Autism and Dopamine Dressing

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous post about autism and clothing, this week I’d like to put the concept of ‘dopamine dressing’ under the microscope.

So what exactly is it?

It might sound like some random fashion fad, but dopamine dressing is an activity that many neurodivergents unknowingly participate in. It’s the process of choosing clothing that will boost your mood and bring joy based on colours, comfort and texture- basically choosing clothes that will make you happy.

But how does dopamine fit into this trend?

As I’ve discussed in many previous posts, dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone (also known as a neurohormone) that acts as a chemical messenger in both the brain and the body. Often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone, dopamine plays a central role in the reward system in our brain, controlling mood and motivation among other things. So when we choose clothing that makes us happy, dopamine is released which improves our mood.

In the neurodivergent brain however, dopamine is dysregulated which can impact motivation and behaviours. This is particularly an issue for autists who also have ADHD who often have low levels of dopamine causing issues with motivation and focus. As a result, autists seek out dopamine through impulsive, high stimulation activities that push the brain to release the dopamine they need to function, often referred to as ‘dopamining’.

As such, dopamine dressing is a dopamining behaviour or coping mechanism to help boost an autists missing dopamine to improve mood, mental health and confidence. In my own case I am very much a dopamine dresser. I buy clothes in an array of bright colours (it’s like a rainbow threw up in my wardrobe at times), soft, fluffy jumpers that I can stroke, and choose loose comfortable clothing that doesn’t irritate my skin. On the other hand, I also have a fondness for a tight skinny jean as the pressure against my legs increases my dopamine like a weighted blanket. I always select what’s going to make me happy and lights up my brain, rather than just yanking out the first top I see.

On another level, some autists choose clothing that has ties to their specialist interests to help boost their comfort and dopamine like a band or comic book t-shirt. I keep an array of whimsical socks in my drawer for example, many of which have animals printed on them like highland cows, dogs and alpacas as animals are very close to my heart (and feet!). When you think about it, Sheldon Cooper’s many superhero t-shirts were all indicators of dopamine dressing years before the concept was ever proposed.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife