It blows my mind how productive I’m able to be, being properly medicated after a diagnosis. I don’t understand why I cannot do these simple tasks normally. Why does adderall make me “go” and actually accomplish tasks?
In: Biology
u/sailor_moon_knight answered a similar question a while ago and I saved [that comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/EkR9AMxFX2) because I thought it did a great job explaining it in a way that’s easy to understand yet also extremely clear.
> There is a concept in neurology called “optimal arousal”. (It is not about sex.) The idea is that there is a certain amount of stimulus: sensory input *and* tasks, where a person is most comfortable. If your environment has too little stimulation, you’re bored. If your environment has too much stimulation, you’re overwhelmed. Think about how many drivers turn down the radio while navigating unfamiliar areas: their task is more stimulating than usual, so they have to reduce sensory input to maintain optimal arousal and not get overwhelmed.
> People with ADHD generally have VERY HIGH thresholds for optimal arousal. They really do focus on their homework better with music, and they really do like to play their music that loud. They jump chaotically from topic to topic and task to task because they’re constantly chasing every bit of stimulation they can get, like tigers pacing at the zoo. They need more pumpkins full of hamburger in their enclosure, STAT!
> Stimulants, well, *stimulate* the brain and central nervous system. Caffeine, for some ADHD people at some doses, stimulates the brain enough that they can sit still, focus on boring tasks, or even fall asleep in a timely manner instead of literally or figuratively pacing. Stronger stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall) and methylphenidates (Ritalin), and SNRIs (Strattera) can have the same effect, but they also have to be prescribed because they’re more likely to make someone with a normal threshold for optimal arousal sick from too much stimulation.
> Source: am a pharmacy tech, also have ADHD.
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