ADHD brains have low levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is linked arm-in-arm with dopamine. Dopamine is the thing that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure center.
Lack of Dopamine in the ADHD Brain
As you know, one trademark of ADHD is low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine — a chemical released by nerve cells into the brain.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes differences in brain growth, development, and function. ADHD can also cause delayed maturation and activity differences in certain brain regions. The differences of the ADHD brain can affect thinking, behavior, and emotions.
The answer lies in brain chemistry: ADHD brains are naturally low on dopamine and norepinephrine, which control brain arousal and attention levels. Other people may find that, when the situation calls for it, they can “buckle down” and force their brains to focus.
Living with ADHD is about monitoring your traits and actively working toward finding what works best for you. With the right support and treatment, you can create a life that allows you to reach your greatest potential.
At Work or School
Research has found that people with ADHD have more creativity and idea generation than people without the disorder. 3 This can lead to outside-the-box thinking that is so important for innovation. Hyper-focus: Many people with ADHD become hyper-focused on things that interest them.
Many ADHDers are high achievers. They get advanced degrees, build thriving careers, and launch successful businesses. However, they've likely worked twice as hard as their peers to achieve it due to their (often undiagnosed) ADHD.
ADHD is associated with abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitters transmitting between the prefrontal cortical area and the basal ganglia i.e., dopamine and noradrenaline. Dopamine is closely associated with reward centers in the brain, and also interacts with other potent neurotransmitters to regulate mood.
The brain's frontal lobes, which are involved in ADHD, continue to mature until we reach age 35. In practical terms, this means that people with ADHD can expect some lessening of their symptoms over time. Many will not match the emotional maturity of a 21-year-old until their late 30's.
More Dopamine, Please
However, dopamine-increasing behaviors are even more gratifying to ADHD brains. Key aspects of the reward system are underactive in ADHD brains, making it difficult to derive reward from ordinary activities.
While ADHD appears to be more common in males, females are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to differences in symptoms. Understanding the gender differences in ADHD may help you become more aware of how symptoms present among women and girls versus men and boys.
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do. People with ADHD do think differently though, in a sense.
Since people with ADHD can get easily distracted by surrounding stimuli, listening to brown noise could help minimize auditory distractions, allowing them to concentrate better on what they're doing. Some people may also find that it helps quiet their internal whirlwind of thoughts, making it easier to focus.
Brown noise is a low-frequency background sound that helps people with ADHD focus and feel calm.
Ayurvedic treatment with therapies targeted to improve brain functions, herbs and remedies to improve concentration and mind calmness, coupled with cognitive behavioural therapy can be very effective in ADHD.
Ashwagandha Supports Mood*
Can Ashwagandha work for ADHD? The short answer is: no. There is no substantial scientific evidence supporting its use for this specific condition.
A good ADHD diet is well-balanced, with a generous portion of fruits and vegetables paired with whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins. This diet ensures your nutritional needs are met and helps keep your mind and body in their best state. Keep in mind that research is ongoing in relation to ADHD and diet.
ADHD is not, in and of itself, a gift. It is a disorder that often leads to significant challenges in various aspect of one's life. And each person with ADHD has a unique profile of symptoms and difficulties.
Channing Tatum is one of the most widely recognized celebrities. He also happens to be an actor who has publicly shared his struggles with ADHD during his childhood and how his struggles at school affected him. In fact, he continues to work through related difficulties as an adult.
However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence. In fact, according to one study , ADHD affects people in the same way across high, average, and low IQ score ranges. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can make it difficult for people to focus and to control impulsive behaviors.