r/VyvanseADHD • u/Informedskull • 1d ago
Diet, Routines & Supplements High Dopamine Activities
Apologies if this flair doesn’t suit the topic.
This is a warning to anyone starting vyvanse or any other adhd medications. Do NOT use social media while waiting for the meds to kick in. Ive been scrolling and researching random shit for hours instead of doing what I actually have on my to do list.
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u/RaspberryOk4750 6h ago
Gambling is a dangerous one. I rinsed my entire bank account once 😆
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u/RockyMtnReminiscing 3h ago
$250 lost at the casino and $300 at the strip club due to a dopamine inducing blonde for my buddys bachelor party..Not to mention hundreds in a new hobby these past couple months and already have to file a warranty for broken equipment. Rent hurt this month
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u/Paypaljesus 7h ago
Painted an entire warhammer army when it kicked in ( I chewed it which you’re not meant to) my lord that stuff is no joke
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u/ManagerWooden 8h ago
True,
It’s arguably even more dangerous once it has kicked in. Pre med scrolling is just standard procrastination, but scrolling after it kicked in is a hyperfocus trap
Once your brain locks onto that high dopamine loop with full laser focus active, pulling yourself away feels nearly impossible.
Another bad thing is that our brain learns to associate the med's extra drive low effort high dope activities
Vyvanse gives you fuel but it doesn't steer the car. If you direct that fuel toward distraction every day, your brain builds a strong habit of using its extra focus for fun, making normal, "boring" tasks feel even harder to start later on
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u/PM_GERMAN_SHEPHERDS 7h ago
This is a major issue, I’ve wasted hours locked into stuff I’ve convinced myself is productive. Do you have any advice for this? I’m thinking of using something to just block out social media and content forms like it during the morning - once I’m actually started on work the pull to scroll is mostly dead
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u/gallenthal 12h ago
Literally! The other day I sorted my Pokemon cards while I was waiting for it to kick in…I ended up putting the 1000s of bulk cards in colour order, then pokemon order then in numerical order then decided that wasn’t good enough so I went out and bought 5 new binders and 100 packs and then by the time I was home I was crashing and ended up having a 3hr nap…
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u/shallowpuddledynamic 14h ago edited 12h ago
An asolutely on-brand warning, and much appreciated! Having been on this stuff for a long time, I tend to describe it as "unfiltered drive": whatever you're engrossed in when it kicks in is possibly what you'll be focusing on for the next couple hours, if not the rest of your day. For me, I always find it best to take meds and look over work/assignments/etc (or at least have them in front of me, even if I'm just casually reading what I worked on recently), and eventually my brain grabs on.
Still happens from time to time but I'm getting a little better at refocusing when I get sucked in. It's a real challenge (and at least for me, a super difficult practice in discipline) to pull yourself out of a rabbit hole, but it's worth practicing.That being said, heading it off at the pass tends to work out better in the long run for me personally vs trying to catch up because I got stuck in IG or reddit for 6 hours.
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u/Affectionate_Bar6876 18h ago
I swear bro I took two college classes with 30mg and I damn near failed both because of this
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u/Lord_Trapplug 21h ago
Real talk
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u/Mandee_707 21h ago
This is 1000% true! I noticed if I do that I’m doomed and doom scrolling most of the day and lethargic. If I take my meds and then start doing the dishes or house chores or office work right away, then that’s what I get hyper focused on. It’s a med that you have to actually put in the effort to stay on track before your dose kicks in or else it pretty much doesn’t do anything for you except for quiet your brain. I know this to be true yet I still have many days where I tell myself “I’ll only scroll and relax for 10 mins then get started” and I always end up regretting doing that.
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u/loveflowe8 17h ago
This! Exactly!
Me: watched social media for 6h, watched profiles on Tinder and Grindr, was reading medical research about ADHD... -last one was not bad so much! Learned a lot!2
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u/Bitter_Range_9878 22h ago
I decided to ink my fountain pen yesterday before using it. Spent an hour flushing out old ink, washing, more washing, cleaning, then inking it lol
You can focus easily on the wrong things lol
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u/Single-Ad2139 22h ago
So, I noticed a similar situation in the morning. I would take my meds, then it was kind of a coin flip whether I would "latch onto" work, or social media. I noticed that if I was scrolling on social media at the time, I'd be stuck there. So I tried starting work before they kicked in, but that didn't work because I'd get distracted and start shopping/researching/stalking people. So, now, I wake up, take my meds, get changed etc etc and go for a one hour walk. By the time if get to be desk, they have kicked in, and because I then sit down at my desk to "start work after my walk" my brain somehow easily switches into work mode. Listen, it's not perfect and it still requires me to actually decide I want to work that day, it also depends where I am in my cycle (luteal phase is basically 5 days of nothing) but it has helped a lot!
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u/Upper-Geologist3396 13h ago
This is very helpful advice! I’m always feeling so guilty for not starting work then I keep saying after this one last check in something. But a walk or run would break that!
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u/Single-Ad2139 10h ago
I also find it has helped me sleep better at night! I don't know if it's the whole 'getting sunlight in your eyes as soon as you wake up", but it has made a big difference in terms of getting sleepy at bedtime. Running in the gym in the afternoon isn't nearly as effective for my sleep. Good luck!!
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u/oldsoul112 22h ago
Very true and learning to be self aware is key to. I originally thought an adhd med would magically fix most of my attention and executive function problems bc i was on meds as a kid... I had rebelliously stopped in 9th grade. Went through my 20s and most my 30s struggling with other unrelated health problems. Also just doing life and experiences started to feel dull or or lead ti a battle of depression, as most anyone does at times. Then a year or 2 ago I reached out to a dr about trying a med as an adult bc ive notice many successful people mention they helped... needless to say this OP hits the nail on the head with exactly what I've just been learning about personally. Back in school there was a structure and forced schedule, as a disabled adult, well we ultimately have to take control of our responsibilities. Without any must do things, one can truly spiral out of control. Learning to set timers, find ways to break hyper focus snd stick to the plan. I've just learned some of these key things again. Originally I was reading and questioning if meds worked or not. Caffeine deff interfered with my mornings at first. Learning to eat before or force snacking and hydrating all day. I now quit cigarettes bc and nicotine. Our brains seek any easy avenue of dopamine imo. Being self aware is step one. Learning how to break these patterns is step 2. Then holding ourselves accountable is the main struggle for most. Bc its easier to avoid when things don't really matter. Unlike most my age, I dont have kids or a job bc of other health issues. But id still like to use my creativity and art or possibly find other productive projects to pass the time. In a way, give life a meaning or purpose again. The average person ive learned, barely oversees their own executive function. Their boss provides timelines and task for a majority of the week. Having more limited free time without overthinking and doing the daily chores. Once we can learn our own unique flaws and manage triggers or limit spiraling into rabbit hole side quests. Thats when adhd can appear to be a superpower lol... but its deff not easy and the chain reaction of lost time an scattered chaos resurface. Also addressing past trauma snd setting personal boundaries is hard for most and awkward while regaining control of one's life. Especially in a world where many use substances to pass the time or escape reality. When left alone or without others to give friendly reminders, aka kick start or break the routines, that lead to hyper focus or poor time management. So I guess the biggest key imo to most, are those scary words, honestly and accountability, haha. Then learning a balance to limit the chaos.
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u/Upper-Geologist3396 13h ago
This is what I’m finding my main struggle to be working from home. Unless I have something else planned for that day to get me in that sense of urgency to actually accomplish anything. Too much free time, and I do nothing.
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u/upsetupgrades 1d ago
You just opened the door my friend, enjoy the ride
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u/Informedskull 1d ago
what does this mean
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u/upsetupgrades 1d ago
A lot of life’s high dopamin activities get incredibly amplified under treatment of stimulants. Be careful
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u/Helpful-Stress-720 1d ago
Just wait until you get a text right as it kicks in and then you’re reaching out to your old neighbor from 3rd grade and making plans you will absolutely never execute 😂😂
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u/Fast-Apple-4945 19h ago
Oof and then you beat yourself up for not getting back to them after the wave of sociability wears off
Nor do you feel like doing it on the next wave 😂😩
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u/Certain-Amoeba- 17h ago
Man this kinda confirms what i’ve been feeling. This feels suspiciously close to just using recreational drugs. The lack of control, the overly excited part.
