Dopamine fasting reddit adhd. Welcome to Dopamine Detoxing.

Dopamine fasting reddit adhd Thank you! Not trying to be a dick, but if caffeine makes a person with ADHD focus most likely that person does not have ADHD or they are on the spectrum of it. Having to little dopamine causes you to be unconcentrated, nervous, unable to start tasks and so on. How I view my tonic dopamine is a constant high dopamine flow. . Urgency works very well apparently for ADHD brains. In reality, dopamine is an essential part of learning. 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 We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. You can't fast from dopamine, it naturally secretes when you eat food, when you do something you enjoy, when you talk with people, you need it to do things neurologically speaking (lowkey -- this is only a small facade of the whole btw -- depressed people are depressed because their brain don't produce enough dopamine, people who have ADHD also Dr Russell Barkley remarked in one of his lectures (available on YouTube) that a SMALL amount of simple, fast-absorbing sugar, ingested regularly, can help keep the adhd brain on task. I will consume my adderall only 15mins before walking into the gym. Everyone has ADHD symptoms to some extent, and only sometimes. Fasting may provide clarity and focus but that’s not all that ADHD is and I think the title and intention of OP’s post is just really mis-phrased. I was on IR alone for about a year and it was horrible, terrible migraines, depression from the fast high-low dopamine states, then the XR came along and it was great. Cold water shower or washing face can help too. im drinking heavly 3-4 times a week. Link is here. Dry fasting is a type of fasting where individuals abstain from both food and water for a certain period. Also, there are studies that show people with ADHD have longer REM cycles, which means their deep sleep (the most restful kind of sleep) is impacted. I let it dissolve under my tongue so it acts fast and then usually I feel sleepy after about 4/5 hours. 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. My goal was to change the sources of dopamine in my brain to be more productive and produce a slow long term trickle instead of a dopamine dump. Hi u/likewhoisshe and thanks for posting on r/ADHD! Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already. ADHD and dopamine . Basically, ADHD medications help by giving you more dopamine. ADHD is not a real disease, and in most cases it just comes from having destroyed your dopamine receptors through puberty and adolescence whilst not being aware of it. He has an episode about dopamine and he has an episode on adHd as well. There's plenty of research indicating that dopamine "fasting" works to restabilize the receptivity of dopamine. Sometimes children have a prefrontal cortex that develops slower/ different, making a child that is seen as ADHD when tested and compared to a child with ADHD is the same. I want to say that it’s either with the amount of receptors or it’s their ability to properly process the chemical, but without doing some research I won’t say for sure (and I don’t want to fell into that rabbit hole right now lol). But instead of the fad that the Internet paints it to be, dopamine fasting is far more than just putting your phone on airplane mode from time to time. The way it works is you divide a piece of paper into 5 sections: Starters - quick dopamine boosters you can do in a few minutes (making a coffee, making the bed, deep breathing exercises) Having multiple interests/hobbies help a lot. If later in the child's developmen Sounds to me like what I'm experiencing. 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. Replace it with something even more dopamine generating, e. I have adhd and MDD and GAD and both intermittent and occasional extended fasting as well as periodic ketogenic eating do wonders to help my focus and mood and other adhd symptoms We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. It also helps me “come down” from the XR if that makes sense. She has really risky behavior while I don't go outside mostly haha. 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. I want to find a replacement source of dopamine/happy hormones that isn't so destructive. Or videos of pandas being hilarious. " I claim it. Share your stories, struggles, and non-medication strategies. For a set amount a time, 24 hours or more, you completely remove all these easy dopamine hits. Yeah it's really hard to tell what is causing what. i feel like if i stand up my legs dont have the strenght to support my weight. Most ADHD meds, or coffee in your case, cause the synthesis of dopamine, along with serotonin and norepinephrine. I tried it and it seems to work! Aug 4, 2024 · – Dopamine fasting for ADHD: This approach involves temporarily abstaining from activities that trigger dopamine release, potentially helping to reset reward pathways in the brain. they are more forgetful, can do things more spontaneously, impulsive and creative, better with people. 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. Engage with friends. Dopamine (and all neurotransmitters) are involved in complex exchanges and it isn’t as simple as “dopamine = feel good compound, serotonin = feel happy compound”. The concept of a dopamine fast is therefore impossible unless you don't wish to learn. edu Jul 29, 2022 · People who have ADHD have high dopamine transporters and low dopamine levels. I (19M) am prescribed 70mg Vyvanse daily for ADHD which worked really well for a few months- until I started using IR Ritalin for when my dose would start to run out towards the afternoon. It’s just that being ND makes it really difficult to live since those symptoms are either really severe, happen very often, or both. I can put a link that summarizes the video and has list of some tips. g. Unfortunately in ADHD brains, the re-uptake mechanism is too fast. Solution: A dopamine fast. They fit into the ADHD category, but not in a good way at all IMO. I personally see no harm in people misunderstanding dopamine, please point out if there is. Dopamine and Dopamine Fasting If your source of information is any of dopamine detox YouTube videos with dozens of millions of views, you might think that it must be effective. This causes a loss of attention, procrastination, and episodes of hyperactivity. Aug 19, 2024 · When dopamine fasting, you are trying to reduce or eliminate activities like watching TV, playing video games, eating junk food, and drinking alcohol that would give you a quick release of dopamine. The ones I have are language learning,writing,reading,meditating and the list goes on. – NoFap and ADHD : Some individuals report improvements in focus and motivation when abstaining from pornography and excessive masturbation, although more Low dopamine is often seen with folks with ADHD and having a diagnosis can help see things more clearly. The problem with ADHD is a lack of dopamine. If dopamine was a pleasure chemical, this would not happen. This is beyond reddit's scope of practice. Games like Vampire Survivors are dopamine machines. High dopamine levels in the ADHD brain can lead to severe anxiety, insomnia, increased impulsivity, and even addiction. Satisfaction. The avalanche of dopamine can actually be incredibly uncomfortable. Let's share our experience doing dopamine fast. Usual timing is 2 weeks to see results. Although it significantly decreased my IQ, I somehow managed to get straight-A’s while being in AP classes. honestly its worrying me a lot more than ADHD itself. They will need a strict routine, diet, workout, and medicine. No wonder people with adhd tend to do well in jobs that deal with a lot of crisis situations like first responder etc. i need lots of alone time, i'm very rigid, want He suggested that rather than labeling myself with a disorder, I should consider the possibility that I might be overstimulating my dopamine system. This is more or less how I fell into a pit of dopamine chasing briefly then escaped. You described me before I got on meds (which brings its challenges, too, unfortunately). We can still get a dopamine release from other things. If you were in an Amish community you would get your dopamine from riding a horse or churning butter or whatever Amish people do. My dopamine and norepinephrine system is fucked, I don’t need to “fast”, I need medication. one of the apps that has you grow virtual plants bc you don’t move your phone. Amphetamines are direct dopamine stimulant, whereas Ritalin is like a reuptake inhibitor that reduces how quickly dopamine is "mopped up". Once in a while as a kid, particularly in stressful periods, i would get motor tics like heavy blinking (basically blinking harder and with more frequency than normal) but usually these would last briefly and go away within days. It's supposed to be the abstention from EASY dopamine fixes, because they cause crashes when they're gone. It’s good to disconnect from cheap easy entertainment to develop skills. The dopamine fast is a tool for recalibrating your habits and your life. Welcome to Dopamine Detoxing. (BTW dont do this). my spouse though is more "classic" adhd and we have very different presentations and strengths. It sounds counter intuitive to do a detox but also take dopamine producing drugs, but there is a method to the madness. 