Have you ever felt physically unable to start a task, even when you know exactly how to do it? This phenomenon is the hallmark of a brain starved for dopamine.
According to the National Institute of Health, globally, approximately 5% of children and adolescents are affected by ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is not a character flaw; it’s a neurodevelopmental disorder. It
causes chemical signaling issues, primarily involving a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is a feel-good brain chemical. Dopamine provides motivation and creates a sense of satisfaction when people meet their goals, experience pleasure, or when they are rewarded.
However, reward chemicals often operate at lower levels in ADHD brains, which makes it harder to stay engaged or complete tasks. While low feel-good chemicals alone may not directly cause ADHD, it contributes significantly to its symptoms. It makes life harder, especially with maintaining a routine or completing tasks.
Understanding the relationship between Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and dopamine is the first step toward moving from frustration to function.
What is Dopamine?
Dopamine is a critical neurotransmitter and hormone that acts as a chemical messenger in the brain to play an important role in motivation, mood, memory, attention, and emotional regulation. This chemical affects how people experience pleasure, satisfaction, and reward. However, when an individual does something exciting or achieves a new milestone, their brain releases dopamine, which makes them feel good.
The ADHD Brain
An ADHD brain is a neurodivergent brain that develops and functions differently from a “neurotypical” one. Scientific research from organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that these differences are rooted in the brain’s physical structure, chemical signaling, and neural networks.
People experiencing ADHD have nothing wrong with their brains; in fact, they are very hardworking. However, the dopamine system doesn’t work properly, and they remain unmotivated and have a lack of concentration.
— Dr. Helen Fisher
“Brains are unique; no brain is the same as another.”
According to the research at the National Library of Medicine, there are two main issues in ADHD, which are hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Here is how the Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder brain works:
- Low Baseline Levels: The brain does not produce enough reward chemicals or does not release them effectively.
- Poor Transport: The brain’s mechanism may act too fast, pulling the pleasure chemical back before it can send its message.
- Interest-Based Motivation: As the brain is starved for dopamine, it prioritizes activities that provide an immediate dopamine boost, which the brain is craving. These include video games and social media scrolling while ignoring important tasks.
Connection Between ADHD and Dopamine
ADHD and dopamine are strongly connected, as the main cause of ADHD is trouble with dopamine transmission. This means that if the brain does not process dopamine correctly, it eventually leads to ADHD.
However, the impacts on the neurotransmitters that regulate our learning and motivation could result in inattention and hyperactivity, which are the symptoms of ADHD.
Here are some of the key aspects of the ADHD-Dopamine relationship:
- People with ADHD experience a “hypo-dopaminergic” state, in which the brain’s reward system is underactive and in need of stimulation to avoid boredom.
- Increased levels of dopamine transporters (DAT) remove dopamine from synapses, reducing the amount of dopamine available as a neurotransmitter.
- ADHDers have at least one gene, the DRD2 gene, that doesn’t work as it should and makes it harder to respond to dopamine.
- ADHD is also linked to another gene for the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which helps convert dopamine to another chemical messenger called norepinephrine.
Signs to Recognize Dopamine Seeking Behavior
The lower level of dopamine can make a person want more of it, which eventually leads them to start seeking out the things that boost their dopamine.
Here are some of the signs of dopamine-seeking behavior:
- Risky sexual behaviors, such as addiction to substances
- Pornography to get pleasure
- Binge-drinking
- Substance abuse
- Gambling
- Shopping
- Instigating conflict with others
- Binge-eating
How Does ADHD and Low Dopamine Impact Daily Life?
People struggling with low dopamine and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have difficulties managing everyday tasks.
As it alters the efforts and reward, impacting several areas of everyday life, which include:
1. Motivation and Task Management
Individuals struggling with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have low motivation, and they have difficulty starting a new task or completing tasks. Without the rewarding chemical, the simplest tasks feel difficult, and starting things can feel physically impossible.
2. Impulsivity
Low levels of dopamine make one impulsive, which leads them to doomscrolling on social media, impulsive shopping, or consuming excess sugar and caffeine for a dopamine lift. It can also make them engage in behaviors like reckless driving or substance use to trigger a rush of rewarding chemicals.
