Dopamine trap: Psychologist explains danger of quick sources of pleasure

What is dopamine and what is its "trick"

Dopamine plays a key role in motivation and pleasure. It is produced when a reward is anticipated, and its concentration is observed in the frontal lobe of the brain. This area is responsible for important functions such as planning, attention, memory, and social adaptation."

"But quick rewards, such as sugar or scrolling through social media, deplete these resources, leaving people trapped in instant gratification," explains the expert.

Dopamine decreases immediately after achieving a goal, which encourages you to look for new stimuli. However, quick sources of pleasure can be addictive, as they provide a sense of immediate but temporary joy.

In contrast, slow dopamine, which is released when goals are met when you exercise or learn, creates a deep and lasting sense of satisfaction.

"When a person invests time and effort in a process, they get more satisfaction not only from the result but also from the path to it. Such achievements help us feel happy and fulfilled," adds Nazirova.

The frantic pace of life is exhausting (photo: Freepik)

The psychologist explained why people are looking for a "quick" dopamine fix and how to prevent it.

Frantic pace of life

The modern world dictates conditions in which instant results become the norm. And "slow" dopamine, which is obtained through goal achievement, sports, reading, and quality sleep, is produced gradually.

Life without plans and goals

Uncertainty and dissatisfaction can make us look for quick fixes, and this leads to addiction.

How to deal with it? Plan your life, keep your focus on your own goals and aspirations.

Lack of learning

When we acquire new knowledge and skills, the brain produces dopamine, which leads to a sense of satisfaction from self-development. In addition, learning stimulates creativity, allows us to see new solutions, and opens up opportunities for self-expression.

So, quick sources of dopamine give us instant gratification, but they can deprive us of deep joy in life. To avoid this, you need to set clear goals, appreciate the process of achievement, and focus on development.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.