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. Nearly a million and a half users say they 'feel at home' and 'finally found a place where people understand them'. The release of dopamine helps things feel pleasurable. We're very different when it comes to stimuli. The mobile apps used for Reddit are broken or are missing features that this subreddit depends on. I am not a scientist and don't purport to be one. 5-3 GPA isn’t terrible, but I know I Jan 15, 2025 · If any of this sounds like your life, it might be time to try dopamine fasting. ) We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Dopamine [reward] will have you always going for it. Please share your go to dopamine boosts. I plan on implementing this myself. I need only 6-8 mins too feel my mood change. after the alcohol crash and dopamine depression my hangovers are a nightmare. It drove him deeply into debt. Stimulant medications work to correct this deficiency. I actually learned how to control dopamine for my benefit. Aug 4, 2024 · Explore dopamine fasting's benefits for ADHD, including improved focus, impulse control, and complementary strategies for better management. You can't wean yourself off dopamine, especially not if you have ADHD. I think it is different from person to person, what works best, but my top dopamine booster is fast walking with music, but my tempo is same as the music I hear. He’s channeled it into a resale business, and curbed a lot of the more unnecessary purchases. Thats why people with adhd can get easily hooked to social media, video games ect. No social media, no phone usage, no computer usage, no Youtube/Netflix, no video games, no sweet or super-enjoyable food. So while playing videogames is pleasurable, it can deplete dopamine stores and make more mundane things less pleasurable. First time I tried Vampire Survivors I played it in 6 hours straight, then never touched it again. They feel different (I don't know why), but one or both of them is very likely to work for you. It is. This resulted into things like videogames. We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience. Ive noticed throughout my adhd life I tend to get "addicted" to foods, activities, and habits that give me short quick dopamine releases. you will love hard dopamine fasting, aka visual and audio deprivation for 90+ minutes. I have played a lot of videogames in my life, currently must have like over 4000 games on Digital shops. To convey a signal, dopamine is released. 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. This has been a major gamechanger; we met, slowly started Serotonin and Methylation problems too, I think my ADHD is the only thing that has enabled me to get to the ripe old age of 49 without any medication, but things are taking their toll 🤪 Conundrum: Fast dopamine synthesis > fast transporters > impaired receptor density > fast reuptake I actually got diagnosed with ADHD when I talked to my Dr about binge eating, I ate massive amounts of food for the dopamine rush. ( i doesn’t need this specific hobbies, I’m saying this cause Iam nerd shit) I personally think that this drive for anything else related is the adhd brain going too fast lol Last night after work, I drove extremely fast and recklessly, and I think that was my brain dopamine seeking after being both overstimulated and understimulated all week. That lack of satisfaction is stored, marking the memory as unimportant. There are various mao-b inhibitors herbal and pharmaceutical which would benefit you in this case, but its best to exhaust all other options before you start fucking Important to know that dopamine fasting isn't possible. You know what the main problem with ADHD is? To little dopamine. E. harvard. Fast forward and I feel like I’m treading water. If you suffer from ADHD try to think about how good chocolate tastes. Sabroxy doesn't make more of anything, it just increases the amount of time dopamine hangs around outside of neurons. Methylephebidate-based ADHD meds, like Ritalin and Concerta work by blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake. 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. I usually don't 'correct' these terms because - as long as it gets people to simplify/understand what they need to do to implement a change - it doesn't matter too much to me (on the Dopamine fasting isn't meant to be the literal abstention from all dopamine. He also mentions some other techniques in generating dopamine eg working on a focussed specific goal, be it physical or mental, releases dopamine. I did a "quick dopamine" fast. I tend to not do well if I can't keep my mind busy, but I am struggling to get busy on productive things because of focus and the fact short, cheap dopamine hits make me feel better. Take a typical antipsychotic for 3 weeks and let me know if you still have ADHD after the drug leaves your system. 