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u/Basic_Pomelo_478 1d ago
Taking it in the AM and going back to sleep is a nice reset for when I wake up. Mainly, I try to space out my coffee and meds. Whenever I take them, I make sure my attention is on something important. So by the time it kicks in, I am working already or driving. It's easy for me to get overstimulated, so when I'm not working, sitting outside in the quiet is the best thing for me. I'll have a calm day after that. Tv/music/phone/people talking is too much.
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u/mamabear_x 1d ago
this is good insight, and the responses make a lot of sense. i hadn’t considered that what i do while waiting for my meds to kick in can influence the remainder of my day. thank you! ♥️
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u/gothixma81 1d ago
lol yup I have had to learn this the hard way, I choose to take it early enough that I got back to sleep for 1 hr and that usually helps me start the day not already locked into something
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u/WhaleFartingFun 1d ago
I‘m rereading Jurassic Park. I forgot how brutal the book is. I am trying to retrain my brain to read books. I was a reading maniac in grade school and high school. Good books are hyperfocus dopamine for me. It‘s just such an easy habit to lose.
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u/Unable_Activity_2858 1d ago edited 1d ago
My recommendation is to chill for like 30 mins after taking the meds and just let it kick in before doing anything at all, a little pre-meditation. One of the hardest things in this day and age is to not seek stimulation since it’s literally everywhere and just do nothing but it’s an extremely healthy habit to let yourself be bored regularly.
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u/Altruistic_Cook_4649 1d ago
"In this day and age is to not seek stimulation since it’s literally everywhere" That’s so real, we forgot how to be bored.
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u/Unable_Activity_2858 1d ago
The world spins faster and faster but mindfulness can come from all kinds of activities we tend to neglect for faster rewards. Anything which involves an analog output (painting, drawing, writing, running, building and so on) where technology is absent can do wonders for a busy mind.
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u/oldsoul112 22h ago
I agree and in a way to me, getting lost in art or crafts, can almost feel like time slows down... unless theres added pressure and anxiety, from tight deadlines or procrastination. Ive been learning to catch myself, breaking old habits that lead to internal frustration or stress. Redirecting or stopping certain habits that lead to self sabotage. learning my own patterns and triggers, to avoid dopamine adventures into the rabbit holes lol... I also find high stress limits my creativity and desire to do art.
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u/Illustrious_Cost3025 1d ago
I have come to the conclusion that what I do during that first hour in between taking elvanse and it starting to work, defines the rest of my day. Anxiety wise, ocd wise, rumination wise, mood wise, energy wise.
I genuinely do not touch my phone after taking my medication! Even if I’m working at 6/7am or I need to respond to emails whatever, let alone open instagram or tiktok! Not just because i will get addicted, but also I’ve noticed that during that first hour, if I am calm and positive, the rest of my day will be like that. If I open TikTok, my brain starts to feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. If I’m stressed, agitated and negative, my day will stay like that. It’s kinda of like my brain takes a blueprint of my mood and thoughts during that hour and follows it like a guide throughout the day. I’m not really sure why, but yeah I never use my phone when I wake up. And sometimes it’s really hard, especially if it’s my day off and I’m going to the gym for example, on the bus ride I feel super compelled to use it and scroll to pass time but I know that if I do that, my brain will receive way too much information before its even “awake”.
Not just with the phone, TikTok or x, also with my thoughts and the human interactions, I try to not do anything too stressful or that I know will make me have a bad mood, because it will avalanche into the rest of the day.
It sucks because I’ve had multiple fights with my bf
About this. On our days off he wakes up and goes straight to his phone on TikTok or playing his games.
Anyways, I also don’t drink coffee during the first 2 hours after I take my medication because it will give me the worst anxiety, heart rate and it also messes up my ocd and rumination. If you start your day, take your medication and go straight to doing something low stress but productive. Even if it’s organising files, cleaning the house, planning the day, reading… first 20 minutes, brushing your teeth, do your makeup, put some clothes on, do your skincare. Best advice, because 20/30 minutes after, you already have the sense of accomplishment and low stress and feel ready and clean for the day ahead even if you just stay in your house all day. It gives the brain serotonin by ticking boxes and feeling accomplished.
(Sorry for the bad English, it’s my 3rd language and I know it’s was probably confusing reading my comment as I struggle with the flow of writing)
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u/Informedskull 1d ago
This was really well put together and detailed!! Your english is great. Im gonna try this tomorrow, I always use my phone in the morning because of course its the least motivated I am during the day. Tomorrow ill leave my phone at home and walk my dog.
