@DSDA-MHAwareness

God beautifully designed our brains with chemical messengers, but living in a fallen world means this biology can experience disruptions. At the center of the ADHD brain is a chronic deficiency in dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, reward, and pleasure. While a typical brain feels satisfied by routine activities, an ADHD brain is in a constant, subconscious search for a chemical spark. Food—especially items high in sugar, fat, and carbohydrates—triggers an immediate, heavy release of dopamine. For someone with ADHD, eating can become a form of self-medication to wake up an under-stimulated brain. Also, ADHD impacts the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for impulse control, planning, and impulse control. When this region is underactive, resisting the urge to binge or stopping once full, becomes incredibly difficult. ADHD also disrupts interoception, our internal awareness of bodily signals, leading to failure to recognize full sensations.