Scientists believe that ADHD is caused by a genetic deficiency of a neurotransmitter in your brain called dopamine. ADHD brain chemistry is complicated. Dopamine isn’t the only neurotransmitter involved in ADHD. However, it’s a big one.
The short form is that dopamine is strongly connected with the classic ADHD symptoms. Dopamine is what turns the switch on that we’ve talked about recently in another blog.
Dopamine affects your ADHD by impacting your ability to:
- Focus – even on boring stuff
- Pay attention – even to boring stuff
- Be motivated – ditto to boring
- Follow through on a task. You guessed it. Even boring tasks.
Simply put, without enough dopamine, Attention Deficit rules the day.
Even more simply put, the name of the game in reducing the symptoms of ADHD is to increase the amount of dopamine in your brain.
How To Reduce ADHD Symptoms By Increasing Dopamine
There are many ways to increase dopamine levels and turn your ADHD brain switch on.
Taking a stimulant medication, like Adderall or Ritalin, typically prescribed to treat ADHD is one. Eating protein and exercise are others. Scientists also believe Omega-3 fatty acids increase dopamine levels in the brain, therefore reducing ADHD symptoms.
Some not-so-good ways, such as high-risk behaviors, cocaine, and smoking, also give a dopamine kick.
In a nutshell, the more dopamine you have available to your ADHD brain, the more you can focus, be motivated, pay attention, and follow through. In addition, the more natural ways you can find to increase your dopamine levels, the less ADHD medication you may have to take for optimal functioning.
Along with getting organized, creating routines and systems, and outsmarting ADHD symptoms, I help my ADHD Coaching clients and ADHD Success Club members learn to manage their dopamine levels.
Over the next few blogs, we are going to take a deeper dive into the natural ways you can increase dopamine and better manage your ADHD symptoms. So you can learn to focus better. So living with ADHD becomes a whole lot easier.
Want to get started? Click below!
- Exercise: A Natural ADHD Treatment
- How to Move Your Body to Manage Your ADHD
- Squishy Brain: How Dehydration Torpedos ADHD
- Your Sleep Sucks? So Does Your ADHD!
- ADHD Sleep Tips: Better Tips Than Counting Sheep
- Meditate Your ADHD Away
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids For ADHD Symptoms
- Protein is ADHD Brain Fuel
Tired of struggling with ADHD? You’re in the right place. ADHD Success is loaded with free, practical tips to help you get organized, manage your time, and live more easily with Adult ADHD. Like what you read? Sign up for the newsletter now! No Spam. I promise!
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