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Hey there, Warrior
Wow… I’ve missed you these last several days. I’m so sorry I disappeared — I switched email providers and honestly? I was fighting for my life in the land of tech gremlins. I swear half my brain was like, “We can do this!” and the other half was like, “Girl, just lie down.” But I’m back. I’m here. And we’re diving right into something that explains a lot of what we all struggle with:
The Dopamine Drought.
If you ever wonder why some days you wake up ready to take on the world and other days you can barely convince yourself to brush your teeth… yeah, that’s it. That’s the drought.
Neurodivergent brains (and honestly, anyone dealing with mental health stuff) run on different fuel than the rest of the world. Where neurotypical brains have a steady drip of dopamine, ours… not so much. Think of it like trying to drive across the desert with the gas light on, praying the car doesn’t stall.
Here’s what that actually looks like in real life:
You WANT to do things but you can’t start.
You care deeply, but your motivation falls off a cliff.
Tasks that should be “easy” feel like climbing Everest.
You get bursts of energy… then nothing. Total crash.
Your to-do list sits there like, “Hey bestie,” and you’re like, “Not today.”
And listen — this isn’t laziness. This isn’t a character flaw. This is chemistry.
Our brains often need novelty, urgency, interest, or connection to kick into gear. When none of those are present? That dopamine drought hits hard.
The good news: you’re not broken. Your brain just operates differently, and once you understand that… everything starts making more sense.
A few things that help during dopamine drought seasons:
Micro-dosing motivation: set timers for 2 minutes instead of 20.
Body doubling: someone else present = instant dopamine spark.
Tiny rewards: yes, you are allowed to bribe your brain.
Start with the “dopamine warm-up”: one tiny task that feels good.
Follow your interest when you can: it builds momentum fast.
You’re not failing. Your brain is asking for support. And that’s allowed.
Love Always,
Amy
Your Mental Health Warrior & Neurodivergent Advocate 💚
To subscribe to my newsletter please enter your e-mail address below. You will be kept in the loop about all new podcast episodes, get information on how life living with mental health and neurodiversity struggles can be and some tips on how to make it easier. You will receive sales e-mails as well for my digital products or e-mail coaching. You can unsubscribe at any time if you decide this is no longer for you.
