Jun 29
Well before I was diagnosed with ADHD I was using exercise as a form of self-medication; it’s a way to start the day out right and it helps me to think more clearly and work off my excess energy. All my life I’ve known that exercise helps with focus and self-regulation, but I was curious to find out why that is. After all, if we know the ‘why’ behind something, we’re much more likely to do it.
In this episode I break down some of the research into why exercise has such a huge impact on the ADHD brain, the connection between exercise and learning, and the importance of finding a form of movement you enjoy.
Incorporating exercise into my daily routine has been the key to managing my ADHD, which is why if you were to choose only one goal to focus on for 2022 I believe it should be this: find a way to move that generates positive emotion and just focus on that. There is no brain function that exercise doesn’t affect in a positive way. When you’re exercising you are literally growing your brain, and if that’s not motivation to exercise more, I don’t know what is.
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"Exercise doesn’t make you smarter, but what it does is it puts your brain in an optimal position for learning. It basically improves brain plasticity. There is no brain function that exercise doesn’t affect in a positive way."
- Tracy Otsuka
"I’m convinced that ballet taught me how to get into my body, to control my mind, it taught me how to focus, and I am convinced that it grew neural pathways in my brain that weren’t there initially."
- Tracy Otsuka
"When you’re exercising you are growing your brain."
- Tracy Otsuka
- Tracy found a podcast that helped her understand her ADHD and feel more organized. As a result, she now feels more confident and happy with herself and her life.
- Ashleigh shares her journey of self-discovery and improvement, focusing on her strengths and positive emotions.
- Tracy emphasizes the importance of paying attention to how medication affects children and teenagers, and not writing off changes in behavior as normal development.
[10:15 - 21:05] Exercise's Impact on ADHD
- Tracy believes that exercise has a significant impact on her ability to concentrate and control her mind. She cites ballet as a childhood activity that taught her how to focus and grow neural pathways in the brain.
- Expert John Ratey concludes that exercise improves physical, mental, and psychological health for people with ADHD.
- Tracy shares that exercise increases neurotransmitters in the ADHD brain, improving focus and reducing anxiety.
- Brian shares that exercising outside in the morning helps naturally adjust circadian rhythms and wake up earlier, making it easier to exercise.
- John suggests taking medication after exercise to extend the good feeling, and finding activities that generate positive emotion for better cognitive and psychological functioning.
- Research shows that exercising more can improve brain function, and finding a way to move that generates positive emotion can be a motivating factor for exercise in 2020.
