The neuro transmitter dopamine is released whenever the brain receives or anticipates reward in form of pleasure sensation or fulfillment.
Some examples of frequent dopamine abuse are internet pornography/masturbation, foods like carbs/sugar, drugs like cocaine or meth, obsessive social media addiction, cigarette smoking and alcohol. These stimulate the brain’s reward system to provide pleasure and satisfaction. Addiction to any of the above means, frequent stimulation of dopamine pathways in the brain.
Over a period of time, this leads to decrease in dopamine sensitivity in the brain. This is due to decrease in the total number of dopamine receptors in brain over time as the body tries to resist too much dopamine. The situation can be compared to insulin resistance when the cells reject insulin because of too much insulin too much of the time. A lot more dopamine/insulin would have to be released by the brain to produce the same effect due to loss of sensitivity.
Dopamine is the primary neuro-transmitter responsible for motivation to achieve, drive to succeed, mental focus or concentration, feeling of fulfillment and overall well being. Dopamine resistance, would mean that all the above will go down. Dopamine deficiency or obstruction in dopamine pathways might lead to loss of interest, attention deficit, poor mental concentration and eventual depression. The person would have to depend more and more on artificial stimuli to feel temporary well being.
Bottom line is, do not pursue artificial means of pleasure that temporarily stimulate brain’s reward-motivation system. People do this to escape the hard realities of the real world.
Over millions of years of human evolution, pleasure was hard to come by. Pleasure could be achieved only via hard and sustained effort. Instantaneous pleasures like internet porn or sugar syrup or cocaine did not exist. On the other hand, today’s humans who have access to abundant sources of instant gratification are bored of the real everyday life. Today’s humans rarely feel genuine excitement or satisfaction.
NoFap + Cold shower
The NoFap CS community has known it for a long time now the benefits of NoFap/NoPMO along with cold showers every day. If keto + IF is a match made in heaven, NoFap + CS is also right up there at the top.
Common benefits of NoFap + CS are — boost in self confidence, rise in hormone testosterone, remarkable increase in motivation/drive to achieve, better skin/hair (from CS) and mental energy and focus that can only be felt and not described. Finally, NoFap + CS heal the dopamine resistance so that we can genuinely feel happiness and satisfaction once again.
The evidence in favor of NoFap + CS is not anecdotal anymore like it used to be a decade ago. It is supported by strong science as well as experiences of millions in this community. I feel enormous gratitude for the hundreds who contribute their experiences on social media.
No fap = no masturbating or pornography
CS = cold shower every day
Keto = no carbs diet
IF = intermittent fasting every day
Thank you again!
