How to Give Your Brain the Stimulation It Needs

Summary

This video explores the ADHD brain's quest for stimulation, often leading to excessive social media scrolling without satisfaction. The creator discusses the 'bucket with a hole' analogy to explain the futile attempt to fill the need for dopamine. To combat this, she introduces the concept of a 'Dopamenu', inspired by a conversation with Eric Tivers. The Dopamenu is a curated list of activities that provide meaningful stimulation, categorized into appetizers, entrees, desserts, and specials. The video guides viewers on how to design their own Dopamenu, offering a strategy to make better dopamine choices and avoid boredom-induced unhealthy habits.

Takeaways

• 🧠 ADHD brains often seek stimulation and may not spend hours on social media for enjoyment, but because they need it to function.
• 🔄 The quick dopamine sources from social media can be insufficient and likened to trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it.
• 📉 Engaging in the same activities repeatedly can diminish their pleasure, leading to a cycle of dissatisfaction.
• 🛠️ The solution is to find activities that provide the necessary stimulation and fill the 'bucket' of dopamine effectively.
• 🤔 Making different choices requires planning, weighing options, and initiating actions, which can be challenging when already bored or low on dopamine.
• 📋 Separating planning from choosing can simplify decision-making, as suggested by Eric Tivers, who recommends creating a 'dopamine menu'.
• 🍽️ The 'dopamine menu' or 'dopa-menu' should include activities that excite and activities that provide quick dopamine bursts without being overwhelming.
• 📝 Designing the menu involves reflecting on past experiences to identify activities that truly make one feel alive versus those that don't.
• 👨‍🍳 Preparing ingredients ahead of time, similar to restaurants, can make it easier to engage in stimulating activities when needed.
• 📢 Advertising the menu with enticing descriptions can make it more appealing and remind one of the available options when bored.
• 🤷‍♂️ If nothing feels enjoyable, it might be a sign of depression, and seeking medical advice could be the appropriate next step.

Q & A

Why do people with ADHD often spend hours scrolling through social media?

People with ADHD often spend hours scrolling through social media because they are looking for the stimulation they need to function, as their brains require a lot of stimulation.

What does Eric Tivers compare the process of trying to satisfy the need for stimulation to?

Eric Tivers compares the process to trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it, where dopamine is both coming in and going out, making it difficult to satisfy the need for stimulation.

What is the 'dopamine menu' or 'dopa-menu' suggested by Eric for people with ADHD?

The 'dopamine menu' or 'dopa-menu' is a list of activities that excite and stimulate individuals, which they can refer to when they feel bored or need stimulation, rather than defaulting to less satisfying activities.

How does Jessica describe the structure of her Dopamenu?

Jessica structures her Dopamenu into Entrees for exciting activities, Desserts for go-to's that don't fill the bucket, Appetizers for quick dopamine bursts, Sides for activities that enhance engagement, and Specials for occasional indulgences.

What does Jessica suggest doing with the options on the Dopamenu that are not realistic at the moment?

Jessica suggests omitting any options from the Dopamenu that aren't realistic at the moment, similar to how restaurants remove items from their menu that are not in season or not popular.

What is the purpose of preparing ingredients in advance according to Jessica's advice?

Preparing ingredients in advance is meant to decrease the setup time for engaging activities, making it easier to choose and start these activities when the need for stimulation arises.

How does Jessica recommend making the Dopamenu more enticing?

Jessica recommends adding enticing descriptions to the Dopamenu items and making it visually appealing or funny, as well as placing it in locations where it can be easily seen when boredom strikes.

What is the acronym Jessica uses to describe the process of creating a Dopamenu?

Jessica uses the acronym DOPA to describe the process of creating a Dopamenu, which stands for Design, Omit, Prepare, and Advertise.

How does Eric suggest dealing with the situation when nothing feels enjoyable?

Eric suggests calling a doctor if nothing feels enjoyable, as it could be a sign of depression or a need for new stimulation due to boredom from doing the same activities.

What is the hashtag Jessica encourages viewers to use if they create their own Dopamenu?

Jessica encourages viewers to use the hashtag #BraintasticTuesday if they create their own Dopamenu and share it on Instagram.