The Dopamine Rollercoaster: Steps to Start Turning Your Life Around
by Mark Goudie on Mar 14, 2023
By examining the relationship of dopamine to serotonin and how too much of one can reduce your levels of the other, you can learn some new strategies for fighting against depression.
What is Dopamine?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, motivation, and pleasure. When levels of dopamine are low, people can feel depression and anhedonia (a loss of pleasure). Dopamine is also involved in addiction; when someone uses drugs or alcohol, the brain releases dopamine, which can create a feeling of pleasure. However, over time, the brain becomes less sensitive to dopamine, and people need to use more of the substance to get the same effect. This can lead to addiction and other problems.
Is there a dopamine rollercoaster?
The dopamine rollercoaster refers to the extreme highs and lows that can be experienced when trying to make significant changes in your life. The idea is that as you start making progress towards your goals, you'll experience an initial rush of dopamine that encourages you to keep going. However, as you get closer to your goals, the novelty of the situation wears off and you may start to feel like you're not making as much progress as you'd like. This can lead to feelings of discouragement and even depression.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help keep yourself on track during difficult times. First, it's important to remember that change is a process and it takes time to see results. Second, stay focused on your goals and remind yourself why you're making the changes in the first place. Finally, be patient with yourself and give yourself credit for every small step you make towards your goals. Making significant changes in your life is challenging, but it's definitely possible with some dedication and perseverance.
How to Bring Happiness Back into Your Life
It's easy to let the bad times get you down, but it's important to remember that happiness is always possible. If you're feeling low, here are some tips to help you turn your life around and start feeling happier again:
- Do something that makes you happy every day. This can be anything from reading your favourite book to taking a walk in nature. Whatever brings a smile to your face, make sure to do it regularly.
- Spend time with people who make you feel good. Whether it's close friends or family members, surrounding yourself with positive people will help you stay positive yourself.
- Help others whenever you can. Doing something nice for someone else is a great way to boost your own mood. And, as an added bonus, you'll know that you made someone else's day a little better too.
- Avoid negative thinking patterns. It's easy to get into the habit of thinking negative thoughts, but doing so will only make you feel worse. Whenever you catch yourself thinking something negative, try to counter it with a positive thought instead.
- Focus on wholesome, good things in life. It's easy to dwell on the superficial, materialistic and desirable things that grab our attention.
Diagnoses and Treatment
If you think you may be struggling with dopamine addiction, it's important to seek professional help. At A Conscious State we provide you with a thorough accurate assessment, a natural health plan and alternative solutions. If dopamine addiction is present, we can work with you to create a treatment plan that will have you on the right path.
The first step in treatment is typically nutritional evaluation and how your body is effectively absorbing nutrients. In resolving the way your body absorbs nutrients your body will begin to balance and start functioning with less dopamine.
After nutritional resolution, the next step is typically therapy. This gives you the opportunity to work through the underlying issues that led to the over production of dopamine.
Our approach is an alternative to medication. Medicines can have many side effects, some long-term, ultimately leading to permanent imbalance.
Nutritional supplements may also be prescribed as part of your treatment plan. Supplements can help to stabilise dopamine levels and reduce cravings. It's important to take supplements as prescribed and attend all follow-up appointments so that your progress can be monitored.
Making lifestyle changes is also an important part of treatment. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are all crucial for maintaining good dopamine levels. Avoiding triggers and stressful situations is also important for preventing dopamine dominance.
Conclusion
The dopamine rollercoaster is a serious problem that can lead to major life problems. However, it is possible to turn your life around and get off the rollercoaster. The first step is to seek natural professional help. This will give you the tools and support you need to start making positive changes in your life. Once you have the right support, you can begin to make small changes that will lead to significant results. With time and effort, you can get off the dopamine rollercoaster and start living a healthier, happy life.
