How Dopamine Affects Learning and Motivation in ADHD Brains 

In addition to our mood, dopamine also affects movement, memory, and focus👍

I had my dad's answer that "ADD isn't a real thing!" locked in my head for about the last 30 years. I found your channel at the very end of August. I've watched so many of your videos and a few other channel's and this is the first time in my life that I've felt like someone knows what it's like to be me. Thank you.

I'm 55 years old, and this is the first time anyone has ever used the phrase "trouble sustaining effort toward long term goals" without pairing it with the descriptor "lazy." I've been diagnosed with ADHD since I was 40, but there is still so much I don't understand about why I struggle with things other people seem to find easy.

"Hello brains!" -*Dopamine intensifies* -

"Brain smoothy" is actually an amazing way to describe what's going on up there. Same ingredients for everyone, but the proportions are different.

I like the part where you said “if you don’t make your own, store bought is fine”. Makes me feel a little better about actually having to take mine. Thanks!

SoI’m a neuroscientist with adhd that studies the effects of dopamine with motivation and reward processing and I just wanted to say that you did a really good job explaining it! Accurate but easily explained :)

One unexpected positive side effect of ADHD meds was I no longer had frequent sugar cravings. I still enjoy sugar--who doesn't?--but I stopped needing it like air to breathe. I assume this was due to increased dopamine (or increased access to dopamine).

It's funny because I knew the gist of this video before, but I love hearing it again (and in more detail). It helps me understand myself, especially because at times I've felt like I might not actually have adhd and I'm just lazy and take stimulants to overcome that. But that's ridiculous. Also - screw commenting for the algorithm. I comment for your dopamine now.

I struggle with self-motivation more than any other ADHD trait. I can be very disciplined when it comes to my jobs and other schedules I'm obligated to follow, but I can't motivate myself using sheer will power.

I had a session with my therapist and told her that I suspect that I have ADHD. I was so nervous, because I constantly switch between "you're just lazy and search for an excuse to your behaviour" and "no, your thoughts are valid and this is real". But she told me that I could have ADHD with my problems and although she can't diagnose me she encouraged me to look further into it. And your videos help so much! Thank you

This is such a great explanation!! I was trying to find the words to explain to my fiancé what happened last week. He proposed the weekend before and i was over the moon! I experienced consistent rushes of dopamine throughout the amazing weekend he planned for us. As soon as the trip was over and i had to return to my normal routine, i felt so unmotivated. I couldn’t get myself to do anything extra, could only handle the essential tasks. All of that being said, this video was right on time! 🙌🏾🧠

I'm still looking into being diagnosed for myself, but whether or not I actually *do* have ADHD, your videos still help me understand myself (and others) better. THANK YOU for this well-thought-out, informative, and also entertaining educational material!

The dopamine issues explain so much about my life. When my mom would get on me about about my procrastination she'd always say stuff like "but it feels good to get things done" and yeah. It does. It does not feel good to do it, though, and so what she said never really meant anything to me. This also explains why I struggle so much to not go for immediate rewards. One of the ways to trick yourself into doing things is to offer yourself a reward at the end of the task. But if there's nothing stopping me from having it now, why would I not just have it now? And suddenly I understand why it might work for other people I really need that ADHD testing place to contact me back

I was diagnosed as a kid (very young) and they tried Ritalin once with one dosage and then called it quits. I spent my entire life struggling hard bouncing between diagnoses always convinced that something far worse was wrong with me. I failed out of college, struggled to keep jobs, couldn't maintain a relationship, and just fell apart. It hasn't been until the past six years that I have finally felt like life is coming together. I heavily advocated to be rediagnosed a couple of years ago (that is another mess) and am now on meds. I stumbled upon your channel this year and it's the first time in my life that I don't feel broken, damaged, or a mistake. Thank you for the content that you put out and for shining a light for those of us who have spent so much time in the dark.

