Dopamine Dupes

There has been plenty news in recent years about the impact that dopamine and opioids have on our brains. They are chemicals created in the brain. They strongly influence our moods—causing us to feel good, and often get us hooked on these feelings, making us want more and more. In fact, some people become so hooked that they become dopamine (or opioid) dupes. But let's back up a bit first.

The brain creates two kinds of chemicals that get us excited and feeling pleasurable: dopamine and opioids. They are so desirable that many people seek external sources of these chemicals to flush their brain with, in order to get or sustain those good feelings. Opioids make us feel pleasure. When they get released into the brain, we can become content to sit around in a satiated stupor. When the British wanted to control the Chinese population in the middle 1800s, they made opium cheap and available—literally transforming the Chinese into comatose zombies. Today's heroin-use epidemic is another example of over-the-top opioid craving.

Popular belief thinks that the dopamine system in the brain is about pleasure, but that's not really true. It's more about seeking. The dopamine system is stronger than the opioid system, but they are also complementary; they work together. Dopamine stimulates your curiosity and spurs you into action. If that action finds something good, your opioid system gets you to pause and soak up the pleasure.

Evolution gave us these brain chemical enjoyments. The dopamine system makes us curious; gets us motivated to seek the things we need to survive; such as food, sex, and creative ideas. It urges us to check out what may be around the corner or over the next hill. It makes us want things. It stimulates desire.

Although dopamine was once crucial for our very survival and existence, it can today cause some problems. Unlike our hominid ancestors, we are surrounded by objects that can bring us instant gratification—toys that constantly seize our attention and promise excitement. Our smart phones ring at us, promising rewards; apps entice us to use them for thrilling awards. Twitter and texting ping at us—offering instant communication and the possibility of novel stimulation. We go online—maybe even for a good reason—and find ourselves a couple of hours later aimlessly cruising the internet. We turn on the TV and all kinds of enticing images suck us in. We can't stop the dopamine-induced loop that hooks our brain. We've become a dopamine dupe.

Where our forbears benefited from the brain rushes of dopamine and opioids, we are in danger of becoming addicted. Our ancestors found rewards and pleasures to be scarce. They needed to keep seeking, in order to survive. Manufacturers and advertisers of the countless items that pique our curiosity are almost holding us ransom in an opioid stupor—much like the Chinese in their 1800s opium dens. Our high-tech toys are certainly addictive.

How do we keep from getting hooked on the release of these brain chemicals? Awareness is a good first step... awareness of our propensity to seek pleasure and then veg out, when we get it. And we can turn off the electronic devices, or at least adjust them so we don't get constant notifications of the arrival of the next email, tweet, or text. Are you willing to wean yourself from their promise of yet another dopamine hit, or another opioid jolt?