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. I think it was pretty helpful to consider how his ADHD might be influencing the purchases for the sake of that dopamine hit. Most of the time my mind is blank because of the low dopamine and sometimes I am hyperactive and so many thoughts race through my head. Doing a "fast", for which there is no scientific support, serves no purpose if your adhd isnt treated properly. Essence: the brain evolved to seek high dopamine producing food and activities for as little energy exertion as possible, and in today's landscape that evolutionary mechanism contradictorily works to our detriment due to the availability of low quality dopamine for too little (if any) energy exertion that would otherwise counteract the intake. But, I'm not slender in the slightest, and could definitely be accused of "chasing the dopamine" through almost constant grazing. It's a part of the process of managing adhd to integrate dopamine-giving activities into work and life chores to make them more doable as well as to cute down on unnecessary dopamine activities such as video games and social media. Even a "dopamine diet" would look something like ADHD crossed with Parkinson's Disease and the side effects of antipsychotics. People with ADHD have lower amounts of dopamine (I believe also glutamate: responsible for some learning stuff, and issues with connection to the frontal lobe, which is responsible for executive functioning: planning, impulse control etc. If you're an adrenaline junkie like I was, then there is a right way and a very wrong way to do this. Sure, my partners all had their issues, but a lot of self reflection, googling and ADHD therapy made me realize that this relationship pattern is unhealthy. Yes. So you condition yourself to pursue longer term, sustainable dopamine fixes. The more you know, everything you have described is textbook ADHD. Start with a Dopamine Detox, then maintain a Dopamine Fast. Pine Bark Extract 100-150mg 2x daily can help modulate the catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine) which has been clinically proven to help ADHD. I also worked in food service and killed it whenever we were weeded - when we were slow, not so much. From what I understand it's a misnomer, you can't really fast from dopamine you can only shift how and why it is released. This is a technique I saw recommended for people experiencing burnout, especially those who have ADHD. Members Online Question about the detox. See the Required Reading for more. Lithium Orotate 5mg 2x daily inhibits norepinephrine which helps many people with agitation, particularly in those who find it exacerbated by tyrosine. " Because of the way ADHD effects the brain, an ADHD brain is unable to produce the same levels of dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline as a neurotypical person's brain produces. Instant and rising rewards, visual effects and big numbers, with little effort. Dopamine fasting is pseudoscience popularized by motivational blogs and such We get bored easily because we don't get the same Dopamine push and satisfaction from doing things, so we drop them and we hunt for new novel Dopamine generating things. Have you tried a fast from those kinds of activities? The only thing you can do is write, walk around, and drink water. I probably walked 5 hours or more. The constant barrage of digital content and immediate gratification, he suggested, could be causing a sort of 'dopamine burnout'. A real "dopamine fast" would look more like neuroleptic malignant syndrome. In other words, it can make ADHD symptoms worse. Dopamine isn't even conceptually linked to pleasure; it's associated with wanting (not liking) - a key distinction especially if you're going to discuss hedonic valence - which is about liking, not wanting. Dopamine fast is not a magical cure. Plus I can learn how to play songs that get stuck in my head which provides an even bigger dopamine hit lol Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 102 votes and 45 comments What’s helped me the most is realizing that food will always be an instant source of dopamine and that it’s ok to incorporate it as part of my ADHD management rather than “fighting” against eating it (which only ever leads to more binging). when Im not taking my meds (Im on a stimulant so I want to try and space the meds out to avoid my body becoming used to my dosage and what not as long as possible), Ill get an intense urge to eat a specific food, do a specific action (not exactly unhealthy There is no such thing as dopamine Detox. I disagree with: "Of course Dopamine fasting does not mean that one depletes themselves of any Dopaminergic stimuli - but nobody ever claimed that. This led me to research more about the so-called "dopamine detox". Like sipping juice or gatorade--he very clearly noted this is sipping, NOT gulping. It fills a gap. If you've found success with soft dopamine fasting, like cutting out porn/drugs, etc. Sleep replenishes dopamine stores, so it’s best to do highly dopaminergic things like videogames and tiktok after having a productive day. My once crippling anxiety was literally nonexistent for the first time in my life. But we’re less happy overall. 