That’s because when we do things that trigger the release of dopamine, we feel good.
In fact, we sometimes feel so good that we seek out those experiences over and over again.
Pleasure is something we all need in life.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
They can get out of control and may even lead to addiction.
The role that dopamine plays in the brain’s reward system is what links it to addiction.
What Exactly Is Dopamine?
Dopamine is aneurotransmitter.That means it’s a chemical that sends signals inside our brains.
It’s known as one of the “pleasure chemicals” because of that fact.
Other feel-good chemicals includeserotonin,oxytocin, andendorphins.
It’s normal to remember that experience as something that gave you good feelings.
Dopamine doesn’t just cause pleasure, though.
It’s a vital part of our ability to function in our daily lives.
It plays a role in everything from motivation to mood to memory.
Is Dopamine Addiction Possible?
It is not technically possible to get addicted to dopamine.
It occurs naturally in our bodies, and we can’t directly take it as a food or drug.
However, it may be possible to get addicted to any activity that increases our dopamine levels.
Dopamine has garnered recent attention on social media.
Behavioral addictionsarereal, and some, like gambling, are more likely to cause addiction than others.
Addiction Is Complex
While dopamine can contribute to addiction, it doesn’t act alone.
Understanding your risks can be important, but you should also be aware that anyone can develop an addiction.
Basically, anything you do that feels good can release dopamine in your brain.
Some of these are good ways to naturally ensure you have sufficient dopamine levels, but some aren’t.
That idea is why dopamine can potentially become a problem for someone.
Behavioral addictionsare an example of how chasing the rush and pleasure of dopamine may contribute to problems.
Common behavioral addictions include becoming hooked on work, video games, exercise, gambling, or internet use.
Doing these things triggers the release of dopamine, which means they feel good when people do them.
When people develop a behavioral addiction, they spend too much time pursuing these behaviors.
They neglect other important tasks and feel like theymustengage in the behavior just to feel normal.
It is this inability to stop despite the negative consequences that make these behaviors an addiction.
Sex Addiction
For one example, getting dependent on having sex can lead tosex addiction.
Because it makes us feel good, we may seek it out in ways that are unsafe for us.
On the one hand, we have to eat!
We can’t survive without it.
And it’s completely normal to want to eat foods that taste good to us.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Below are some ideas to help you have a healthy relationship with dopamine and help avoid dependence.
Any self-care practice can calm your nerves, as can very simple activities likedeep breathing.
Other effective tactics that can help include guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, aromatherapy, and yoga.
You might start by talking to your primary care doctor.
They can recommend treatments or refer you to others who can help.
Other options include online therapist directories oronline therapy platforms.
Dopamine does play a role in addiction, but this relationship is complex.
Researchers are still trying to understand the many complex factors that influence addictions to substances and behaviors.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High-risk substance use among youth.
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Bostwick JM, Bucci JA.Internet sex addiction treated with naltrexone.Mayo Clin Proc.
