How Not to Fall Into the Dopamine Trap

Everyone is trying to be the best version of themselves these days. But our favorite cakes, TV shows, games at nationalcasino.com, and social media are getting in the way. Why is it so hard to give up these momentary pleasures? It’s all about dopamine addiction. So how to cope with it?

A True Motivational Coach

Dopamine is a chemical in our brain. It’s secreted by neurons to transmit certain signals to each other. Such substances are also called neurotransmitters. Neurons produce dopamine when we do something pleasurable. When dopamine is produced in the brain, we feel joy and fulfillment. And we want it again and again. Our bodies are hooking us up on dopamine to keep us striving for new achievements. If we didn’t get pleasure from food, we wouldn’t strive for it, and therefore, we wouldn’t survive.

There are quick sources of dopamine: delicious food, alcohol, shopping, gaming, social media, and movies. These activities are also called “cheap dopamine” because it doesn’t take much effort to get it. We end up in a dopamine loop.

Dopamine Detoxes

Fast dopamine has no lasting effect. The right dopamine can be obtained from long-term basic pleasures. For example, you need to eat right, do your favorite hobbies and sports regularly, and get enough sleep. There is a theory that if dopamine receptors are constantly stimulated, they can become desensitized. But if we give up quick pleasures for a while, the receptors can rest and reboot.

Dopamine detox is being actively offered on the internet right now. The basic idea is the complete rejection of fast dopamines. But there are no studies that would confirm this theory. The idea of dopamine starvation was originally voiced by American psychologist Cameron Sepah. But that’s not what he had in mind. His hypothesis was part of cognitive behavioral therapy. The idea was for a person to become aware of their habits and change their habitual behavior. Cameron suggested individualizing the mode of restriction. For some, it’s suitable to spend a week of vacation without a smartphone, for others, it’s a few hours every night. However, the idea was distorted and turned into a dopamine detox.

How to Combat Dopamine Addiction?

In the modern world, throwing away your phone and going to live in the woods for a year seems too radical and even pointless. You can work with the problem of the overabundance of fast dopamine in a softer and more conscious way. First, analyze why you aren’t satisfied with your life. If you force yourself to go to a job you don’t like every day, limiting screen time won’t make you happier.

Try to establish a sleep schedule; a healthy seven to nine hours of sleep has a positive effect on your overall health. Exercise is also a great idea. Don’t forget to eat a balanced diet as well. You can also try changing your daily routine and adding checklists and lists where you can cross off completed tasks. All of this helps you keep track of small victories throughout the day. You can also fit “cheap

dopamine” into such a regimen without hurting your productivity. Carve out time for your favorite things to do.