Procrastinating on college applications due in 45 days as I watch this. And I have the lack of dopamine to blame. Such a timely video, I love it!

I looked at the journal and got really emotional. The sentence ‘I want a better story about my …' just hit home so hard. I’ve really struggled with motivation. This looks amazing and like it might help a lot - Thank you for the recommendation, I have a red dnd style one on the way 🙏

I was just trying to explain this to my BF last night. He always comments about how I have so much time, why don't I just finish my homework during my free time. It's because after my medicine wears off, my coping skills don't work as well, which means that if I use my "productive time" to study for an exam but then try to do homework after that productive time has passed, it's miserable. Unless I know that the homework is due that night, it's really emotionally taxing and time consuming to try and do homework outside of my productivity window. It sucks that it's limited to 8 hours combined time a day because if 4 hours are spent in class, that's only 4 hours to study/do homework effectively. "Effectively" means that I remember what I'm studying and I understand what the problems want me to do. Otherwise, it's like I'm not wearing my glasses. My memory shuts off, I get frustrated easily, and trying to understand textbooks, especially complex math, is hard. I envy people who can just study all day into the night and then remember things for their exams.

I've been having a hard time getting things done lately, although watching your videos always gives me some dopamine, and some motivation, because I think I'm not unable to reach my goals, if you can, I think I can too. Thank you so much for being there for us

This is why I am in so many Dnd games, I live for that dopamine hit I get when I play a fun fantasy character

I knew about the difficulties with dopamine in my ADHD brain, but I had completely forgotten about dopamine reuptake. Explains part of the reason why, during the times when I feel like I've got a better "handle" on my life and life-in-general, it's when I'm keeping myself "calm" 'in the flow" or very "zen-like" and keeping in mind "haste makes waste." Mindfulness, meditation, better breathing, etc, helps keep my dopamine levels..level, and may not "overflood" my motivation on long projects I don't like which kills my spark after an hour. Also helps me keep my attention on the stuff I love doing, too.

I literally cried when I found your channel yesterday. I finally understand what has been wrong with me for so long. Thank you so much!

I was a really smart kid in school and I had potential until ADHD caught up with me and messed up my life. For so many years I wondered what was wrong with me and then I saw a video on what was ADHD so I watched it and I got diagnosed at twelve and it started to make sense as to why this happened.

The recent world events I feel like just a constant hole of motivation, its weird. I'm employed, have been the whole time, which is good, but also burned tf out! Love this video! I'm off today so I get to work on the book I"m writing and read/finish the latest Sarah Kuhn novel so that's good!

“Dope-a-memes” 😂

I'm sending this to some of my teachers so show them how I struggle with motivation and getting started with tasks, thank you Jessica!!

Your videos were a massive part of me figuring out what was up with my brain. I got diagnosed last year at age 20 and just got my results back for my final university assignments 🙌 through finding new methods to study and navigate my rewards systems, I went up to an A+ average in my chosen major and nothing below a B through my other papers. I just want to say thank you, because even when my family didn't believe me, having your videos meant I had someone in my corner and made me believe myself. I probably wouldn't have graduated my bachelors without them ❤🎓

I was only recently diagnosed and started stimulant medication. One HUGE amazing thing that I was not expecting is the massive effect it has has on my pain levels. But it totally makes sense if dopamine has an effect on pain perception.

These videos are so helpful in understanding ADHD, teaching how my child's brain works to him and our family learning this together as a journey. Thank you!

I haven’t even watched this video, but “ALL THE DOPAMINE!” had me cracking up. You need to make a t-shirt with that graphic. *Edited to add: I watched the video. Amazing as always! Thank you!! You definitely make the world a better place.

I always thought that I was just lazy and had no motivation but now I know it’s my ADHD. This channel has helped me learn so much about ADHD and how to help myself control it.

I've been noticing lately that when I let myself get dopamine hits during workouts that I have a harder time working out without music or electronics

I had a mentor in college that for my program would offer long-term rewards for the end of the semester. It worked for other students, but not for me. Frustrating that I only know why in retrospect, back then I was just "not a good student."

