What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger that transmits signals within the brain and other areas of the central nervous system. It is part of the brain’s reward system, responsible for promoting feelings of pleasure and reinforcement. It’s released when we experience rewarding activities such as eating, exercising, or achieving goals. It also regulates mood, learning, attention, and motor control.

When dopamine levels are balanced, it can enhance your ability to focus, feel motivated, and experience pleasure. However, when dopamine production is low or dysregulated, it can result in challenges related to focus, energy, and motivation, particularly in individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

Neurotransmitters are chemical messages that relay information from one cell to another within the nervous system. Information about what we are experiencing is continuously messaged between the body and brain, hence the gut, commonly called the second brain. Fifty per cent of your dopamine is manufactured in your gut and can be produced quickly in the brain in response to fear and pain. Activities that naturally stimulate dopamine production include exposure to light in the morning for 20-30 minutes, eating, completing a task, self-care, exercise, and strength training.

The Benefits of Dopamine

1. Boosts Motivation and Reward Dopamine is often described as the “motivation molecule.” It drives us to seek rewards, achieve goals, and feel satisfaction after completing tasks. When dopamine is functioning well, individuals feel more driven to pursue challenges, experience more consistent effort, and enjoy the rewards of their hard work.
2. Enhances Focus and Concentration Dopamine plays a significant role in maintaining focus and attention. By acting on the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that controls cognitive functions like planning, decision-making, and working memory), dopamine helps individuals stay on task and avoid distractions.
3. Regulates Mood and Emotional Response: Dopamine helps stabilise emotional responses and is often involved in feelings of happiness, pleasure, and overall well-being. Low dopamine levels are linked to conditions like depression and anxiety, as they contribute to feelings of apathy, lack of motivation, and emotional dysregulation.
4. Improves Memory and Learning Dopamine is crucial for cognitive functions such as memory and learning. It helps the brain process new information and strengthens the connection between neurons, essential for long-term memory. Higher dopamine levels can improve your ability to learn new things, retain information, and recall memories.
5. Supports Physical Movement and Coordination Beyond its cognitive and emotional benefits, dopamine is also essential for motor control. Inadequate dopamine production is associated with movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, where individuals experience tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination.

Dopamine dysregulation can cause manic depression, euphoria, impulsivity, pleasure-seeking, schizophrenia, and addiction to screens, food, drugs and alcohol. People with lower dopamine levels can be tired and sad and tend to seclude themselves. They may look for dopamine hits by taking risks, being daredevils, constantly seeking pleasurable activities, getting into arguments, or being hypochondriacs. Social media can also wear out our pleasure centres, leading to screen addiction.

Dopamine’s Role in ADD and ADHD

People with ADD or ADHD commonly have a disrupted dopamine metabolism, which may impact attention, impulse control, and behavior. These conditions are linked to abnormal dopamine functioning in the brain.

Dopamine Deficiency in ADD/ADHD

Individuals with these conditions often have reduced dopamine activity in areas of the brain that are involved in attention, decision-making, and impulse control. This deficiency can make it difficult for them to stay focused on tasks, complete projects, and maintain motivation. The brain’s reward system doesn’t function optimally, leading to difficulties in feeling rewarded for tasks that would typically stimulate dopamine production.

Our body’s natural dopamine production may be reduced (dopamine resistance) after long-term stress. Certain ADHD medications, such as Ritalin and Concerta, may also disrupt our body’s production, as well as cause other side effects.

Treatment: Boosting Dopamine to Manage help ADHD

As part of my personalized care of my patients, I sometimes prescribe dopamine in a homeopathic form when indicated. I will give a dopamine balancing course to gently optimize their dopamine levels if they have previously taken stimulant-based ADHD medication and want to come off these meds or show signs of dopamine resistance or deficiency.  

Patient Feedback

I recently received feedback from a mother who said that her son’s focus and attention have improved so much that he can stop taking Ritalin after taking a dopamine course.

Another Momma said, “I’m starting to see some positive results … he is much happier and less frustrated.”

You can make an appointment on my website if you would like to have a complimentary chat with me to see how best I can help you or your child manage your symptoms.