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Brain is looking for low effort activity.
sigh 4 hours of doomscrolling it is then
Usually it means it wants drugs or some stimulant that you eat, drink, smoke or inject that will give immediate satisfaction
If you are ever in this situation … go for a walk, run, exercise or lift weights … the dopamine hit from the effort will immediately satisfy whatever it is the brain is feeling and also make you forget about other things for a while. Physical activity immediately relieves those bits of stress.
Because if you don’t … you’re on the path to wanting to satisfy these cravings with a pill or drug … either legal or illegal and you’re on your way to more problems.
And when you don’t take drugs or drink alcohol or whatever?
Games (plenty of options, anyways) aren’t low effort activity?
Physical, no. Mental, varies by game, but usually a bit
There is an inertia to even open the game
That’s true. I suppose I was thinking more from the perspective of playing the game, not getting the cartridge in or installing then opening the game.
Definitely not all games. Factorio makes you plan, construct, and optimize a factory. Expedition 33 requires full attention due to dialog so no watching shows/music on the 2th monitor. This but also requiring communication for most multiplayer games. Planet Toaster requires being in a creative mood where you don’t need extrinsic motivation to have fun.
Basically no, not all games are low effort. I’d say the majority aren’t. And I haven’t even mentioned the games that require memorizing a complex keyboard layout or need additional peripherals.
No, I have to start them and/or get out my console.
No, you need to think about the solution or strategy. Some games are low effort though.
Me: I’ll jerk off and decide with a clear mind!
later
Brain: borrrrreeeeed
For anyone looking for an answer, put on some music and dance like an idiot. Helps.
I’ve found it’s the movement and change of context that helps me. Taking a walk, going for a ride, or even just moving to a different room helps my brain kick out of one of these ruts. Dancing is a high energy option that I’m not always ready for but, when I am, it’s very cathartic. 🙂
ADHD is a spectrum (as is all neurodiversity) but one of the neurochemical commonalities between people who meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD is disregulation of norepinephrine. Getting on meds that work and engaging a therapist who can help develop better emotional tooling and coping mechanisms can be life changing. One of my coping mechanisms is changing the scenery. Norepinephrine is a precursor for a whole bunch of essential chemistry so engaging other systems that need it seems to help other areas.
Everyone is different but I’ve found that if my brain is stuck then my body is usually stuck as well. Unstick the body and, after a while, the brain wants to follow.
When nothing sounds satisfying and I have no gumption whatsoever I can introduce something locally novel in an attempt to kick things into gear again. Executive dysfunction can make choosing from options tough (or temporarily impossible) but, on not-the-worst days, I can at least stand up and start walking aimlessly until I start to feel different. Walking outside tends to help the most.
It’s nothing strenuous or fitness focused. Just a leisurely stroll around the bedroom, yard, neighborhood, etc. After a bit I usually feel like doing something. Even if that’s just more walking at least it beats mean mugging the wall until I want to cry or sleep. Usually I end up doing something I wanted to do earlier in the week though.
I really like and appreciate this well-written and thoughtful comment! Thank you for it. I’m not able to put it into words, 'cause my brain is broken, but it’s helped me. Thank you! :)
I think all people have a search for novelty, but with ADHD it’s probably worse. I often don’t want to initiate an activity because the novelty has worn off, or rather, I think I know what the activity will be like, and calculating the dopamine hit often makes me think it’s not worth it. Anywho, I’ve enjoyed doing “grownup” activities more recently, like just peeling potatoes and vacuuming and stuff like that, because I realize my “novelty meter” is broken.
Omg the dopamine hit from emptying and refilling the dishwasher cannot be equaled.
An endless stream of short vertical videos with mundane content at best?
Brain: Son of a bitch, I’m in!
Wait isn’t the part asking the questions also the brain itself? That doesn’t make sense, that would mean the brain would be working against itself…
Oh right, never mind…
The correct answer is sleep. Brain will disagree with that too.
Sleep. Beautiful precious sleep. Dream. Warm blanket, firm mattress.
I believe there’s a word for this called Languishing
I didn’t know that was a thing, thanks
wow, you get kicked out if you decline all cookies. fantastic.
so painfully true.
Is that better or worse than when my depression refuses to enjoy anything whatsoever?
