The Stimulation-Happiness Link: Your Experiences?

[dopamin]

Do any of you recognize this:

I want to explore the issue of lack of stimulation and my low mood. It's shocking how much one really leads to the other. When I have stimulation, I feel alive, alert, happy, and content. Even if (or perhaps because) there's pressure. But when I have nothing engaging (for me...) to do, no matter how nice things are like a walk in the garden or doing things I've really wanted to do, I'm not happy. I end up having heavy thoughts about the meaning of life and feeling flat or unpleasant (or even sad).

Things that I seemed to be looking forward to, like traveling, taking care of things I planned, spending time with the kids, or whatever, often end up feeling unfulfilling. Probably because I'm unstimulated, and all these activities don't wake me up; I need something stronger, I need dopamine (or another brain chemical, don't know). So I end up with a wonderful thing, but without dopamine.

I have a big difficulty with trips. It's a nice time, but there's no stimulation. Just walking around, going to the hotel, and looking for a restaurant – it's not exciting. And I always went crazy wondering why I can't enjoy vacations that I look forward to so much. About a year ago, my wife and I traveled to the US for some event of the program I manage. Do you know why I enjoyed the trip? Because I was frantically organizing the event. So even though I was busy the whole trip, I enjoyed it because I was busy. Without that, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much.

I'm starting to understand the picture here. When I have stimulation, I'm happy. When there's no stimulation, even if everything is good and I have many nice things to do, I feel unpleasant.

Does that make sense? Is this something others experience? What do you suggest?

Thanks!

[CloudsAreLovely]

YUUUUUPPPPPPPP

[mrsm68]

It makes complete sense.

I’m interested to see what others say.

[Cat00]

I was like that when I was young, but it broke my body.I was bad a being left alone with my own mind, bc given long enough it would turn dark. I was only diagnosed less than a year ago with ADHD, I'm 47, so back then I was diagnosed with depression, then BPD ect. I was told by a psychologist that my issues could not be helped because they were existential.

But I've never been able to sleep so being permanently stimulated just so I didnt have to listen to my own thoughts destroyed my health. I developed chronic migraines as a child and then every couple of years collected a new chronic pain condition. It's not ideal.

[Celestial_angel]

All these underestimated dopamine can actually be achieved from constant daily physical exercise.

[Colls47]

I can ideally relate to this . I was only diagnosed 3 years ago . ASD and adhd . I’ve posted before . As tbh . At same time , my life fell to sh%t. Lost my parents and my Job same time as diagnosed and covid . Have yet to pick myself up and work out who the hell I am , what the hell has been going on in my life ( you could make a damned good from it , ) and how , about to turn 50, feeling lost and burned out , I’m supposed to turn the page .

How have I coped prior to diagnosis ? Well, it seems , with dramas , with drugs , with addiction to prescribed pain killers , raving , organising events , being off the wall , doing jobs in sales , drinking . But it seems , now I kind of understand , that my ASD I’ve got , kept telling me when doing recreational drugs in the music scene in 90s , that it was WRONG, BAD, DANGEROUS , it’s what we are always told !! So I quit, overnight . Cocaine , amphetamines. Met my wife and her to kids , and settled down , had two more kids , and went on my merry way to live a NORMAL life . 13 years later , having never touched anything other than cigarettes and drinks at weekend , I’m unemployed , depressed , anxious , scared , fed up , burned out , and see no life infront of me .

Even with my kids and wife , who I love all dearly , it all feels a burden , hard, tedious , nothing sparks that YES, or connectedness . Nothing . A new motorbike . Nice , but hey , so what . A trip away , nice , but so what . It’s scary . Drs tell me they should maybe increase my anti depressants ?? They have mucked me about since 21 when things got bad , that I honestly do not think they are doing anything possitive . Been on most of life . And at best, kept me flat . Now I want off these . Scary. As been part of my life best part 24 years . I’m on Effexor 115mg . All they do is make me dizzy thick headed .

I get what you say totally , and that’s probably been lost in this long reply . Life feels verrryyyy beige . Find something you enjoy the mental health team told me . If only that easy .

Raising our kids kept me going , it was fun and exciting and a good focus . Now they are older , wow , no, they have opinions and talk back , more adult than I feel !!!!!

I was tried briefly on stimulants by psychiatry Uk who diagnosed me, but I think , because of my previous useage , what my brain had then told me was wrong and illegal and would lead to an early death , they just made me so so anxious and scared . They did make me clear headed , but also excited about life ??? And to me , the only other time I felt that way was when I was taking illegal stuff , so surely that wasn’t normal ????

Anyway, that’s my input , and me too would love some suggestions . Good luck to all .

[Lilwonder in reply to Colls47]

I have read that antidepressants can make ADHD symptoms worse. I was browsing the ADDitude magazine webpage. To be clear, I’m not a doctor. So take this with a grain of salt. Just trying to help, you clearly have a lot going on and I want to share some hope with you. Because, you know, there is hope.

[Lilwonder]

You have described my experience exactly. So I search for stimulation from life and then feel burned out. A bit of a cycle I’m afraid. I try to manage my stress and feel depressed. When I medicate with it I feel good. Until I crash again. I agree, exercise helps. Connection helps.