See Also:
Intro to the Brain and the Power of the Mind
Intro to the Brain and the Power of the Mind
- Structure and Composition of Your Brain
- Strange & Interesting Facts on the Brain
- Hormones and Neurotransmitters
- The Role of Dopamine
- The Power of Thought - Neuroplasticity
- The Brain and Emotion
- Neuroscience Glossary
THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
Commentaries and essays on a variety of topics including parenting, the capacity for love, emotions, mindfulness and social issues.
A Book Excerpt From
The Road to Neuroplasticity and Change to Heal Trauma, Improve Cognitive Capacity and Maximize Performance
ABOUT THE BOOK
THE ROLES OF DOPAMINE AND NOREPINEPHRINE
Neurotransmitters are Chemical Messengers
See Also:
Intro to the Brain and the Power of the Mind
Intro to the Brain and the Power of the Mind
- Structure and Composition of Your Brain
- Strange & Interesting Facts on the Brain
- Hormones and Neurotransmitters
- The Role of Dopamine
- The Power of Thought - Neuroplasticity
- Neuroscience Glossary
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that motivates you to seek out rewards. It’s commonly accepted that the ADHD brain does not produce enough dopamine by default.
Some physicians believe that ADHD is caused by a deficit of dopamine in the brain. It is suggested that that people with ADHD have trouble producing dopamine because of a neuroplastic adaptation to stress in childhood. The brain was stressed during the formative years.
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 other seemingly normal aspects of life. We need 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. This motivates you to get the most out of your career, personal life, and aspirations.
Discovering the proper motivations and rewards (sources of dopamine) is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Here are the 10 healthy rewards that trigger dopamine production. These rewards will provide your ADHD brain with much-needed dopamine, and improve your life at the same time.
Travel
Travel provides your brain with novelty and stimulation. When you travel, your brain is forced to interact with new landscapes, sounds, people, customs, languages. 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”.
The Winner Effect
Winning increases your brain’s dopamine receptors, makes you smarter, and more confident. When you win at something, your brain releases large amounts of dopamine and testosterone. Over time, winning changes your brain’s structure and chemical makeup.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an effective reward that just about everyone with ADHD loves to use. It’s been shown that Caffeineenhances dopamine signaling in the human brain. This means that high doses of caffeine work similarly to stimulant-based ADHD medications. If you feel like your ADHD brain is running extra low on dopamine, try drinking a cup of espresso coffee for a boost.
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:
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. Your personal growth primarily comes down to:
Professional Progress
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.
Other ideas:
Exercise
Exercise is probably the fastest and easiest way to produce more dopamine when you have ADHD. When you exercise, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, BDNF, and norepinephrine. This potent chemical cocktail gets most people addicted to exercise. Exercise improves your brain’s BDNF, so exercising will help your brain form new neurons, and repair damaged nerve cells.
Intimacy
It’s been shown that a pair bonding (intense social attachment) stimulates the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. This means that intimacy causes your brain to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin. Being in a great relationship can seriously help with your ADHD.
Socialization
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. Social relationships can help people overcome diseases like depression, where dopamine levels have been depleted.
Transcendental Meditation
ADHD makes it incredibly difficult to “empty your mind” and meditate. But, practicing meditation and Mindfulness is helpful for boosting dopamine in the ADHD brain. With Transcendental Meditation, you’re free to fidget if you need to. You’re also free to let thoughts enter and exit your mind. Just focus on your breathing. Meditation has been shown to increase endogenous dopamine release, improve concentration levels, combat stress, and provide so many other health benefits. The secret “healing power” of meditation seems to involve the change in consciousness that you experience while meditating.
BAD SOURCES OF DOPAMINE
The 3 most common negative rewards that people with ADHD need to avoid are:
Sweets
It’s true eating sugar causes your brain to release dopamine. But the average American consumes about 82 grams of added sugar per day. If you have ADHD, then you have enough challenges to deal with. You do not need to add diabetes or disease in your life. Avoid consuming sugar as often as possible. A little bit of sugar is no big deal. Just avoid overindulging.
Television
Problems happen when you start binge-watching. TV isn’t going to leave you feeling fulfilled in life.
