Living with ADHD feels like life is on hard mode

Living with ADHD feels like life is on hard mode. It’s as if my brain is ruled by a never-ending pursuit of *dopamine – always chasing that next hit of excitement, stimulation, or novelty.

Caffeine, new hobbies, late-night deep dives into hyperfixations, endless scrolling, starting projects I never finish – anything that might unlock that rush, even just for a moment. And when a task doesn’t come with that dopamine spike? Oh my gosh, the resistance. It doesn’t just feel difficult; it feels impossible.

Yet in a world obsessed with consistency – grind culture, gym gains, productivity, perfectly tidy homes – it’s easy to feel like we’re failing.

Like we should be able to stick with things. Like we should just push through.

But what if we reframed it? Think of everything you’ve accomplished despite this challenge. How resilient must that make you? Think about your hyperfocus, your deep dives into research and all those short-lived hobbies. How beautiful and deeply human it is to possess that kind of intense curiosity – to learn, to explore, to create. And the courage it takes to even put yourself out there and start something new? That makes you incredibly interesting.

Exhausting. Exhilarating. The dopamine-seeking cycle can be difficult to live with at times. But it’s also the reason behind so many of the most incredible aspects of ourselves. And we can’t forget that, too.

*Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in the brain’s reward and motivation systems, as well as in motor control, attention and executive functions.

What’s Dopamine?

Dopamine is like your brain’s feel-good chemical. It’s important for:

• Feeling motivated
• Experiencing pleasure and rewards
• Staying focused
• Controlling your movements

The Basics

People with ADHD might have some issues with dopamine in their brains. It’s like their dopamine system isn’t working as smoothly as it should.

How It Affects You

1. Focus struggles: Low dopamine can make it hard to pay attention whilst completing tasks.
2. Motivation challenges: People with ADHD might find it tough to get started on assignments or stick with long-term projects.
3. Reward seeking: People with ADHD may crave instant gratification more than others.

The Science Bit

• ADHD brains might have fewer dopamine receptors or clear out dopamine too quickly.
• Some ADHD genes are linked to how dopamine works in the brain.

Treatment Connection

Many ADHD meds work by boosting dopamine levels or how it’s used in the brain. That’s why they can help with focus and motivation.

Understanding this dopamine-ADHD link can help People with ADHD make sense of why they might think or behave in certain ways. It’s all about brain chemistry!