Man, I never really thought about it before, but yeah! Being on medication isn't so much a quick fix as a longer term aid to retraining the brain to react like, _properly_ to stuff? Especially after a long time of being unmedicated and ignorant of that fact. Dang, that's some helpful insight right there -- thanks Jessica and co!

''its like even if we have the intellect to say that we need to do something so something good instead of bad happens, our brain does not light up and give us motivation'' I feel so understood I might cry T-T

I've been experiencing a lot of issues and have been called lazy, forgetful, unreliable, selfish, and told that I don't care or I'm not trying hard enough. Having trouble getting an actual diagnosis because I have trouble explaining what I'm going through and when I get anxious my forgetfulness gets worse -_- . I'm feeling super defeated. I keep coming back to your videos to remind myself that there are people who understand ... So ... thank you ... I'm thankful I came across your channel.

this was really helpful to understand why there’s such a frustrating lack of motivation compared to nt people, it makes me feel so incapable when i compare myself to others

Ah, I wanted to share that I was pleased as punch when I was finally given a diagnosis last week for ADHD by my psychiatrist and the first online resource she listed for great information was your channel!! I have already been subbed for awhile and have learnt so much. Thank you for being amazing and doing what you do.

I have been following you for around a year at this point, and In my 'abnormal' psychology class the professor showed your first TedTalk! I never actually knew your story that well and I felt like crying after because of how much I could relate to it thinking about my own childhood and adhd. Amazing videos' as usual!

I love this! I refer your channel to every person I can! I don't know what a stranger is! Ha ha. Talking about long term goals, a previous video of your "not sure what long term goals are.." I told my boss that and he laughed but said as long as you're doing your best and happy that's what matters! This video helped me alot! I work from home and it's difficult tons of distractions😒. Thanks for all your help! Wisdom and being the amazing person we all love!!

I just wanna say that I've struggled with ADHD my whole life and was put on every medication you could think of as a kid until 8th grade. I've been scared to take medication because I remember being a zombie and not feeling myself but you have really made a difference. I do my best to absorb as much info you put in videos as I can even though alot slips out right after. You put so much effort into this down the line I am going to start my own ADHD help channel. I've just had my first psychiatrist appointment in years and will be working towards finding that balance you mentioned because sustaining long term goals feel impossible right now and trust me I have the drive, motivation, and determination but that really tall wall stands sturdy and I'm trying to climb it. Hopefully medication will be a latter for me. I would've never in a million years thought about trying medication again of it wasn't for you breaking down the processes of the brain and telling me it's okay.

Thank you for consistently communicating complex subjects in a way that is accessible for everyone. It's always great to learn more about the science behind ADHD. And brain smoothie is going into my vocabulary now. :)

I totally get it! Looking at the number of drawings and fanfiction I have incomplete rn, and the ideas I have but don't develop on cuz of the lack of motivation breaks my heart cuz I really want to finish it but I can't bring myself to. Doesn't help the double guilt when I start something and leave it unfinished when my fixation is gone 😭

I’m just now learning about ADHD, but a while back (before the pandemic), I encouraged people who struggled with getting a positive start in their day to do the following: - spontaneously jump out of bed - take a deep breath - pound on your chest - and let out a aaarrrrggghhhh scream In theory it supercharges your body with energy and positivity. Kind of akin to you emotionally hulk-smashing that wall of aweful. Only you do it at the start of the day without any wall yet being there.

When i watch this channel my dopamine hits really hard ☺️

brain smoothie is a great metaphor

I get it... Brain smoothie. Makes perfect sense.

