ADHDifference - DOPAMINE STACKING & SNACKING

Julie and Jel Legg explore dopamine stacking—when multiple sources of dopamine stimulation are layered on top of each other. This can create an intense, pleasurable experience but also lead to a crash afterward, leaving individuals feeling unmotivated, overstimulated, or even emotionally flat.

They discuss how ADHD brains crave dopamine, and explore how dopamine stacking manifests in different areas of life, including social interactions, work, and family environments. They chat about dopamine ‘snacking’—engaging in small, spaced-out dopamine hits, which can help maintain motivation without burnout.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dopamine Stacking Feels Good but Has a Cost: Engaging in multiple dopamine-producing activities at once can be highly stimulating but often leads to a crash in motivation and mood afterward. People with ADHD often stack dopamine unintentionally due to dopamine deficiency and difficulty regulating pleasure and motivation.

The Crash After the High: After intense dopamine stacking, the next day or even the next few hours can feel bland, unmotivating, or overwhelming, making it hard to focus or feel engaged.

Social and Work Implications: Dopamine stacking isn't limited to personal entertainment; it can occur in social settings, leading to burnout after highly stimulating social events, or in work environments where overloading tasks can cause fatigue and mental exhaustion.

Self-Awareness is Key: Recognizing when dopamine stacking is happening allows individuals to pace themselves, spread out rewarding activities, and avoid the intense highs and lows.

LINKS

• Julie Legg, The Missing Piece: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD

 

 

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