3. Emotional and Physical Health
Imbalanced dopamine leads to emotional and physical health issues. As they outbursts because of frustration, rejection sensitivity, or sudden mood swings. Moreover, excessive sugar intake and sleep struggles can also lead to physical health issues.
4. Daily Productivity & Relationships
Lower dopamine levels can severely impact the ability to perform daily tasks, planning and remember the instructions. The impulsive nature makes them interrupt others, which profoundly impacts the relationships with friends and family.
ADHD Brain Vs Normal Brain Dopamine
There are differences between the Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder brain and the normal brain. As in the ADHD brain, the neurotransmitter system is dysregulated, which means that the brain doesn’t use this dopamine as efficiently as a neurotypical brain. Whereas a “normal” brain maintains dopamine to stay focused on routine tasks.
Here is how both are different:
| ADHD Brain | Normal Brain |
| It craves rewards to trigger dopamine. | A normal brain keeps going even when it is hard. |
| They experience task paralysis and can be distracted easily. | The normal brain can pay attention to even the “boring” tasks. |
| The Default Mode Network (DMN ) is a specific, interconnected network of brain regions that stays active, leading to constant internal distraction. | They stop daydreaming and successfully complete their tasks. |
What Causes ADHD Dopamine?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with a dysfunction in neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. This imbalance usually occurs due to genetic and other factors. Here are some of the key causes of ADHD-related issues:
1. Dopamine Transporter Dysfunction (DAT)
DAT is a protein found on the surface of dopamine-producing neurons that acts as a pump to remove dopamine from the synaptic cleft. However, people struggling with ADHD may have higher concentrations of DAT in the brain. However, it prematurely removes the rewarding chemical from the synaptic gap before it can send the signals.
2. Genetic Factors
Genetics plays a major role as the specific genes related to neurotransmitter receptors, such as DRD4 and DRD5 transporters, influence the development of the brain’s reward system. However, it increases the vulnerability to ADHD.
3. Brain Structure & Development
Brain structure and development also play a huge role. The differences in brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and caudate nucleus lead to deficiencies in dopamine signaling.
How to Build Dopamenu?
The term “dopamenu” was coined by Jessica McCabe. It helps in rewiring the brain activities. It involves creating a list of activities that boost dopamine levels and using them regularly throughout the day.
The main goal of Dopamenu is to help individuals enter a state of mental focus in which they are fully focused on a specific task. It includes concentrated activity and helps in providing brain relaxation from stress and anxiety.
Here are some of the Dopamenu that help build dopamine.
- Exercises regularly
- Playing music
- Crafting, painting
- Celebrate the little achievements
- Maintaining social connections
ADHD Treatment and Dopamine
There is a strong link between dopamine and ADHD, and treating one can help the other. In fact, some ADHD medications work directly on neurotransmitter levels and relieve ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication that acts on dopamine is considered a stimulant and includes amphetamines like:
- Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
- Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin)
These medications directly target the dopamine transporters, which block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters in the brain. However, the higher dopamine levels lead to relief from ADHD, and particularly increase the energy challenges.
Mental health professionals may also recommend therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that helps people develop coping strategies, improve their skills, and helps in managing emotions.
Executive Function Coaching, in this therapy, a mental health expert provides practical skills training for time management and organization. Mindfulness-Based CBT, in this talk therapy, a mental health expert combines meditation and therapy to enhance focus, reduce stress, and potentially strengthen the medication effects.
How Can Renewed Mental Health Group Help?
If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with ADHD, remember that you are not alone in this journey! Every person with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a different experience, and only a mental health professional can diagnose the exact condition and recommend treatments tailored to the needs.
At Renewed Mental Health Group, we have a team of certified professionals who offer compassionate treatments. Our therapists offer support in an approachable, judgment-free environment. We understand your brain isn’t “broken,” it just needs treatments that work for you.
With virtual and in-person therapy, the Renewed Mental Health Group is here to help you thrive, dopamine and all.
Because you deserve to live a life that feels good!
Take the first step & connect with us today.
