Comment by austin-cheney
2 years ago
One key identifier not mentioned in the article is that ADHD, as well as manically depressed, people typically produce extremely low levels of serotonin. It is common for ADHD people to compensate with stimulants like caffeine and sugar.
Many people crave minor stimulants in the afternoon or early morning when serotonin levels dip in the day. People chronically low on serotonin however will crave these all day long in extreme volumes in what looks like drug addiction seeking behavior. The result of such stimulant over consumption produces behaviors that appear like rapid bipolar disorders.
This does not apply to all people with ADHD, but when you see the behavior in people close to you it’s probably a good idea to have them tested.
My biggest learning about ADHD is that it’s not primarily about focus, but irregularities with task completion/transition deficiencies.
It's dopamine that ADHD lack and that you get from caffeine and sugar, not serotonin. People who are depressed do lack serotonin though yes. And you can have both. You can't get that from caffeine though.
No, it’s absolutely only about low serotonin. Dopamine spikes do directly result from sugar spikes, but that is the effect and not the cause.
I'm honestly interested in hearing the research on this
Do either of you have sources?
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Huh heard this before about caffeine but not sugar, that might explain why I'm an absolute sugar fiend. I'm just very lucky that my blood sugar isn't through the roof somehow.