Dopamine Detox

What is dopamine?

It is the reward chemical in the body that stimulates want and desire.

Our innate human desire is to survive and prolong the human race, so any resource that contributes to our survival can trigger a dopamine release. 

There are many triggers for the dopamine response in our everyday environment, some we consume and some produce 

Examples of dopamine we consume:

• Social media

• Digital entertainment 

• Music 

• Sunlight

• Highly palatable food (high sugar/high fat)

• Alcohol

• Drugs

• Porn

Examples of dopamine that we produce are:

• Getting a great result on an assignment 

• Achieving a new personal best 

• Exercising / finishing a training session

• Turning that final page of a book

For this reason, it is impossible to completely detox from all dopamine because it is essential for optimal wellbeing. Rather we want to redefine our relationship with consumable dopamine.

The sources of dopamine that we consume can become highly addictive and can actually compromise our health and wellbeing when consumed excessively.

Why is this?

Because there is NO EFFORT required in order to achieve a dopamine response. A lot of these sources provide us with instant gratification.  

We reach for these sources of dopamine, sometimes on autopilot, in times of boredom, stress or low mood to stimulate a feeling of happiness and reward in the moment.

This is prevalent in a lockdown situation, where times are uncertain and feeling down becomes common, the use of some of these dopamine sources can become excessive and destructive to our wellbeing. In the long term, they can make us feel worse and out of control, rather than feeling better.

Dopamine Detox Challenge

A dopamine detox is a challenge to go without consumable dopamine for seven days to increase mental clarity, productivity and improve overall wellbeing. Lockdown situations are difficult and the stress and hopelessness can feel very consuming. Taking a break from dopamine triggers can allow you to take the control back over your life, distance yourself from distractions and develop clarity over how you spend your time.

When dopamine triggers are over-consumed, the novelty of these rewards wear off and there is a lack of excitement to life.

However when you are forced to go without for an extended period of time, these things that were once trivial, suddenly become so exciting again. 

While I don’t endorse extreme ‘all or nothing’ approaches, this challenge is more about redefining our relationship with dopamine triggers to promote more mindful and productive consumption that contributes to optimal wellbeing.

If you’re currently feeling defeated and uninspired, I really recommend applying the guidelines of this challenge to your own life to freshen your perspective and get your spark back.

I know these things can be the small pieces of joy that we have left in a lockdown, but discipline creates freedom.

If you do try this out, let us know in the comments what your main takeaways/realisations were, or let us know one trigger that you want to moderate better in the future.

Take care legends,

Coach Mel