Post #1724515

2023-09-14 11:07 UTC

>a lot more effort I want to highlight this part. Part of the executive dysfunction is that intrinsic rewards don't feel rewarding OR reward too much. Filling out paperwork can be a short 10 minute task, but nuerotypical individuals are rewarded with a small dopamine hit for simply finishing it. I don't get any. So anything else that is slightly more interesting captures my attention and energy. In my experience, I get a dopamine hit for avoiding the boring mandatory thing, not so much whatever the thing distracting me is. This quickly snowballs out of control and a 10 minute task took all day. Likewise, things that are very interesting to me (video games, hobby stuff, the Wikipedia hole) can trigger a lot of reward and I end up hyperfocusing. Adderall helps by reducing the power of those interesting things and increases the reward for doing mundane things.

Replies (3)

@Saraphim@lemmy.world 2023-09-14 11:55

I’ve given this some thought, because I do seem to get satisfaction out of completing tasks, but no motivation to start them in order to get the finishing satisfaction. Or giving up half way through a task when I’ve lost interest. On the other hand, avoidance leads to adrenaline, and that gets me moving. I think that’s where the neuro compensation lies. Not the lack of satisfaction that the task is complete (although mostly I just feel relief not satisfaction), it’s the adrenaline replacing the dopamine.

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@Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 2023-09-14 11:09

Yeah, that sounds like my experience too, including the games and Wikipedia parts lol. I stay away from TV Tropes completely 😁

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@Mrderisant@midwest.social 2024-01-11 16:08

My dad would always say things about how getting these small tasks done should feel good. They just make me tired and anxious because I can't focus on them to finish quickly

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