4 Free ways to upregulate dopamine receptor

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
When you suffer from anhedonia, low motivation, no desire, poor creativity, etc, it's likely due to downregulation of the dopamine receptors. Often caused by chronic stress.
 

-Luke-

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2014
Messages
1,269
Location
Nomansland
I think the subtraction/reduction of things from one's life is just as important, maybe even more important, than the addition of positive things like natural sunlight or movement in nature.

Human interaction in real life can't compete with the instant gratification of getting thousands of likes on social media. A sexual relationship with a real human being can't compete with the endless novelty of free internet porn. And so on. It's hard to get pleasure and contentment from everyday activities if there's a superficial version of that activity, also called superstimuli.
 
Last edited:

aniciete

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Messages
1,341
Location
United States

Attachments

  • FF160DC0-D29B-4D27-829B-FF44B99EDCE9.png
    FF160DC0-D29B-4D27-829B-FF44B99EDCE9.png
    101.3 KB · Views: 74
  • D6F76B1A-54FF-4BE7-86C6-6333059607FF.png
    D6F76B1A-54FF-4BE7-86C6-6333059607FF.png
    124.9 KB · Views: 69
OP
Hans

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
I think the subtraction/reduction of things from one's life is just as important, maybe even more important, than the addition of positive things like natural sunlight or movement in nature.

Human interaction in real life can't compete with the instant gratification of getting thousands of likes on social media. A sexual relationship with a real human being can't compete with the endless novelty of free internet porn. And so on. It's hard to get pleasure and contentment from everyday activities if there's a superficial version of that activity, also called superstimuli.
For sure man. That's why I added it in the bonus section. You got to put it back. If you can't put it back as quickly as you take out, it's best to plug some holes and stop the drainage.
 

-Luke-

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2014
Messages
1,269
Location
Nomansland
For sure man. That's why I added it in the bonus section. You got to put it back. If you can't put it back as quickly as you take out, it's best to plug some holes and stop the drainage.
Ah, I missed the bonus section. Thanks for mentioning.

If you’re chronically bumming on youtube/Instagram/Tick tok or playing games, smoking weed, drinking alcohol, you’re draining your bucket. How do you usually feel after binging Instagram, Youtube, 9gag, etc, after a couple of hours?

Tired and even a little anhedonic.
What do you do when you’re tired and anhedonic? Binge some more to try to get those feelings back.

That's it. It's a vicious cycle. People binge on social media, porn, video games, ... due to negative feelings and emotions, stress, low energy, etc., in order to feel better. And they often feel better - as long as the binge lasts, as long as they can stretch it. But at a certain level it just adds to the negative feelings, stress and low energy. It is cause and "solution" at the same time.
 
OP
Hans

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
Ah, I missed the bonus section. Thanks for mentioning.

If you’re chronically bumming on youtube/Instagram/Tick tok or playing games, smoking weed, drinking alcohol, you’re draining your bucket. How do you usually feel after binging Instagram, Youtube, 9gag, etc, after a couple of hours?

Tired and even a little anhedonic.
What do you do when you’re tired and anhedonic? Binge some more to try to get those feelings back.

That's it. It's a vicious cycle. People binge on social media, porn, video games, ... due to negative feelings and emotions, stress, low energy, etc., in order to feel better. And they often feel better - as long as the binge lasts, as long as they can stretch it. But at a certain level it just adds to the negative feelings, stress and low energy. It is cause and "solution" at the same time.
True man. I also think people reach a new baseline. Without social media, they feel a 2/10 and then they binge and get to 5/10. They think 5/10 is great because it's the ceiling of their new low baseline. But they can reset their baseline to 10/10 by binging less and adding back into the bucket. People don't actually know how great they can feel at baseline.
 
B

BRBsavinWorld

Guest
Thanks, Hans.

If you’re chronically bumming on youtube/Instagram/Tick tok or playing games, smoking weed, drinking alcohol, you’re draining your bucket. How do you usually feel after binging Instagram, Youtube, 9gag, etc, after a couple of hours?”

This saying comes to mind: “entertainment is the devils substitute for joy.”
 
B

BRBsavinWorld

Guest
I read that debate trying to get to the bottom of it, but I can’t help but think that there is more to the story Travis never figured out.

I just feel so much better when I drink more of it.

The lactoferrins are actually what thicken in the mucus in the throat, and can supposedly aid immunity as a first stage of defense… I can’t help but wonder if toxic effects are conditional upon other problems, from the so variable experiences. Northern Europeans only got better when they increased dairy consumption.
 
OP
Hans

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
Thanks, Hans.

If you’re chronically bumming on youtube/Instagram/Tick tok or playing games, smoking weed, drinking alcohol, you’re draining your bucket. How do you usually feel after binging Instagram, Youtube, 9gag, etc, after a couple of hours?”

This saying comes to mind: “entertainment is the devils substitute for joy.”
I like that saying. It's true, but I still think a bit of entertainment can be good. It can help with inspiration, creativity, motivation, etc.
 
B

BRBsavinWorld

Guest
I like that saying. It's true, but I still think a bit of entertainment can be good. It can help with inspiration, creativity, motivation, etc.
Same. I found the balance being with family/friends; Aka communal entertainment in person. Also anything involving interaction seems more natural.

For instance, I learned that I really have to avoid even scrolling thru memes, unless I'm doing it with friends and family, lol
 

Hayley

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2021
Messages
112
Location
United States
I have had all those low dopamine symptoms on and off my whole life depending on my health, but now I’m starting to think the problem may be a more general problem of brain energy.
 
OP
Hans

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
I have had all those low dopamine symptoms on and off my whole life depending on my health, but now I’m starting to think the problem may be a more general problem of brain energy.
Low brain energy leads to a high serotonin to dopamine ratio, which makes it seem like you have low dopamine symptoms.
 

DaikonRadish

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2020
Messages
44
i feel positive and light when eating chocolate and OJ, but feel like ***t when i eat eggs, milk, and wheat/veggies. even banana smoothies with pb and some mangoes make me feel positive, even with the milk. What would cause this?
 
OP
Hans

Hans

Member
Forum Supporter
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Messages
5,856
Oh interesting. Any ideas on things to try to increase brain energy?
Thyroid, glucose vitamins and minerals, pyruvate, tianeptine (increase T3 in the brain), methylene blue, etc.
Also, removing things that can make you feel bad is just as key: gluten, A1 milk, lectins, excess fiber or any other compound that you might be sensitive to.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom