…
- Why do you wake up in the morning?
- Are you on a path that actually motivates you?
- What kind of rewards do you actively seek out?
- Do your current rewards provide you with better health, relationships, and freedom?
These are difficult questions to answer. But, it’s very important that you consider these types of questions. Make sure to read this article to the very end so that you can figure out which rewards provide you with the long-term motivation that your ADHD brain craves.
10 healthy rewards that your ADHD brain will love
Here are the 10 healthy rewards that trigger dopamine production.
Your ADHD brain is going to love these healthy rewards.
These rewards will provide your ADHD brain with much-needed dopamine, and genuinely improve your life at the same time…
Healthy reward #1. Travel
People with ADHD love to travel, because traveling provides your brain with massive amounts of novelty and stimulation.
When you travel, your brain is forced to interact with new scenery, sounds, people, customs, languages (if traveling internationally), and so much more…
Traveling is very healthy for the ADHD brain. It’s probably the most exciting way to stimulate your ADHD brain in the shortest amount of time possible.
Plus, when you travel, you get to “leave behind” all of your old relationships, work projects, and stress. This helps your ADHD brain and body experience a “total reset”.
And, the best part about traveling is the anticipation leading up to your travel date. As soon as you book a trip, you’ll experience a strong emotional boost that lasts through the duration of your trip.
Healthy reward #2. The winner effect
According to cognitive neuroscientist Ian Robertson, winning increases your brain’s dopamine receptors, makes you smarter, and more confident (2).
When you win at something, your brain releases large amounts of dopamine and testosterone.
Over time, winning actually changes your brain’s structure and chemical makeup. Winning encourages you to take on bigger and bolder challenges.
Robertson even goes as far as explaining that winning is more powerful than genetics and drugs.
Believe it or not, the winner effect is a well-studied aspect of biology. In biology, the winner effect takes place when animals win fights against weaker opponents, and gain a psychological advantage in defeating stronger opponents as time goes on. The winner effect applies to humans as well, since humans share 99% of DNA with chimps (3). We are all animals.
The key is to start winning at small challenges first, and work your way up to larger obstacles.
Anyone can win at small things like:
- Taking on an important client at work
- Beginning a project that you’ve been procrastinating on
- Negotiating a good deal for your apartment lease, car payment, or restaurant bill (anyone can ask for a discount)
There are so many ways to pick up “small wins” that boost your dopamine over time. Eventually, your small wins will give you a psychological edge that enables you to overcome even bigger challenges in the future. Overcoming these bigger challenges will provide you with even more dopamine, and the upward cycle continues.
Use the winner effect to your advantage. Start creating small wins for your life today.
Healthy reward #3. Caffeine
Caffeine is a surprisingly effective reward that just about everyone with ADHD loves to use.
And, there’s a good reason why most people with ADHD love caffeine.
It’s been shown that caffeine enhances dopamine signaling in the human brain (4). This means that high doses of caffeine work similarly to stimulant-based ADHD medications, like amphetamine and methylphenidate.
If you feel like your ADHD brain is running extra low on dopamine, try drinking a cup of yerba mate or espresso coffee for a nice boost.
Healthy reward #4. High-quality dopamine foods
Eating high-quality dopamine foods is one of the best ways to increase your dopamine levels naturally.
These foods are known to boost dopamine levels:
- Wild caught fish – Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to dopamine production (5)
- Organic eggs – Contains tyrosine, which boosts dopamine
- Steak – Contains tyrosine, which boosts dopamine
- Beets – Contains betaine, which acts as an antidepressant
- Apples – Contains quercetin, which has been shown to fight against dopamine depletion (6)
- Raw dark chocolate – Stimulates dopamine and serotonin production in the brain (thanks to tyrosine)
- Turmeric and black pepper – Increases serotonin and dopamine at higher doses (7)
- Spirulina – Contains a large amount of tyrosine, which boosts dopamine (8)
As you can probably tell, tyrosine is the main ingredient that you’ll want to consume if you want to boost you dopamine levels naturally.
Spirulina contains a whopping 2046mg of tyrosine per serving, which makes spirulina the food highest in tyrosine.
You can take a closer look at the brand of spirulina that I use in my article on ADHD superfoods. I love spirulina, and use it daily.
But overall, if you can eat a varied diet that’s rich in meats, fruits, and vegetables – you’ll be well on your way to improving your dopamine levels in the healthiest way possible.
Healthy reward #5. Personal growth
Tracking your personal growth is one of the most productive ways to boost your dopamine and improve your life at the same time.
What counts as personal growth?
Well, first of all, you should only be comparing yourself to yourself. Comparing yourself to other people is a fast-track to failure.
When you compare your past self to your present self, this is how you gauge your progress in life.
For example, do you remember how you felt one year ago compared to today?
If you’re in better health, and you have better relationships with people compared to one year ago, then you’re making tremendous progress in your life.
Your personal growth primarily comes down to:
- Health
- Relationships
- Hobbies
- Spirituality
- Skills (like writing or public speaking)
- Time (are you getting better at using your time?)
I primarily focus on improving my health and relationships year after year, because these two things are most important to me.
But, here’s the key thing to keep in mind:
When you continuously improve at any aspect of your personal life, you improve your dopamine levels, because your brain feels like it’s winning (see healthy reward #2 – the winner effect).
So, how can you make sure that you’re properly tracking your personal growth, and reaping all of the dopamine-boosting benefits?
You can…
- Create a to-do list and a “done list” every weekday – personally I use a productivity journal like this one to manage my schedule
- Create a commonplace (as mentioned in my ADHD bucket list) – and dedicate a tab to tracking your daily / weekly / yearly growth
- Look at “before and after” pictures of yourself (if you’re interested in health)
- Get feedback from other people and monitor your results (this is really hard to do, but extremely rewarding)
You’re growing in some area of your personal life, right? Everyone grows in one way or another.
The trick is to track this personal growth, and constantly remind yourself of how much awesome growth you’re experiencing. Doing this will help you stay extremely motivated over the long-term.
Healthy reward #6. Professional progress
If you’re in the workforce, then you’re in luck.
Because, improving professionally is one of the best ways to score “big wins” for your life, and spike your dopamine levels.
For example, it’s been shown that getting a promotion at work will likely increase testosterone levels, and upregulate dopaminergic activity in the striatal reward networks (9).
In other words, people who get promotions or acquire high-powered positions in the workplace tend to produce more testosterone and dopamine.
Once again, this all comes back to the winner effect.
But, what if you feel stuck in a dead-end job situation, and you feel like there’s no way for you to move forward in your current career?
Well, you still have options. There are always options.
For example, you can:
- Start a consulting gig or side hustle on the side, and use your existing network to get new clients for yourself
- Acquire new skills that are in-demand, such as programming, marketing, or graphic design
- Move to a new city and try your luck in a better economic climate
- Find a better job where you have more options for upward mobility
As long as you’re gaining forward momentum in your professional life, then you should be ecstatic.
Because, the reality is that progressing professionally is hard work. So, any amount of progress that you experience in your career or business should be celebrated on a daily basis. Seriously.
If you can grow professionally while dealing with ADHD at the same time – you should feel like a champion.
Healthy reward #7. Exercise
Exercise is probably the fastest and easiest way to produce more dopamine when you have ADHD.
You can go for a quick 20-minute jog around the neighborhood, and feel so much better afterwards, because of the various brain chemicals that are released while you exercise.
For example, when you exercise, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, BDNF, and norepinephrine. This potent chemical cocktail is what gets most people addicted to exercise.
If you’ve ever experienced a runner’s high, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Best of all, because exercise improves your brain’s BDNF, exercising will help your brain form new neurons, and repair damaged nerve cells (10).
So, exercising regularly will ultimately make you feel amazing and boost your long-term brain function at the same time. This is why exercising is a must for people with ADHD. It’s one of the healthiest addictions that you can create for your ADHD brain.
Healthy reward #8. Intimacy
It’s been shown that pair bonding (intense social attachment) stimulates the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway (11).
This means that intimacy causes your brain to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin.
Yes, love is technically a drug, because your brain can easily get hooked on the happy chemicals that stem from your relationships.
This is why it’s natural for humans to seek out monogamous relationships. You’re born to connect deeply with someone special, grow together, and reproduce.
Some argue that the entire point of life is to procreate, and continue the cycle of life.
But, even if you aren’t at a point where you’re ready for marriage and children, you can still have fun in the dating pool, and experience intimate relationships that way.
Being in a great relationship can seriously help with your ADHD.
Some people with ADHD might even seek out non-ADHD partners as sort of a coping mechanism. This is completely natural and normal. Some might even call this a survival instinct in today’s competitive environment.
You need every advantage that you can get! So, why not find someone who’s truly your better half?
Healthy reward #9. Socializing
People who socialize often tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
Studies have also shown that social affiliation is a potent stimulator of dopamine (12).
This makes sense, because it has long been known that social relationships can help people overcome diseases like depression, where dopamine levels have been shot. Socializing helps people cope with illnesses.
According to Lisa Feldman Barrett, who is the lead author of the study referenced above, believes that caring for other people might be just as helpful to your dopamine levels as receiving care (13).
Therefore, loving others and socializing frequently is most likely extremely helpful to people with ADHD.
You should make it a habit to form meaningful relationships with people, go out twice per week (I prefer Thursday and Saturday nights), and try your best to enjoy the process of socializing. There’s a chance that socializing will help you stay healthy, strong, and full of dopamine.
Healthy reward #10. Transcendental Meditation
I know exactly what you’re thinking…
ADHD makes it incredibly difficult to “empty your mind” and meditate.
But, practicing meditation and mindfulness is unbelievably helpful for boosting dopamine in the ADHD brain.
Plus, you don’t actually have to “empty your mind” to meditate. I do Transcendental Meditation, which only requires that you focus on your breathing while you sit down.
With Transcendental Meditation, you’re free to fidget if you need to. You’re also free to let thoughts enter and exit your mind. As long as you focus on your breathing, you’ll be perfectly fine.
Meditation has been shown to increase endogenous dopamine release, improve concentration levels, combat stress, and provide so many other health benefits (14).
The secret “healing power” of meditation seems to involve the change in consciousness that you experience while meditating (15).
Once you get good at it, meditating begins to feel like taking a small vacation every time you do it. Meditating is that powerful.
The 3 most common negative rewards that people with ADHD need to avoid
I hope you received some great inspiration from the above list of healthy rewards for people with ADHD.
But now, let’s briefly cover the negative rewards (bad sources of dopamine) that people with ADHD need to avoid.
It’s usually best to eliminate the bad sources of dopamine from your life (like excessive sweets) before seeking healthy sources of dopamine (like eating healthy dopamine foods). This just makes sense, right?
The truth is that we live in a luxurious era of convenience to where it’s extremely easy to obtain all kinds of negative rewards and guilty pleasures.
There are hundreds or even thousands of negative rewards that temporarily make your ADHD brain feel amazing. But, abusing these negative rewards will make your life incredibly more challenging over the long-term.
Here are the 3 most common negative rewards that you should avoid…
Common negative reward #1. Sweets
By now, most people realize that eating sugar causes your brain to release dopamine (16).
But, most people with ADHD don’t really think about just how much sugar they consume. For reference, the average American consumes about 82 grams of added sugar per day (17).
There is also some evidence that suggests sugar addiction is a real thing to be concerned about (18).
The problem with using sugar as a reward is that more than 100 million Americans are prediabetic or have diabetes (19).
If you have ADHD, then you have enough challenges to deal with. You do NOT need to add diabetes or disease into the mix.
Avoid consuming sugar as often as possible. A little bit of sugar is no big deal. Just avoid overindulging to play it safe.
Common negative reward #2. Television
Not all TV is bad. I like to watch the History Channel and National Geographic now and again.
Problems happen when you start binge-watching drama-fueled TV channels like E! and A&E. Some shows on A&E are really addictive. They know how to hook you with a really good TV show.
But, the point is that if you’re using TV as your primary source of dopamine, then you’re going to have problems, because TV isn’t going to leave you feeling fulfilled in life.
From The Journal of Cognitive Liberties:
First of all, when you’re watching television the higher brain regions (like the midbrain and the neo-cortex) are shut down, and most activity shifts to the lower brain regions (like the limbic system). The neurological processes that take place in these regions cannot accurately be called “cognitive.” The lower or reptile brain simply stands poised to react to the environment using deeply embedded “fight or flight” response programs. Moreover, these lower brain regions cannot distinguish reality from fabricated images (a job performed by the neo-cortex), so they react to television content as though it were real, releasing appropriate hormones and so on. Studies have proven that, in the long run, too much activity in the lower brain leads to atrophy in the higher brain regions.
Watching too much television shuts down your higher brain regions, and literally causes you to believe that what you see on TV is real.
When you try telling that to someone who watches too much TV, they typically won’t believe you.
Take that for what it’s worth.
Common negative reward #3. Social media addiction
Social media is an amazing invention that I truly love, because social platforms allow people to share information from anywhere in the world.
I’ve learned many beautiful things thanks to Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook (in that order).
But, as you may know, you have to be careful about how you use social media, because social media triggers a powerful dopamine high (21).
If your brain feels like it’s constantly being “rewarded” as a result of using social media, then you may be tricking yourself into thinking that you’re being productive.
I occasionally catch myself getting “lost” on Instagram or Reddit, and it’s a real problem when this happens. You don’t always realize how many hours slip away while you’re using social media.
Avoid getting sucked into social media addiction for your personal health and well-being. Just use social media to learn, grow, and connect with amazing people, and you’ll be golden.
The truth about using ADHD medication to boost dopamine levels
ADHD medication is an extremely valuable tool for instantly restoring dopamine levels in the ADHD brain. It’s safe to say that taking ADHD medication is the most reliable (and proven) method for producing dopamine in the ADHD brain.
Using a therapeutic dose of ADHD medication is effective because stimulant-based ADHD medications (like Adderall) stimulate dopamine production.
However, some ADHD medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) serve as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which affects people with ADHD slightly differently (22).
Most people with ADHD respond positively to ADHD medication, because it feels really good to produce dopamine in an efficient and consistent way. You’ll instantly feel a difference in your quality of life if you decide to go the route of using ADHD medication.
I tried every possible option before using ADHD medication. And, ADHD medication worked extremely well for me.
If you respond well to stimulant-based ADHD medications, then you can always consider using an ADHD drug like Vyvanse, Adderall XR, or Concerta.
Of course, if ADHD medication doesn’t work well for you, then that’s perfectly fine too. Not everyone will respond well to using ADHD medication.
You and your physician should discuss the possibility of using ADHD medication if that’s something you’re interested in.
At the end of the day, I’m a fan of using natural and conventional (medication-based) therapies for ADHD. This way, you get to have the best of both worlds.
Not all healthy rewards will lead to immediate dopamine production
Dopamine is one of the most important chemicals that your brain produces. It’s responsible for your motivation and reward-seeking behavior.
But, when you have ADHD, your brain doesn’t produce enough dopamine.
This requires you to take action, and come up with effective solutions for your life.
Luckily, you have plenty of options for boosting your brain’s dopamine levels naturally, or through the use of drug-based therapies.
It’s going to be up to you to seize the opportunities in front of you.
With just a little bit of effort, you can solve most of your dopamine-related problems, and live the type of lifestyle that you deserve to experience.
This info was brilliant in that it addressed many why’s about my adhd kids. This has given me hope as in our local area there are not many therapists that focus on adhd. Thank you sir.
Thanks for the kind words R Karl!
Transcendental Meditation involves repeating a personal mantra. It is not focusing on your breath.
Focusing on your breath at the start frees your mind to your mantra. Your breathing brings calmness so the only thought is your mantra.
I’ve suffered with ADHD and Deslexia all my life but this is the first time I’ve read about Dopamine being associated with learning problems. Thanks for educating me on this subject because it know makes sense.
My pleasure thank you Scott!
Thank you for this extremely informative article. The information is definitely going to be incorporated into my family’s everyday regiment. I haven’t been medically diagnosed with ADD but I believe that I experience it. My children were diagnosed with it which has caused me to seek information about it. This article gave me a high….so much that I’m about to get up, wash my hair, exercise, clean, and go to breakfast!!!!!
Wow. That’s the first time I’ve heard that one of my article’s gave a reader a motivational high. Now that’s *awesome* to hear. JSharpe, I wish you and your entire family TONS of success going forward.
This is the best explanation of how ADHD and and dopamine levels are related. This mirrored with the explanation of diet, rewards, and negative rewards affect ADHD, gives me a new understanding of how this all works together to explain many of my feelings! Thank you.
Thank you so much Wendy. Really love hearing from people like yourself. And I’m happy to hear about your newfound understanding of ADHD and dopamine levels.
Have you written anything on innatentive ADD?
Sure.
Here you go Bob:
http://adhdboss.com/inattentive-adhd/
How can I be tested for ADHD without it being costly?
Hi Kim. Visiting your primary doctor and using your health insurance would probably be the least costly way of getting tested for ADHD.
Go online and find a telehealth provider that works with adhd. The people I used were based out of Tampa. Started about 16 months ago. Very simple process. Today there are lots and lots of them advertising. I think it cost $150 for first call…then about $125 a month after? Got discounted Adderrall prescription through one of the online Discount Prescription Card. It’s gree. Scrip at Publix was $30-$40 That’s all very reasonable. Going through the traditional paths…Dr Visits, etc. was onerous, expensive $800-$1500…and, in my opinion, they really don’t know all that much about ADHD. and if you are covered by Medicare or Medicaid they opened telehealth up…and you can look online for them too. Good Luck. It changed my life immediately.
Thank you so very much!! As a parent that has been struggling for 10 years with a son who has ADHD- your information hands down was some of the best I have ever read (or heard). You will definitely be a go to resource for us in the future. Thank you again.
Thank you so much for the kind words Andrea. Really appreciate hearing high-quality comments from readers like yourself 🙂
Hello,
Thank you for this article as well.
Do you have any tips regarding Transcendental Meditation? Or maybe any suggestions, videos, etc.? So far I’ve only tried other types, but I’ve heard about this one and would like to try.
Thanks in advance.
Setara I strongly recommend searching YouTube videos on TM. It’s a very powerful form of meditation that works wonders for the mind. I wish you the very best.
What do you think about teens using war games for the winner technique of addressing their needs? I’m concerned that my grandson is addicted to the Tank games and seeks it for the dopamine high. He’s “the negotiator ” who keeps his player friends content and playing instead of being angry at each other. He says when he’s not playing they fall apart and people quit. But at 16 he needs to be swimming and with real live friends..he does have one good friend! In.my opinion…
Totally agree with you Marsha. Slowly ween him off the tank games and encourage him to interact with friends outside. He will actually be so thankful for your help in the future.
Could you reference a quality Spirulina?
Hi Jessica. I use Jarrow Formulas Organic Spirulina and can vouch that it’s high-quality. I did my research before buying it 🙂
Great article! I will print out a short list of all the Do’s and Don’ts of it for daily use and reminder! Thank you!
Wow this article was super helpful. Thank you for writing it! I always felt that I had a sort of addictive relationship with sugar. And now I know why! I have been fueling my brain in an unhealthy way. This article has really inspired me to make healthy changes in my life. Thank you!
Thank you Victoria. Awesome to hear you’re making healthy changes in your life. I wish you luck!
Thank you for writing this article. For me, it was very thorough, complete, and easy to understand. I appreciate your posting this for us newbies just diagnozed. My struggle has been life-long and I am now 75 and newly diagnozed finally.
Thank you so much Margaret. You seem incredibly sharp for being 75 years young. I wish you the very best!
Stefan,
I have been interested in the ADHD problem for the past 23 years. I am a retired Youth Counselor and have worked with Teens who present with typical DSM ADHD behavior. You are correct about the DA deficit . I think you would be interested in the ADHD hypothesis I have developed over the years.
The good news is that Children and Adults who present with ADHD behavior are perfectly NORMAL in every respect, except for ‘lower than normal’ levels of dopamine and serotonin.
Let me know if you are interested in the REAL CAUSE OF ADHD in the first place, and I will send you my hypothesis for your evaluation, suggestions etc.
Sure Chet. Post it here!
Stefan,
Sorry for not gettng back in touch sooner. I had a fall and injured my Spine. Operation coming up next week. Thank you for your interest. I’ll get back to you during my recovery period.
Chet
I would love to hear the real cause!?
I have researched lots of things ADD/ADHD over the years for our family. I’ve always been frustrated with the lack of detailed descriptions & explanations of ways it manifests itself day in & day out, and the simplified questionnaires for diagnosis that could really describe anyone. Your information was spot on! I was trying to describe to someone yesterday how we need to create a crisis for anything to get done :/.. I think I’ll just send her your article. Thanks for compiling and getting this info out for help, encouragement & better understanding.
Thanks so much Melanie.
I think the negative parts of getting a dopamine fix are explicit sex, parting, drugs and alcohol. These aren’t touched on in articles but the easiest adrenaline and dopamine and they are fairly cheap
Thanks for your comment Alexandra. Yes, I’ve covered this topic in many other articles on ADHD Boss. We ADHD’ers are extremely impulsive and often turn to sex, partying, drugs, and alcohol as an initial “dopamine fix.” This unfortunately isn’t sustainable, even if it might be pretty fun for a while 🙁 I think most people with ADHD experience this temporary phase of life. It’s a learning phase!
What happens when you realize that you may have senior ADHD??
Great question Johnson I may need to do an entire article on this topic!
I started adderall a little over a year ago..I’m 65…made huge difference literally overnight.
The turning point for me after a lifetime of struggle was this video by Dr Barley on YouTube. It nailed every problem exactly that I had. Including some that were never identified in other places. Specificially Not Getting Along Well With Others.
I don’t know if they allow links on this site…but here is this one. It was the door opener for me. And the first problem I had was getting over the regret of so much lost. Wish you well…
This is how you treat ADHD based off science, Dr Russell Barkley part of 2012 Burnett Lecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tpB-B8BXk0
Thank you. Totally explained my high level of need for intimacy.
Thanks Shay!
Adderall really helped me at work. When I retired, my doctor refused to give me any more Adderall saying that i did not need it anymore due to i was not working!!!! Well i beg to differ due to the fact that making out bills etc. It would benefit me greatly even to have a few hours of clarity to work with daily. I really think that this is not too much to ask. I appreciate the alternatives to increase Dopamine in your article. Thank you.
Completely agree with you Vickie. If Adderall works for your ADHD I think you deserve that as a treatment option.
I am going on 70 and self-diagnosed myself about 10 years ago. I was always puzzled why I couldn’t test well at all, but, I was great hands-on.
People don’t realize how annoying it is to hear every little background noise while trying to carry on a conversation and your eyes are catching every movement.
The positive from my adhd is my addiction to sports and competing. Tennis,racquetball,pickleball, trapshooting, archery, running, rollerblading, bowling.
I’ve done every class at the YMCA- except spinning. And I swim a lot.
Thanks for all the info, I will surely put it to good use.
Thank YOU Lola! Definitely happy to hear you’re putting the info to good use. Keep it up!
I have really enjoyed reading this article especially as I have stopped using prescription meds and am working hard to increase my quality of life as an adhd ‘victim’ through diet, exercise and techniques learned through cognitive behavioural therapy.
Amazing Nathalie. Keep up the awesome work! You can definitely make it happen.
Stumbled across this from Pinterest. No formal diagnosis but i have been wondering/operating as if so for awhile now hence the article interest. WOW this explains SO MUCH. Particularly, i had incorporated all of these hacks (and worked to subtract the negative ones) instinctively for YEARS, just based on productivity and mood results. But with this list being tied to ADHD aka medical symptoms, it clarifies for me why post-partim life with kids has been puzzling difficult. Adjusting to kids in the mix for each these ‘rewards’ drastically lowers the effectiveness!!! Travel and explore? Major high! Travel and explore witn stressed out needy kids? Major NOT HIGH but it means theit is more factors than just their stress! This list has remotivated me to problem-solve towards proven effective tools, bc i better know what the goal is and why it works. Ill be combing this website from now on!!!
Thanks for your awesome comment Hannah. Definitely happy to have you here.
This article has been so informative and eye opener for me. I am disappointed that throughout my son’s school years these ADHD issues weren’t dealt with even though he had an IEP plan, I feel the school system failed him some and he suffered because of it. He is in his last year of high school and I am going to see how I can help him now that after reading this article I am aware if stuff anout ADHD I didn’t know. Thank you.
Thanks so much Aida. I wish you and your son all the best.
Great article. ADD/ADHD is a difference not a disorder. (Dr. Hallowell) It runs in families as it does in mine- generationally. Think Hunter and gatherer (ADHD brain) vs farmer non-adhd brain). After 20 years or more of reading, researching etc, my thoughts about it. But based on facts and research. I did learn quite a bit from your article. Can’t wait to try some of it. Thanks!
Completely agree with you! Insightful comment. Thank you.
Best information regarding ADHD .Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Smita.
Another way to hack dopamine, and opioids too!
Good Article, but what is missing here is that in certain circumstances such as peak or flow experiences dopamine and opioid systems interact, and each can stimulate the other. Fortunately, you can test it yourself in the procedure outlined below, with supporting documentation linked.
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In affective neuroscience, incentives embody affective states that reflect attentive arousal as mediated by dopamine systems, and pleasure, as mediated by opioid systems. The nerve cells or nuclei of both systems are proximally located in the mid-brain and can activate each other. For example, looking forward to a pleasure accentuates the pleasure, and a pleasurable experience perks up attentive arousal. In addition, opioid and dopamine release scales with the intensity or salience of the eliciting stimulus, as pleasure rises with tastier foods, and attentive arousal spikes when we view an unexpected vista or challenge.
Dopamine release can occur as a phasic or intermittent response, as when our attention ebbs and flows as a function or our momentary fluctuating interest and boredom. It also occurs as a tonic or sustained response in order to maintain a baseline level of alertness that allows us to go about our lives. Similarly, opioid release occurs as a phasic response when we sample our daily pleasures, and it also may be a tonic response, but only when the covert musculature is in an inactive or relaxed state. When an individual is tense or anxious, tonic opioid activity is suppressed. This makes evolutionary sense, as resting conserves an animal’s caloric resources, and animals in the wild sustain their survivability through the dual incentive of alertness for predators while at a pleasurable state of rest. (as your lounging cat would attest, if it could speak)
From these facts, certain predictions about behavior may be made that conform with empiric reality. For example, peak or flow experiences that reflect heightened attentive arousal and pleasure only occur when an individual is both relaxed and is aroused by behavior that entails highly positive moment to moment meaningful outcomes (e.g. creativity, sporting events). Dopamine in turn stimulates opioid activity, and the enhanced dopamine/opioid interaction results in an ecstatic or peak experience.
This observation can also be practically confirmed (or falsified!). Simply elicit a resting state through a mindfulness procedure and continuously couple it with imminent behavior that has important or meaningful outcomes, and the more meaningful, the greater the affect. The underscores the fact that as a resting protocol, mindfulness will elicit a pleasurable state which will scale with the salience of momentary outcomes that in turn can be easily arranged. Mindfulness in other words is not a steady affective state, but a variable affective state, and can be a flow or peak experience, or just a mildly pleasant way of chilling out. It all depends upon what you are looking forward to imminently do.
For a more detailed explanation see pp.47-52, 82-86 on the linked little book (written for a lay audience) on the psychology of rest.
Holmes Article
https://www.scribd.com/document/291558160/Holmes-Meditation-and-Rest-The-American-Psychologist
Meditation and Rest
from the International Journal of Stress Management, by this author
https://www.scribd.com/doc/121345732/Relaxation-and-Muscular-Tension-A-bio-behavioristic-explanation
The Psychology of Rest
https://www.scribd.com/doc/284056765/The-Book-of-Rest-The-Odd-Psychology-of-Doing-Nothing
Cheers!
AJMarr
New Orleans
Great comment Art, thank you.
Hi Again….
Wanted to mention she’s a gluten free/vegan as well! Maybe not getting enough tyrosine?
Patricia Cali
I can’t believe everything how excited I am because you wrote Exactly how I feel and act, but never knew why?? I take ADHD Meds and definitely feel much better with them than without. I never could put into words why I felt I need a vacation and look forward to it. I am very addicted to sugar. I have a drink that actually makes me happy when I drink it. Lol I’m showing my husband this article. Maybe he will understand me better as well. Thank you a Thank You Thank You!!!😁
Thank you for your kind words Michele!
One of lifetime article I have read. Thank you so much Boss.
This makes so much sense, and such great detail! For me, this is one of the BEST reads so far – especially to help ADHD adults thrive. I’m not officially diagnosed, but I’ve become awakened to the realization that I myself have ADHD through my journey in making sense of my son’s behaviors and the many evaluations which led to ASD/ADHD diagnoses. The internet is flooded with resources for early childhood and elementary but I’ve been searching the “Now what?” resources to help the both of us thrive for life – because what better way for him to see me as a model of example after all! They say that your children actually choose you – all of of them do change your life but through our ups and downs my son has been a great teacher for me. We must make the change. And for me, seeing changes in my family have been such a reward system. THANK YOU THESE 10 MORE – I feel like I’ve struck GOLD.
Just in case it was not mentioned through previous comments, Dr. Andrew Huberman has also gained popularity with his studies of the brain and vision. He has much to share regarding “hacking your brain” to more productive behaviors and how to reduce stress by adjusting your vision and breathing. You could find him on youtube and Instagram.
Lastly – listening to positive affirmations have also helped me a great deal. Louise Hay and Bob Baker are only a couple of great resources and today, you could even find affirmations to keeping organized or your home clean and keeping strong relationships with yourself and loved ones. Take care everyone.
Thank you for your kind words Elaine!
I love this article so much, it’s my favorite. I found it a month ago but I keep going back and back again to this article as a reminder, most powerful article I’ve read about ADHD so far and incredibly motivating and inspiring for me to be more productive. Also this is random but I’m SO happy because yesterday I found out I’m got accepted to a one year travel abroad program!! I’m going to Morocco, God willing!
Another body chemistry need that is in large part untreated, is a gene mutation that affects our ability to absorb folic acid. Folic acid affects every system in our bodies, especially the brain. I started taking a methyl folate supplement (its folic acid at the point it can be used by the body) and noticed a difference in my undiagnosed add almost immediately. As a kid I would listen to music at a near deafening level to drown out noises. And was lucky enough to have a teacher who recognized it and supported my need for a walk man and music tape (classical) for tests. Every teacher agreed and they where kept in my bio teachers desk. It was the o my way I could take tests. Now I still have loud music on while I work from home. Thanks for all the wonderful info. It will surely help both me and my son.
I just wanted to point out that people with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis should definitely never take spirulina or chlorella. Both substances can stimulate the immune system, which can cause symptoms of these diseases to worsen. There is also some evidence that spirulina can actually bring about the onset of these diseases. If you’d like links just let me know.
Thanks Keara I did not know that! Definitely everyone should consult with a medical professional before taking any supplements. This is just what has worked for me.