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. Amphetamine-based ADHD meds (Adderall, Vyvanse, dexedrine) work by increasing the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine. and started learning to get it by doing other things accomplishing things and hanging around with people. I did a month away from stimulating internet things over winter and it was actually insane how ridiculously easy it was to do things. That way when it kicks in my mind is associative the feel good/dopamine reward with exercise. The main takeaway from the detox for me was that I have to watch my dopamine intake the same way I watch my sugar or alcohol intake. 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 The #1 social media platform for MCAT advice. Keep in mind the dopamine fast is NOT designed for treating diseases, fixing mental health issues or managing your diet. Fasting allegedly doesn't achieve much, since it's more likely to do harm than good, and if you don't replace the dopamine from "negative" stimuli, then you'll only come back to it. I wonder if people with ADHD that have this genetic polymorphism have much more severe ADHD. 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. 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. but i do think it's something about too much dopamine actually leading to the same/similar issues. It’s normal to chase the rush of dopamine from new relationships…but I’m not certain it’s rooted in having adhd. Crisis = great sense of urgency. It's pretty rewarding to see my progress. You need to be careful, since doing high dopamine stuff early in the day will make it much harder to be productive. Dopamine is only one neurotransmitter; serotonin, noradrenaline, and GABA all work in synergy to achieve what you desire. g setting up little simple and achievable tasks and completing them. I think this is one of the reasons why my ADHD symptoms are so much more noticeable to me now; my life went from constant fast paced crisis to something much more slow and normal in the last couple years. Dopamine detox doesn't detox dopamine. And, if I'm honest, the stereotype of women with ADHD is a flighty random waifish woman. Afterall, whereas dopamine is not THE reward chemical, it is involved in the reward system, and probably people only care about that. It detoxes adrenaline and cortisol. A good ADHD specialist will try you on different ones to see which ones worked. "Dopaminergic fasting" could end up in people actually leaving some unhealthy habits. This results in the ADHD brain being faster than the non-ADHD brain. And also fasting Dopamine fasting isn’t supported by any peer reviewed science. Meds have helped me dramatically - I had symptoms very similar to yours and now, with medication, I feel normal and able to bring myself to do things. I would like to fix this, but I am also aware that ADHD is largely due to insufficient dopamine uptake and that cutting back on dopamine more can risk depression. It's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. The problem with that approach is that these dopamine detox videos were created by people who have a very limited understanding of what dopamine does in our brains. There is almost no empirical evidence that a behavioural intervention like the 'dopamine detox' that you described would have an effect on your dopamine receptor upregulation. Now onto the science: "Dopamine Detox" (and "Dopamine Fasting") is a term coined by the public (not scientists), but it is the language that the public speaks. 1 In particular, low dopamine levels are thought to be a main cause of executive dysfunction. This can give them undesirable side effects. I set aside time at work to work on problems which may yield "interesting" results. I've seen lots of stuff about ADHD women forgetting to eat all day, or accidentally doing intermittent fasting. A pleasant homeostasis, if you will. Dopamine is responsible for interest and motivation, it is the neurotransmitter that tells you "this is the right thing to be doing". LOLOLOLOL I have binge eating disorder and I am almost positive it stems from my ADHD. Mostly some kind of techno. For other people, it's something else that's messed up. MAO: It may be the case MAO-B (mono amine oxidase) is breaking dopamine down too fast, you can check MAO genes roo, as opposed to MAO-A which breaks down serotonin in the brain. We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. My brain now craves easy dopamine, the buzz of reward without making much effort. If done correctly, "dopamine detox" actually increases real dopamine and can rewire your brain to use that as the primary motivator. For the ADHD you need actual treatment from a professional - they have medicine that does target the dopaminergic system If you’re going to class and attempting the assignments but are unable to focus then your issue is the focus part of ADHD Meditation has shown to reduce symptoms of ADHD and strengthen the focus networks of the brain. Dopamine decompensation or metabolizing too fast? I’ve been reading a