Dopamine: A Double-edged Sword

Okay, we established one fact in our last post and that is Dopamine, as we have come to know it, plays a crucial role in our reward system. The pleasure you feel when we accomplish something, eat our favorite food, or even fall in love, its all Dopamine at work . It’s like the brain’s very own pat on the back, saying, "Good job, keep it up!" Now as much as Dopamine sounds like such an amazing and great guy to have around, there is a twist, a dark side to this reputation

Let’s find out this dark side shall we

A little demonstration

Yeah, lets us say you have just taken a bite of the most delicious chocolate cake. Your brain releases a rush of dopamine, making you feel amazing and so on, right. So, you take another bite. And another. Before you know it, you’ve devoured the entire cake and are now contemplating another. This is where dopamine’s dark side starts to rear its ugly head. When we repeatedly chase that dopamine high, and give into it, our brains begin to crave more and more of the substance or activity that gave us the initial pleasure.

Addiction: The Trap

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Now the above craving for more and more of the substance to give the same high is basically addiction. Addiction is the most well-known downside of dopamine. When we repeatedly engage in activities that release large amounts of dopamine like gambling, drugs, or even social media, our brain starts to rewire itself. It says, "Hey, I like this! Let’s make this our new normal." Over time, it takes more and more of the substance or activity to achieve the same level of pleasure. This is how people get hooked, constantly chasing that elusive first high.

Now as ugly as the possibility of addiction due to Dopamine sound, dopamine doesn’t just influence pleasure; it also plays a significant role in our mood and motivation. When our dopamine levels are in balance, we feel motivated and energized. Like they say too much of a good thing can turn bad. The same goes for dopamine, too much dopamine can lead to manic behaviors, while too little can leave us feeling rather unwell and depressed. It’s like being on a never-ending rollercoaster, with extreme highs and crushing lows. Maintaining balance is key, but the problem is this is not always easy.

Impulsivity

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Ever made a spurbof the moment decision that you later regretted? Yeah you can thank super great dopamine for that. High levels of dopamine are linked to impulsivity, leading us to make rash decisions without fully considering the consequences. It’s like having an over enthusiastic cheerleader in your brain, constantly shouting, "Go for it!" without thinking things through. This can lead to everything from minor mishaps to major life-altering mistakes.

The Dopamine Detox

I see this as one of those things trending in the online space lately, dopamine detox. A probable solution to the pitfalls caused by frequent dopamine high. It seen as periods where people intentionally avoid activities that trigger high levels of dopamine release. Now believe it or not, this can go a long way in helping to reset the brain’s reward system, making it easier to find pleasure in everyday activities without the constant need for a dopamine rush.

^{Image by 愚木混株 Cdd20 from Pixabay}

Black and white, good or evil, in the end Dopamine, is undoubtedly a double-edged sword. While it’s essential for pleasure, motivation, and reward, too much of it can lead to addiction, impulsivity, and mood swings. The key is balance here is balance and moderation, enjoying the highs without letting them take over our lives.

So next time you find yourself going for that extra piece of cake or endlessly scrolling through social media, remember: sometimes less is more, even when it comes to feeling good.

Thanks for reading, Sayonara