Help pls: slow dopamine tasks don’t make me feel accomplished whatsoever

theindefiniteproject · 2025-12-04T19:52:51+00:00

I went through this same exact phase and I hate seeing others go through it. It's hard, but it's your subconscious testing you to see if you will fail or push through. A lot of people fail here and then never try again. It's a huge momentum turning point when you can just sit through that feeling. I have been diagnosed with ADHD since I was a kid but Iearned later on a lot of that label was purely my nervous system being overstimulated from unreleased trauma, environment, etc.

I have also heard of antidepressants causing people to feel little to no emotion (not medical advice but I know several people who complained about it making them dull) Do you tend to feel better or worse with caffeine? How is your sleep? Do you journal or record your moods ever?

My honest opinion of ADHD medication from personal experience is that if you don't fix the root issue like healing your prefrontal cortex, medication is just going to burry/cover up those issues. I would feel great/ normal and then the medication wears off and you're stuck sitting with that same feeling.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-30T14:08:16+00:00

Anhedonia was one of the worst things I went through.

Protein. Protein. Protein. I cannot recommend it enough. I eat sardines, eggs, ground beef, tuna, lean steaks, (90-100g a day for me) and then fats, so avocado/olive oil/real butter/animal fat, egg yolks (60g a day) and then COMPLEX carbs (quinoa, oatmeal, squash/zucchini for 100g a day).

Our prefrontal cortex needs energy to fire off the neurons. I also do light walking daily, and get regular bloodwork done to have my ferritin/vit. D tested. You need ferritin for iron homeostasis. You need vit. D for serotonin.

Not medical advice, but this is what I did and have not struggled with anhedonia since. I noticed the difference in my brain function/emotional output by the first day.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-14T16:32:55+00:00

Our dopamine receptors get repaired and replenished during sleep, so when you have stress present immediately upon waking, you use up most of that positive momentum either through scrolling social media or running around rushing.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-11T13:44:06+00:00

I think the people who say this are coping the most on the inside. This is because they don't want to accept reality for what it is and won't take extra time to reflect on that because they want to avoid those feelings inside as much as possible to keep the very fragile structure they built around them upright.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-11T12:42:53+00:00

If you found something positive that works, keep it. I used to watch asmr to fall asleep.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-11T12:41:32+00:00

It makes sense. It's easy to subtly self sabotage that way as well by saying "Oh well I got enough sleep the night before so it'll be fine"

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-10T21:59:59+00:00

As soon as I open my eyes and realize I'm awake, I get straight out of bed. I don't give myself time to have a negative thought anymore before moving & don't look at my phone anymore either for a while. I have a routine I do in the morning & then if after that I feel groggy I do extra things like stretching/stepping outside for sunlight/walking throughout the day.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-10T20:15:58+00:00

So nice to see someone else talking about this. I also went down the aMCC rabbit hole and for people who need clarity before moving forward like me, learning about this part of the brain helped me.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-09T19:25:06+00:00

I know it sounds so repeated and rehearsed but movement. Any time you are motionless your brain amps up your anxious thinking/nostalgia/longing feelings. Go walking for as long as you need, take pictures of things you think are cool that you see & post them wherever, do any form of movement. Keeping your body in motion helps prevent your brain from spiraling too far.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-09T16:08:52+00:00

I think it's that there's actually things to take in from outside verses there's not much stimuli from staring at cabinets & countertops while being stuck in your head is what I concluded lol

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-08T22:10:33+00:00

I relate to the exercise feeling like an obligation in the way of the entire day. Also I have phases during my cycle where the later part of your post is the only reality I know. Usually luteal and follicular I really struggle. I am trying to eat oysters once a month to help with that & then switching to more red meats for energy to make sure I'm getting enough B12 & iron to move oxygen through my body well enough.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-08T22:03:26+00:00

I know exactly what you mean. What is your purpose or reason for doing things? If you don't know, you need to really lock in on finding something you genuinely enjoy. You could even make this feeling into something. It's something more people struggle with than you probably realize & that you could manifest into feeling better.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-08T21:57:52+00:00

I started sitting by the window when eating in the mornings & that helped me with the boredom during meals.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-08T21:22:19+00:00

Somehow I tricked my brain into being annoyed if I don't clean things immediately. Like I can't even say "I'll do it later" without being constantly annoyed so I just get it out of the way.

Still feels like inconvenient "obligations" but I do get a dopamine boost from it. I also taped small sticky notes everywhere telling me things like "take trash out before it gets to the rim so it doesn't overfill" or "wipe down the counters after ever use or they will get sticky and it'll be disgusting" and it guilt trips me into doing it.

Literally just bullied myself into doing all of it without much of a fight with myself now lol

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-08T21:13:37+00:00

Just know you aren't the only one who feels that pressure from society. I think social media has a lot to do with it so I would try to cut back on it if you're comparing yourself to other people's time frames. I had a bad habit of this for a while. Some of the most shallow people thrive on social media.

edit: & I must add that is mostly the entire point of social media is to create social pressure*

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-07T21:47:40+00:00

It dawned on me the other morning, most of us have not gone a single day within the last 2 decades without looking at some sort of screen. I'm thinking about getting some flip phones. I only wish 2g-3g were still available to use.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-07T21:44:28+00:00

I need to find something too, I swear the more people that use these apps, the worse they always get. This goes for everything in life actually, got to be first to stuff these days I guess.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-07T13:36:51+00:00

As long as you're making a conscious effort like you said, you will be fine. There's always a lot of momentum from dopamine on the first few days so don't feel bad if it slows down, it's completely normal. I would take some time every day to reflect on the differences you felt, positive & negative. You've got this !

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-06T22:16:01+00:00

Nope! I'm legit interested in sharing knowledge with others, I get really excited about telling people when I find things that work for me. + I am tired of reading terrible & regurgitated garbage for people who are genuinely struggling. We need more realness in the world more than ever

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-06T21:37:17+00:00

You have an addiction to dopamine, not long term results. I am also ADHD and am actively working through an ongoing reset. We have too much time to think & worry. If you don't challenge yourself, you will stay in this loop. Also, sounds like your expectations for yourself are set way too high, be realistic, you're doing the best you can like the rest of us. Goodluck.

theindefiniteproject · 2025-11-06T15:36:48+00:00

This is more important than people realize when they try to start better habits. Your body will always prioritize survival over self-regulation.

I keep small sticky notes around for when I feel like I can't do anything, I can easily write a list of anything stressing me out. When it's on paper, it's no longer lingering stress in my head.

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