lot of folks’ experiences with tolerance building or their crashes at the end of the day, but I feel like I’m having an extreme version of that. The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is offered by the AAMC and is a required exam for admission to medical schools in the USA and Canada. I need dopamine to stay motivated in all areas so I’m always on the hunt. Zyban. So focus on removing you bad habits for a time being (90+ days) while working on your prioritization and better habits. A person that has ADHD would not be focus with coffee/caffeine. I compare it to my ADHD hyperactive female friend with fast COMT who has the pulsating kind. Norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) , major depressive disorder, atypical antidepressant , Epileptic seizures , ADHD, alleviate sexual dysfunction, weight loss, releasing agent of dopamine and norepinephrine (NDRA), similarly to other cathinones , Wellbutrin SR and XL Welcome to Dopamine Detoxing, by Andrew Kirby. My therapist has adhd and suggested I prolong dopamine-inducing activity on purpose and speed up low-reward tasks. Aug 24, 2023 · Dopamine fasting is trending, but can a digital detox help ADHD brains better manage addictive behaviors like video gaming and social media use? See full list on health. Thats the reason to give those kinds of medication, to raise the dopamine level to a somewhat normal and healthy dopamine level. For the dopamine part, I know that ADHD affects dopamine receptors. I find that after a dopamine detox and quitting the medication my overal focus is better than with the meds. I ended up deciding to quit video games for good since ADHD makes us especially vulnerable to them. It should be called "reducing dopamine overload by reducing easy empty quick dopamine hits so you can gain natural dopamine from things that are fulfilling". I noticed my cognitive decline and began dopamine fasting again, so that’s probably why. Telling people with ADHD that a dopamine detox could help them may prevent them from seeking traditional ADHD treatments. It was the perfect weather outside, so it felt good to go out and enjoy the air and sunlight. As far as increasing dopamine you should check out Andrew hubermans video on YouTube he’s a neuroscientist that shares research and advice. Dopamine has been linked as a possible contributor to ADHD. Fast forward to now: I've been dating a guy for 5 months, and since a little over 3 months we've been in an actual relationship. I'm 35 and Yes, I do have ADHD. If you have any health concerns please talk to your doctor. You cant fast from dopamine, it's a neurotransmitter. Dopamine fasting, or dopamine detox, is a technique that consists of completely abstaining from any experience that brings you pleasure, especially addictive technologies; like social media, doom scrolling, internet, youtube, reddit, listening to music, videogames, texting, etc. • 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. ADHD gets throwing around easily and misdiagnosed even by doctors. I have read a million times that exercise helps adhd and anxiety and I have a life long goal of one day being a person who excersises daily. Does watching shows or reading book series really gives more dopamine than playing sport with friends or a heavy workout? And yet many fall back to bad habits. Long post alert! I'm 33 and have had lifelong adhd/generalized anxiety. /r/MCAT is a place for MCAT practice, questions, discussion, advice, social networking, news, study tips and more. Fasting and ketosis (either from fasting or just a few days in a row of ketogenic eating, which I cycle) have done more for my brain health than anything else. The term started buzzing in Silicon Valley boardrooms in 2019, and it has since stuck. With that out of the way, let’s talk about how the final day of my dopamine fast went: Overall, I had a great day! I broke my record for most steps walked in a single day, with almost 30k. I love the dopamine rush of eating good food, and I'm very impulsive and have trouble stopping. The only (non pharmaceutical) way to correct course for pleasure-pain balance is by abstinence, or pressing on the physical pain side of the seesaw. “Dopamine fasting” is junk science. Otherwise yeah, as the other commenter said, there are things that increase / upregulate receptivity Avoid focusing to much on dopamine this and dopamine that. As genetic or as a brain development impairment. I have inattentive ADHD+autism, slow COMT and high tonic dopamine. You wont. I highly recommend listening to/watching the Dr Andrew Huberman podcast episode on ADHD and then the one on dopamine. This is a support group to help with impulsive behaviour towards Eating, Gaming, Gambling, Thrill, and Tech. Unlike traditional fasting, which restricts food and caloric intake, dry fasting requires the body to rely on its internal water reserves and metabolic reactions for energy. My theory? Too much dopamine stimulation. I stopped getting dopamine from "easy" things like eating fast food, sugar, etc. Hell, even therapy to talk to someone about why you turn to food for these dopamine hits- which has helped my friends that don't fast lose weight in general. After the fast, you start the next day with a new routine. Look into Wellbutrin (bupropion). Push through all the sciency stuff if you don't understand it. Trouble is, once I consume the bagel or chat with a friend or buy the Amazon thingie, I’m back to square one. Meds broke the binge eating cycle, I still have my hunger when on them and when I'm not on them I can do another activity that gives me a dopamine boost that doesn't involve food lol Anyone with ADHD, regardless of what type, understands that it can feel like a constant "all or nothing. Also want to make it clear it doesn't create ADHD in child, it can create a state simulating ADHD symptoms in non ADHD child and largely worsen the symptoms for those with ADHD. I love solving "problems/puzzles"; it's a key part of my ADHD, gives me a huge dopamine rush. Plus I get a dopamine boost from opening the box each month AND I have something I look forward to every month :) •Learning a musical instrument. As a result, the neuro-chemical signal isn't passed on efficient;y because too little dopamine is connecting to the receptors on the opposite Actually that depends on how you define ADHD. I'm learning how to play the piano and ukelele. It gobbles up the dopamine too quickly, so it cannot cross the synaptic gap to the next neuron. Does that make sense? I really need to…not ever do that again. Just like dancing in club but now I move forward too. My ADHD friend (one in specific) is reacting so fast to sugar her ADHD symptoms triple in intensity with the smallest sugary things (and of course she loves sugar). In case of most of the people, ADHD is due to a messed up dopamine pathway - for them the only way is to use stuff that keeps dopamine levels high. I began dedicating a lot to dopamine fasting again. 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. When people use that term they mean regulating things you enjoy in order to focus the mind. messed up tyramine processing - too much tyramine throws dopamine out of receptors, and causes similar symptoms. Finally, dopamine seeking can lead to addictive behavior. A "dopamine fast" or whatever that is will just make your situation worse, and seeking other "dopamine highs" is a slippery slope. So, the consequence of this is that the brain doesn’t keep the dopamine for as long as it’s needed to satisfy itself. It's a NDRI, a noreponephrine-dopamine-reuptske-inhibitor. It's unsustainable but a dopamine fast sounds horrendous! Even assuming I was capable of resisting the dopamine dispensers to make a difference We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Sadly I must agree. Reading paper books to stay occupied, and stay off of the phone which is an attention sucking dopamine generating machine (makes for cravings/needs for dopamine). 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. We’re not used to waiting for the dopamine hits we easily get from fast access to shopping, social media, sweets, booze, porn etc. Hi u/tillymint259 and thanks for posting on r/ADHD! Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already. All the saved up dopamine flooding my receptors on top of the drugs will turn me into a Euphoric God-King Superman. After all, dopamine and ADHD are very highly connected. While there may be some benefits in abstaining from these activities, the idea of doing a dopamine fast to reset your system doesn’t hold much water. you are correct that one of the genetic conditions of adhd is lack of dopamine. It helped me kick the cycle, but I unfortunately relapsed, which is why I am replying to you on Reddit. Since ADHD downregulates dopamine over the long term I think (and also speaking from personal experience) it is best tot taper the medication to come to a complete stop. I didn't do a dopamine fast. Also dopamine, adrenaline etc. It just kicks the ADHD brain in some kind of hyperfocus mode. Very relatable. So, the stimulation We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Thank you! Hello everyone, In the episode about dopamine,Huberman says that you can raise your base line “wavepool” of dopamine by taking a cold shower. Most dopaminergic neurotransmission is relatively intact in ADHD, which is why we get some side effects from stimulants even at appropriate doses. I'm diagnosed with adhd, take adderall and dexedrine. 2. ADHD meds. No, this isn't supposed to be fun, but it's only for 24 hours or a weekend. Or whatever. Different circadiam rhythms, increased distractions, dopamine farming, higher anxiety and racing thoughts can all contribute. vxtue ylqv taav dvcx ezsqntm xajch pzqwjl fftan eymjhpxo haxbq byaxb jsefa hxrq fxuf ebuw