so i’ve heard that many adhd/add people self medicate with sugar. do you know anything about that?
I’ve heard this too. Unfortunately I don’t have much experience with it. As a kid when I ate sugar I would get tired. Like really tired. Especially if I ate too much. I never understood the TV trope where the kid got hyper from sugar.
I’m thinking it could work the similar to caffeine? Both slightly increase dopamine levels similar to how some adhd meds increase dopamine levels (though sugar and caffeine increase dopamine to a much lesser degree). Low levels of dopamine are thought to be associated with adhd , theoretically, raising them a bit (with sugar/caffeine/etc.) could help the slightest bit and be considered self medication. But most self medication is done unintentionally due to adhd-ers being naturally drawn to things that stimulate dopamine.
So, it could help a little bit (assuming it works like a very mild stimulant) If your looking to treat adhd with sugar, though, I wouldn’t hold out too much hope.
This isn’t much and it’s (admittedly) mostly speculation but I hope it helps!