Social Media Addiction
Social media triggers a powerful dopamine high. If your brain feels like it’s being “rewarded” from social media, then you may be tricking yourself into thinking that you’re being productive.
Dopamine is one of the most important chemicals that your brain produces. It’s responsible for your motivationand 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.
Some physicians believe that ADHD is caused by a deficit of dopamine in the brain. It is suggested that that people with ADHD have trouble producing dopamine because of a neuroplastic adaptation to stress in childhood. The brain was stressed during the formative years.
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 other seemingly normal aspects of life. We need 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. This motivates you to get the most out of your career, personal life, and aspirations.
Discovering the proper motivations and rewards (sources of dopamine) is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Here are the 10 healthy rewards that trigger dopamine production. These rewards will provide your ADHD brain with much-needed dopamine, and improve your life at the same time.
Travel
Travel provides your brain with novelty and stimulation. When you travel, your brain is forced to interact with new landscapes, sounds, people, customs, languages. 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”.
The Winner Effect
Winning increases your brain’s dopamine receptors, makes you smarter, and more confident. When you win at something, your brain releases large amounts of dopamine and testosterone. Over time, winning changes your brain’s structure and chemical makeup.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an effective reward that just about everyone with ADHD loves to use. It’s been shown that Caffeineenhances dopamine signaling in the human brain. This means that high doses of caffeine work similarly to stimulant-based ADHD medications. If you feel like your ADHD brain is running extra low on dopamine, try drinking a cup of espresso coffee for a boost.
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
- Organic eggs – Contains tyrosine, which boosts dopamine
- Steak – Contains tyrosine
- Beets – Contains betaine, which acts as an antidepressant
- Apples – Contains quercetin, which has been shown to fight against dopamine depletion
- 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
- Tyrosine is the main ingredient that you’ll want to consume if you want to boost you dopamine levels naturally.
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. Your personal growth primarily comes down to:
- Health
- Relationships
- Hobbies
- Spirituality
- New Skills
- Time
Professional Progress
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.
Other ideas:
- Start a gig on the side
- Acquire new skills
- Move to a new city
- Find a better job
Exercise
Exercise is probably the fastest and easiest way to produce more dopamine when you have ADHD. When you exercise, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, BDNF, and norepinephrine. This potent chemical cocktail gets most people addicted to exercise. Exercise improves your brain’s BDNF, so exercising will help your brain form new neurons, and repair damaged nerve cells.
Intimacy
It’s been shown that a pair bonding (intense social attachment) stimulates the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. This means that intimacy causes your brain to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin. Being in a great relationship can seriously help with your ADHD.
Socialization
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. Social relationships can help people overcome diseases like depression, where dopamine levels have been depleted.
Transcendental Meditation
ADHD makes it incredibly difficult to “empty your mind” and meditate. But, practicing meditation and Mindfulness is helpful for boosting dopamine in the ADHD brain. With Transcendental Meditation, you’re free to fidget if you need to. You’re also free to let thoughts enter and exit your mind. Just focus on your breathing. Meditation has been shown to increase endogenous dopamine release, improve concentration levels, combat stress, and provide so many other health benefits. The secret “healing power” of meditation seems to involve the change in consciousness that you experience while meditating.
BAD SOURCES OF DOPAMINE
The 3 most common negative rewards that people with ADHD need to avoid are:
Sweets
It’s true eating sugar causes your brain to release dopamine. But the average American consumes about 82 grams of added sugar per day. If you have ADHD, then you have enough challenges to deal with. You do not need to add diabetes or disease in your life. Avoid consuming sugar as often as possible. A little bit of sugar is no big deal. Just avoid overindulging.
Television
Problems happen when you start binge-watching. TV isn’t going to leave you feeling fulfilled in life.
- 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 are not “cognitive.” The lower or reptile brain reacts to the environment using deeply embedded “fight or flight” response programs. These 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.
- Studies have proven that 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 causes you to believe that what you see on TV is real.
Social Media Addiction
Social media triggers a powerful dopamine high. If your brain feels like it’s being “rewarded” from social media, then you may be tricking yourself into thinking that you’re being productive.
Dopamine is one of the most important chemicals that your brain produces. It’s responsible for your motivationand 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.
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
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© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY