Ever wonder why it’s so hard to start something — even when you want to do it? It’s not about effort or caring enough. It’s about chemistry.

In this episode of ADHD &… with Jorie Houlihan, we look at dopamine and norepinephrine — the neurotransmitters that drive motivation, focus, and follow-through. You’ll learn how ADHD brains process reward, why urgency and interest activate us, and how to use that knowledge to your advantage.

Once you understand what’s really happening in your brain, you can stop blaming yourself — and start working with it.

🎧 Listen now and start building systems that honor your brain, not fight it.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How dopamine and norepinephrine affect focus, motivation, and follow-through
• Why ADHD brains struggle with “boring” or low-interest tasks
• What actually causes distraction and brain fog
• The difference between neurotypical and ADHD reward systems
• Real-life examples of “urgency-driven motivation” and how to break that cycle
• Tools that help — from interest-based activation to body doubling

🌟 Don’t Miss This

If this episode spoke to you, make sure to:

• Follow and review the podcast so more women can discover it
• Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement on her ADHD path
• Subscribe to my newsletter on Substack for weekly resources, insights, and practical tools for women with ADHD

I’m a life coach, not a medical or mental health professional—this content is for education only, not a substitute for professional care.

You can also find me at:

Website: https://joriehoulihan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joriehoulihan.com

Podcast Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/adhdandpodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joriehoulihancll

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joriehoulihan

Theme Music by Jorie Houlihan + GarageBand