this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2024
1030 points (98.0% liked)
ADHD memes
7928 readers
100 users here now
ADHD Memes
The lighter side of ADHD
Rules
Other ND communities
- ADHD - Generic discussion
- Ausome Memes
- Autism
- AuDHD
- Neurodivergence
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Yeah, more or less. Stimulants tend to have a contradictory calming and/or focusing effect on the ADHD brain. I don’t remember why exactly but it probably has to do with dopamine regulation, which our brains crave like a zombie does brains.
My diagnosis kind of explained why I can drink inordinate amounts of coffee or energy drinks (don’t do this) and sleep like a log 30min later lol
Some brain cells make dopamine to reinforce behaviors. Dopamine slots into receptor, you get that feeling of satisfaction. A protein in the brain cell wall vacuums up excess dopamine so it doesn't just flood the brain forever, constantly triggering the receptors.
ADHD brain cell dopamine vacuums are just always on max speed all the time.
Methylphenidate slows the vacuums down so the dopamine doesn't get sucked right back down, meaning it actually has a chance to reach the receptors and do its job.
It's not quite that our brains crave dopamine, it's that our brains are too good at tidying it up, kinda like someone following around behind you as you set the table, putting all the clean dinnerware straight into the dishwasher unused.
Man, the more I'm on Lemmy the more I think I might have ADHD lmao