Thank you for your videos. Your humanity, compassion and experiences are inspiring. I am in the process of being diagnosed. I shared your videos with my wife who was taken aback by how accurately the characteristics described me. The relationship videos also highlighted that we had figured out many coping strategies instinctively. We were lucky. I am 57 and have had a successful legal military career despite the many challenges. I learned strategies and coping mechanisms to induce hyper focus so that stuff got done but i still struggled with most long term organizational task management, procrastination, endless distractions, and a pervasive state of messiness, amongst other challenges. Not all coping mechanisms were healthy unfortunately. For example, I smoked for many years. Dopamine levels were increased and the smoking fidget helped me to focus. Sadly, It took me many years to quit and it damaged my health. Not recommended. The past two years of retirement have been a struggle because I was outside the structure and organization of the military, where there was a tyranny of the urgent over the important. Dealing with the immediate was always easier. Now I have to organize myself and it is extremely difficult and upsetting. I realized that these experiences have been with me since childhood. Thank you for helping me understand and feel less alone in terms of how I am.

Hah my roommate just tried to suggest to me long term goals being the main motivation for assignments and short term tasks..... maybe pitch that idea to my dopamine levels ma'am

Hi, I am dropping this comment here to thank you. This channel made me question myself on whether or not I might have ADHD and I got out and got diagnosed at 31. I will be on a non-medication treatment and for the first time in a long time feel hopeful and seen!!! Thank you for making ADHD interesting and comprehensive enough, so I could understand it and confirm ^^

I think I’ve liked nearly every comment on this video, because every one of them sounds like something I would say. I want to hug everyone on here and tell them it’s not their fault that they are the way they are. ADHD robbed me of who I was “supposed” to and wanted to be, and t he life I could have had. At 50, I still don’t have it “under control”.

That explains a lot in my life rn... too many stressors and not enough dopamine to complete my tasks, unless it's petting my dog

Hi, I've been recently diagnosed (actually, in the process of being diagnosed) and got to this channel recently by suggestion of a friend. I watched the playlist "What's ADHD anyway?" and I'm really learning a LOT! It's SO good and it's bringing a whole lot of emotions. This channel is like, a really warm and cosy hug that also gives me a lot of knowledge! A KNOWLEDGE HUG! THANK YOU!!!

Jess you are amazing, this is exactly the information/inspiration I needed today! Have a wonderful week!

I wish more people would pay attention to the science behind ADHD instead of dismissing it was lack of focus and motivation. The way I go about tasks is to do the unpleasant or difficult ones first and the ones I really like last so I have something to look forward to. It's much harder to ADHD today with all the social media that is specifically designed for quick dopamine hits. I can waste endless hours browsing YT for video about things I like and only something like a more attractive task or a necessity like hunger will snap me out of it. Gonna look into that Journal, looks like fun. I installed a quest game task app on my phone to give myself something to look forward to each day as well. You should really look into making a Brain Smoothie T Shirt, I sure would like to see it. 😁 Only thing I can say about motivation is that even for normal people it can be hard, doubly so for ADHDers. I follow the suggestion Mel Robbins gave of counting back from 5 so once you hit 0 you will get up and start doing whatever it is you need to do. Only problem is that sometimes I will avoid counting back because I have already developed the habit of getting up and starting a task when I hit 0. Damn I need to learn to write shorter comments.

I am so grateful for this channel. I finally did the adult thing and went to a doc. His exact quote? "I don't know how you got through school." My response? "Because I actually LIKED school." This exchange still makes me laugh thinking on it. He prescribed stimulants, and the difference it made! I'm not constantly fighting my brain so much anymore; it's a relief. I can finally take that deep breath and just DO my work.

when you said brain smoothy i totally got where you were going with it , it makes sense!

I love you channel! I have ADHD and Autism and your channel was a life changer for me. I found it when I felt at my lowest and most misunderstood, it’s been so frustrating feeling like I couldn’t communicate because I couldn’t express what I didn’t understand - your channel has made me feel so understood while also teaching me about my brain in a way that I can understand and relay to others 🙏🏼✨ thank you for this you’re really helping so many

I love learning about the chemical side of my mental conditions! I learned the hard way the other week that too much dopamine is a nightmare! Too much gaming & gaming tutorials led to the biggest headache of my life with an inability to do any mental tasks for a day or so afterwards. It's crazy how delicate the levels are to function well.

Great video. So clear and concise. Perfect for my ADHD brain and those of my students. Thanks again. Worth my Patreon donations just have you all keep doing these videos. 💪🧠

thank you for this 🙏❤️I am an absolute wreck without store-bought dopamine. I face so much stigma from friends/family for taking it, but watching your videos reminds me there's NO shame in taking a medication if it improves your quality of life - no matter what friends and family think!! 🔥❤️

I’m so glad you touched on the neural pathways involved in ADHD - thank you!! You’re great at simplifying complex ideas and language so that it can be understood by (and appeal to) a broad audience :D

Oh My Goodness those bloopers were everything!!!

Ooh great explanation! I feel like what I did know of dopamine already was nicely elaborated on, so I appreciate that!

ooof dopamine affects pain processing? Perhaps that has something to do with how much "mild" chronic pain gets in the way of things

Learning about dopamine =moar dopamine! Literally chirped, "ooh thank you" out loud. Brb, going down the google scholar rabbithole!

"if you don't make your own, store bought is fine" - I loved it. Thank you, it's very informative, and the ending is really cool

This is good to know. I have extreme memory problems ever since I got off my old adhd medication. On tests it’s really hard cause no matter how much I study the night before, I can never remember the content. Unless it’s something I’m interested in like chemistry, I can’t remember it fully.

at 0:05 that man is a treasure 🤣 one might say you could call them "MOST DOPE-a-memes" .... Any Larry Fisherman fans here??

I always get excited for your videos! Thanks for being so helpful.

Since I didn't know about ADHD, I didn't realize how much I was living off of a dopamine hit. Now that I think back to my impulsive situations, like jumping out of a plane, now I understand why I made those decisions.

I have a diagnosis appointment in Feb (earliest I could get), mentioned it to a friend of mine and he put his hands on my shoulders and said "as someone diagnosed with ADHD, Yes!!!"

Is there any science behind the feeling of ‘ugh’, (the actual feeling in your stomach) when you think about doing something not interesting, or, you know, not new?

I am grateful for your channel! I started to question whether I had ADHD about a month ago, and am really fortunate that my doctor and counsellor were receptive and supportive. I started stimulant medication yesterday, and I finally have the motivation to write my master's thesis and hopefully graduate in a few months 🥳 I think you mentioned in one of your older videos how when you first took meds your brain was clear - I can fully relate to that! It's amazing having the chatter stop for once.

I've been called lazy, wasted potential, poor listener, spaz, roller-coaster (in terms of mood) and many other synonyms throughout my entire life (24). Then I found this channel and my understanding of my flaws has increased tremendously. I just wish I would've found it sooner.

I was diagnosed with adhd when I was 8 in 1993. I was on medication from then (3rd grade) till I graduated high-school (2003) I chose to come off meds on my own. Life has been very challenging but I never thought about my adhd much until I made enough mistakes...so here I am 36 yrs old and my doctor suggested I go back on meds. Took my first dosage today.....I never should have come off....all things considered, I did well for myself....but I think the last 18 years could have been a lot easier....wish me luck....I'm glad you have made this channel....I wish something like this was available to me when I was growing up and frustrated all the time

This video gives me the dopamine to get through my day of work! Will also check out the hero’s journey journal looks so fun and I can really see how it’s ADHD friendly! Super excited to check it out

Very wise for making this content very easy to watch ( someone with ADHD) great editing, didn’t get distracted. Thanks

How do you avoid falling for addictions to get that constant dopamine fix? I mean on a daily basis, how can you handle the dopamine deficit while still being productive?

Girl, I love you! You are so fun and honest about what it's like to be an ADHD brain. You've helped me a lot by talking about the the things that help you do better and I just love watching you! Keep it up!