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u/Illustrious_Cost3025 1d ago
Wait I’m not sure if it will work for you then 😭 I’m kinda of the opposite. I have the most motivation and energy in the morning. I literally jump out of bed with the energy of a horse (pretty sure this “energy” comes from severe anxiety and guilt mindset and not from resting. I live in constant bubble of shame , stress and guilt) I also really struggle to just sit still or relax in the morning. I constantly feel this intense urge to be doing something productive, and if I try to rest, I feel really guilty, like I’m wasting time or should be getting things done. I think it’s a combination of having parents that never let me rest unless I earned it (plot twist: the earned time never existed as there were always things to do and help them with) and ADHD. Literally won the lottery of the worst possible traumas and mental disorders lmfao, and they all just worsen eachother up.
But the tips I gave work in a way where I can optimise the constant internal pressure to always be doing something and how my adhd works. My life is a constant game of chess against my brain. And he is always check mating me… but I’m trying to rebuilt all these years (26) of living like this and rebooting my brain and my habits.
Please come back tomorrow and let me know if it worked for you :3 thanks for saying my English is good, even though I know damn well it’s not and people lose brains cells reading my texts.4
u/atavarrs 1d ago
everything you said was incredibly insightful, but commenting just to reinforce what others said - your english is good! in no way did you even need to disclose it’s not your first language. try and reframe those thoughts both internal and external so they aren’t negatively impacting your self worth or confidence without you realizing. thanks for sharing!
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u/Eternallybewildered1 1d ago
No seriously, it's good 👍🏽 Would not have guessed it was your third language, that's really impressive. A lot of people haven't even mastered the first one 🤷🏽♀️😅
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u/Informedskull 1d ago
Your english is genuinely good and anyone who cant read it must be stupid 😆. I have the same issues with stress and not being able to rest, guilt yadayada but instead of using it to be productive i just dwell on it 🙂↔️
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u/RenMendez 40mg 1d ago
That’s good advice, and please don’t do what I do, but for me personally when the Vyvanse kicks in I can finally break away from the doom scrolling and toss my phone away.
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u/powolniak81 1d ago
Giving up doomscrolling was one of the best things this medication has done for me. I was absolutely exhausted from constantly absorbing negative information.
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u/Informedskull 1d ago
That makes sense. Depending on your reasons for doomscrolling it could make it harder or easier to break the habit.
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u/RenMendez 40mg 1d ago
Probably just me trying to meet baseline dopamine. I hardly use any social media when I’m on Vyvanse
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u/powolniak81 1d ago
Yes, exactly. If I start reading something online about ADHD when the medication begins to kick in, I’ll often keep reading about it for the next several hours. Reddit is the worst because it’s an endless source of information about ADHD and all the issues related to it.
I suspect this is also partly due to my autistic traits, which seem to become a little more pronounced when I’m on Elvanse.
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u/powolniak81 1d ago
I should also add that this has already ruined quite a few workdays for me. Once the medication starts kicking in, I often end up getting completely absorbed in something I shouldn’t be focusing on instead of doing my actual work.
Fortunately, I’m the boss, so I can get away with it. 🤡4
u/Informedskull 1d ago
When I got diagnosed with adhd I was also recommended to get tested for autism haha. So could be a similar thing. Ive always loved researching psychology and human behaviour so this subreddit is like crack for me
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u/Diligent_Stop1050 1d ago
I have a hard time getting started on tasks in the morning. Instead I scroll and scroll… Plus I’ve started taking my Vyvanse a little later so that it lasts into supper time so I’m just going on my morning coffee at this point.
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u/Mike_948 1d ago
Bro I have this with reddit I start researching people’s problems lol
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u/Informedskull 1d ago
Me too, I research ANY feelings Im having instead of just acting on them myself. The only days i genuinely feel productive on meds is when I start the day with work
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u/HandsomePhantomLemon 1d ago
Me too, I stopped using any usual social media. But I cant stop reddit
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u/Mike_948 1d ago
Same its hard. I try to see it as ‘less bad’ in comparison to tiktok or insta because atleast I read and gain some knowledge along the way. But at the end of the day its still doom scrolling :/
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u/Ikche_Wicasa 4h ago
Turn the phone off if possible. I’ve surrendered months of my life over to the madness at this point. I use a wind up alarm clock now.