How I Took Control of My Brain’s Reward System
You’re wrecking your mind! How to take control of your dopamine.
A few months ago, I found myself constantly checking my phone. Notifications, likes, and comments were my daily dopamine hits.
It felt great at first, but over time, I noticed a change. My motivation dipped, and simple pleasures lost their appeal. I knew I had to make a change.
Here’s my journey into understanding and managing dopamine, the molecule that fuels our drive and motivation.
The brain’s currency
Dopamine is more than just a feel-good chemical. It’s the brain’s currency that motivates us to take action.
Imagine you’re in a busy restaurant — tonic transmission is the constant background chatter, while phasic transmission is like someone calling your name, grabbing your attention.
Every time I got an Instagram notification, it was a phasic dopamine release, making me crave that next check.
Dopamine, cheap dopamine. Time to master you.
The science behind the highs and lows
I learned from neuroscientist Andrew Huberman that too much dopamine can lead to a crash below baseline levels.