Amazing that someday they could have specific medications for specific symptoms... if they are learning the pathways this seems possible anyway. Better targeting means maybe less side effects for people, too...? Love the "sciencey" stuff Jessica, keep it coming please! 😃

Thank you so much for making this video! I've rehearsed so many conversations in my head for when ever I have to explain how dopamine works and this would be helpful to send to friends who have questions

I've been wondering about exactly this for awhile

Informative and entertaining as always! Anytime I feel alone in ADHDLand, I can tune into your channel! Thank you for all your hard work.

My store bought dopamine helped me retain more information from this video about dopamine!

Thank you for making all the good videos and I love your fish Song i’m really glad that you were able to continue making videos and also I am glad to be a part of helping you make videos as a Patreon supporter

I'm working with my therapist to reframe my "laziness" to my "cleverness" 🤔

I was watching your glitter video earlier this morning. It actually calmed me down so I could focus on my work! 🙂

Motivation... The eternal struggle. Thanks for making this understandable for all of us! I adore your channel! Here's to 1 million! ❤️ Also, the bloopers were 👌🏻.

I live in the UK 🇬🇧 and life's been a struggle I'm 34 now and I asked my mum why am I like I am unintentionally getting in trouble with jobs, friends and family I can't ever keep focus always going to the next thing, very emotional taking everything to heart and getting upset or exploding with rage in a split second She said that's because you were diagnosed ADD and your older brother was ADHD I asked my Dad he said oh you grew out of it? (Mum and Dad are divorced) I'm so happy to see I'm not alone. I have asked my doctor for my medical records to find out exactly when I was diagnosed and to seek help now. Great channel 👏 👍

Thank you so much for continually producing such great content. It makes me feel understood, fantastic advice and tips and then the ones like this that help me with the words and descriptions so I can explain to others what is going on in my brain... Really helpful in my current workplace - I never knew and could never explain why I was able to achieve so much high level complex work for several years, then it all comes undone when I am completely unable to do the most 'basic' but necessary tasks. Your videos are helping me explain my struggles and develop accommodations at work, despite having a manager who does not understand ADHD. The label has preconceived bias, but when I can explain my difficulties, we come up with strategies that enable me to get stuff done so everyone's happy.

I love your content, it is very concise, informative, and engaging. Could you also consider doing video(s) on the roles of norepinephrine and serotonin in ADHD?

Thanks for this video, always clear and great, now I am curious about the 3 possible pathway scientists have found! But I will check this articles another time, I am already late!!! (bad time management combined to the immediate reward to see this video >

Has anyone ever looked at the relationship between systemic candidiasis and adhd? Many people talk about diet and reducing sugar. Through the years, different holistic healers, through different diagnostic techniques have diagnosed me with systemic candidiasis. I'm struggling to self medicate using bariatric appetite suppressants. They help me so much by reducing my sugar and starch and adding a stimulant. I appreciate your advice to try over the counter dopamine, because I know that even though I'm under a physician's care, this form of coping isn't healthy. Finding your RU-vid space has helped me see why I live like I do. These videos give me hope.

I have Adhd since childhood. Im studying medicine right now anddd because of you I learned how to deal with the symptoms and how to approach them in the right way. The best thing is because of my study Im able to learn and understand how an Adhd brain works ( even if there is limited understanding overall). Keep going. I hope to help other people in the future on diagnosing it early so that children and adults can deal with it in the right way early. Much love :)

Thank you for the videos! I've learned so much from you. Looking forward to seeing what comes next, (still watching this one 😂)

Brain smoothie is a great phrase!😂

I’m so glad you’re one of us. You’re an inspiration 🙏🏼❤️

thank you for illuminating the motivation loss. It makes me feel less cynical about pretending to be excited when I'm really not any more.

Not me about to buy that journal knowing I have 3 unused ones at home because buying journals gives me dopamine but not enough to actually use them 😂