And it hits again...

The sun hasn’t even set yet, and I don’t know what to do with myself, I’m alone and low, I’ve had a shower, got in my pajamas, now sitting on my bed with a glass of wine, staring out the window at nothing... emotionally numb, physically silent, and my mind is a dangerous place right now..

The dopamine crash is a sudden, significant drop in dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter that affects motivation, pleasure, and focus. People with ADHD may have low levels of dopamine, and this drop can occur abruptly, leaving you feeling depleted and unmotivated and can trigger a range of adverse effects.

Because dopamine influences mood, difficulty regulating emotions and having low levels of dopamine may contribute to symptoms of depression and poor emotional regulation.

Essentially, this sudden decline in dopamine can disrupt how our brain operates leading to a spiral in overall well-being and productivity.

And don’t I feel it.. BUT I am aware of it!

For me, my brain goes so foggy, I can not concentrate or focus, I’m tired and my eyes feel sleepy, I zone out almost in an escape kind of way, where I disassociate and disconnect from the world and myself.  I find myself searching for a quick dopamine hit (hence the wine in my hand) and scroll on social media, see all these images of what I consider “sexy attractive woman” which ramps up my rejection sensitive dysphoria and I fall further into the spiral as my mind goes on a thought loop of “I don’t event want to be here anymore”.  I have shut up shop, gone into hermit mode, and am no longer communicating with the outside world.

But, I have been here before, I have done my research, I have done my shadow work… I know what works for me and what I personally need to do. So here's what I'm doing..

·         No Social media scrolling

·         Medicate - I have taken my Ritalin (which I personally do not take daily**) as it plays a crucial role in regulating dopamine levels.

·         I had relaxing mediation music playing all night to help me to sleep and calm – Check out this song called Relax the Brain - https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ju7QggYYplUBmmSflIF8d?si=f75fefb1c47e45e9

·         I am taking my fish oils, probiotics and multivitamin supplements (again from my own research – see my disclaimer below**)

·         I have my Happy Triggers on hand – these help to ground me and promote a sense of calm and clarity.  i.e. essential oils and a photo of my partner and I.

·         I have the tiniest “To do” list, as I’m not going to push myself more than I need to, But I need to have a sprinkle of achievements to help boost my dopamine naturally today.

**DISCLAIMER – It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate course of action with medication and supplement management as it should be tailored to each individual's specific needs and medical history.

A Dopamine Crash can feel like a big wave of emotion crashing over you, but we can ride it out, ride the waves & it will always bring us to the shore.

Symptoms of the Dopamine Deficiency

·         You lack motivation, “the drive.”

·         You’re tired.

·         You can’t concentrate.

·         You’re moody or anxious.

·         Lack of pleasure or joy

·         You’re depressed; you feel hopeless.

·         You have a low sex drive.

·         Trouble sleeping or disturbed sleep.

Other symptoms of low dopamine levels include:

·         Hand tremors or other tremors at rest, loss of balance or coordination, increased muscle/limb stiffness, muscle cramps (symptoms of Parkinson’s disease).

·         Restless legs syndrome.

·         Problems with short-term memory, managing daily tasks and solving simple thinking problems (symptoms of cognitive changes).

·         Problems with anger, low self-esteem, anxiety, forgetfulness, impulsiveness and lack of organizational skill (symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

·         Social withdrawal, reduced emotions, don’t feel pleasure (negative symptoms of schizophrenia).

·         Gastrointestinal symptoms, including chronic constipation.

Info sourced from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22588-dopamine-deficiency

So, the reason for sharing this is because it sucks! And this is real, I am in the thick of it and it feels awful, So writing this helps me bring my focus back to reminding myself I know what I’m doing, I know I will be alright, I know this too shall pass..

But maybe you don’t...

Maybe you are going through this right now also.. and like me, the world feels like a fucked up place to be, and it’s so difficult to just function right now.

So I want to shine my light, share my struggle, my truth and remind you that this is a condition that needs to be acknowledged and what you feel is real – you are not just “another hormonal woman”.

Seek help, do your own research, and maybe try my personal tips and see how they work for you.  And just keep going, one foot in front of the other.. and breathe.. You are stronger than you know.

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”