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Return to Never Enough? Why ADHD Brains Crave Stimulation

Never Enough? Why ADHD Brains Crave Stimulation

At times, it feels the ADHD brain is never sated — particularly when it comes to common sources of stimulation like video games, sex, and substances. Here's why your brain craves these things — and how it affects your day-to-day behavior.

25 Comments: Never Enough? Why ADHD Brains Crave Stimulation

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  1. Wow! I came across this eye-opening article because my teenage son and myself struggle with ADHD (I also have OCD, which adds an interesting layer to it..lol)!! It’s one of the best explanations of ADHD I’ve ever read…thank you! I totally have the night owl issue (I go to bed between 3 and 4 am every night), the sugar/carb addiction, compulsive shopping addiction and all the classic symptoms, like procrastination, time management issues, hard to start and finish projects, get bored easily, etc. I guess I never really connected the sugar addiction and night owl issue directly with ADHD, but it certainly makes perfect sense now. Knowing more about why I do what I do, will definitely help me in my quest to get my son and I healthier!

  3. It is so unnerving that I relate to so many of the symptoms, feelings, etc.in this article. I am convinced I have undiagnosed ADHD. And, I am not sure how to address this with my G.P. or counselor. I am concerned about taking more meds when I already take 2 prescriptions for depression and acid reflux. I have a feeling that in the near future I will also add meds for high blood pressure. I read these articles and think – omg! I have ADHD and that’s why I do the things that I do. Since I recently turned 51 and have been experiencing menopausal symptoms, along with a close family member’s death, my ADHD symptoms are worsening and off the charts. No motivation, easily distracted and unable to focus on tasks that need to be done. So, how do I approach this with my general practitioner and I just started counseling…How do I get her to test me or recommend screening for ADHD to see if I truly have it and get properly diagnosed to address these symptoms?

  4. No wonder I eat so much sweet stuff.

    The part about sleep timing resonates SO much. I always stay up late and get up late because that’s the best time I have to myself and don’t have to deal with anything or anyone.

  5. You just described me: ADHD and Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder. Two lifelong issues and, to this very day, have never had either of my doctors, psychiatrist for ADHD, among other things, and neurologist for sleep disorders, make the connection between the two.

  6. I came across this article after having a bit of a mental meltdown and came looking for specific answers. So much of this article describes precisely what I have been contending with throughout my life. Of note for me is the reference to self-medication which frankly I feel like I most often self-medicate through negative behaviors due to a lack of impulse control or simply because a positive and/or beneficial solution to what I am struggling with does not present itself in a timely enough fashion for me to stop the run-away train that my negative proclivities can turn into.

    The biggest thing I have noticed likely has to do with eating. I have turned my formerly poor eating habits around over the last five years or so and now if I don’t get enough food intake or I don’t get enough of what I know I need it usually results in my shifting to a negative behavior to fill the void. It may sound strange but it is a pattern I have noticed as being consistent even from my childhood.

  9. This article is 1000000000% my boyfriend, who is almost 38. He is a porn addict who hit rock bottom with it a few months ago and so started therapy. He also is terrible with nutrition. My question is, what can be done? I mean, he already takes 70 mg/day of Vyvanse. So, Meds do not seem to be the complete answer. What can be done to help with these issues?

  10. This is one of the most thorough writings on this subject I have come across. It really covers a lot of the bases and I hope you write more particularly on the management techniques to “psych out” the bran. That would be interesting as well.

  11. Oh my goodness! This is such a well-written article. I was not diagnosed with ADHD until age 53. This really explains what’s been going on all my life. Thank you so much for giving me this clear definition. Even at this late stage I’m so glad to know that it’s not just me, that there is a reason.

  12. I am a teacher and I have noticed an increase in students displaying ADHD symptoms. However, with the addition to technology into their environment is it possible they are displaying symptoms of an addition instead?

  13. This is spot on, for me. Just a well written article which outlines many of my “interest” challenges. I will put off tasks until last minute then I get that urgency rush which I imagine is the dopamine. I can’t normally finish these articles due to focus, but this one had me. Thank you.

  14. Great article. You describe the state of an ADHD mind in a way that many people can identify with. But I wish you would talk more about the spectrum of ADHD. I say this because if a symptom of having an ADHD mind is “being distracted by stimuli” or “being directed by internal pressure vs. external” then everyone on the planet would be ADHD. And I think this is why so many people can identify with this article. It’s not because everyone is ADHD, but it’s because the characteristics you described are HUMAN characteristics.

    My theory is that the rise in ADHD symptoms are a product of our modern lives. The human mind craves stimulation, and in the past stimulation wasn’t as readily available as it is today. Modern life is basically a stimulation all-you-can-eat buffet and our brains haven’t developed regulation mechanisms to deal with the overwhelming availability of it all.

    But I really liked how you closed the article when you stated that it is important to realize that our neurochemistry effects us more than we know and that what seem like personal failings are not always so. It’s important to be forgiving with ourselves.

    1. The perceived rise in ADHD might also be accounted for by our reward based system enjoying risky sex. In fact that would eventually result in our becoming the plurality hense the norm at some point. However all evidence points to a plateau being reached.
      I seriously cannot wait for a blood test or simple scan to clinically determine its existence. Knowing the Healthcare industry as I do. I am sure the initial cost of such will match the current cost of the battery of pschological tests and their interpretation. Over time it will come down as competing tests are developed.

  15. I have read many articles from your magazine and always find them interesting & enlightening. However, this one was the one that hit home for me on every single point. I was diagnosed w/both types of ADD (hyperactive & non-attentive), unfortunately late in life, but thankful to have finally gotten an answer/explanation for what has been my crazy life. Many thanks to ADDitude magazine for helping me remember that I’m not alone in this crazy world of “normal” people.

  16. Dr. Ellen Littman, I LOVE YOU!!! Thank you so much for this article, it articulates what I’ve been searching for, for so many years! Finally I can put words to what I’ve been thinking/feeling/intuiting: understanding why I act the way I do! This is a very key part of my current research (into learning disabilities) as well as growing in understanding and healing myself. Not only am I ADHD, but my mother was ADHD, and my father was ADHD, and their original families, and my brothers and sisters and their families—all with unique presentations that are fully explained and understood by your article (in conjunction with the other studying I’ve done). I just can’t thank you enough, and I am so glad I found this article! I will be looking for more from you, I hope the search is not a difficult one. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  17. The bit about Carbs, Chocolate etc… Can anyone help? All my life I’ve automatically craved these foods and find it so stressful and difficult to say no to the point where I break and binge. They give dopamine yes, and it feels good…I’m stimulated! but they put on weight and then I feel guilty which then effects self-esteem and so on… I’m not obese but I am overweight and it’s the lack of self control (EFD???) that worries me the most. Anyone any ideas I haven’t tried?

    1. I would go to a natural path and have blood drawn to check for nutritional defincies and food sensitivities. Add in probiotics, krill oil, magnesium glycinate, and Gabba. Gabba and magnesium glycinate need to be taken at bedtime. We follow a Keto lifestyle, but there are other food lifestyles that work. Whole Foods would be a great start. Clean out the house of all processed foods and start researching. It is not easy to change lifestyles, but you get used to it.

    2. Hi Mo-Town 🙂

      Not sure if 1 or 2 of these might help you, but I had some neurofeedback (which helped) and as I just had an op to repair my ACL, I decided it was time to stick to a keto diet again – to avoid gaining weight as I’m mostly forced to be sedentary atm unfortunately. I’m finding it quite easy to stick to this time (thank the Lord! Lol) and shortly after you start it you find your cravings start to really diminish quite quickly – it’s AWESOME! The other things I do to trick my body/mind (I live in Australia) is I’ll regularly drink say some flaxseed and almond meal mixed with CocoQuench (It’s coconut milk, not the canned stuff – you can use regular full fat milk instead) that’s my substitute for cereal, and I’ll also have some Atkins bars on hand too (the yummiest I find are the mint choc & coconut choc – there’s other nut ones that are nice too) and so the fibre halts your sugar from spikes/dips & cravings and the Atkins bars are higher in protein and LOW sugar. Beware though, they’re not low in fat (fat keeps you satisfied) so don’t have more than 2 per day. Try nibbling them slowly 😉

      I hope this helps, I understand your plight!

      Louise x

      1. Agree re: the Keto diet. althought I still watch calories, I watch carbs even more closely and it’s the only diet I lose any weight on. But it is soooo difficult to do in this food world. Wondering how many carbs a day do you stay under?

        also agree about an article that describes the symptoms, and reasons for them (thank you)… mentions the psych tricks that are required to overcome them, yet doesn’t even link to any. That was disappointing to a huge degree.

      2. It seems easier to find keto stuff now, but it is hella expensive, at least for those of us who don’t have the time or interest to make this stuff from scratch in our own kitchens.

    3. This article was fantastic and I identified with so many of the (incredibly specific) behavior patterns that there were times I almost started to well up. So thank you for writing it. But my frustration with this article is one I’ve had with other excellent articles as well – they describe symptoms and reasons behind them but don’t offer solutions or alternatives. When it says force of will or intellect will have a difficult time challenging neurochemistry…what then?

      I am all about understanding and compassion and empathy as being core values of any good society and I try to practice them as much as I can…but at the same time I’ve gotta pay my electric bill on time, yknow? And not just the part where I forget to pay it (though I certainly do) but the part where I can keep a job that has low stimulation and long-term rewards (like paying my electric bill)

      Can someone link to or expand upon any resources for what to do next? I’m seeing a behaviorist and currently taking vyvanse and wellbutrin but 3 months later they really don’t seem to be helping at all. I guess I’m just having one of those days a lot of you can probably relate to.

    4. Before I went organic, I used M & Ms. I could eat 4 or 5 every hour or so. It gave me a steady chocolate fix without as much sugar and calories.

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