|
Education
Corner Brain Science
101: The Dopamine Connection (part 2 of a 4-part series) In the first part of our Brain Series we discussed how the brain, and specifically, the primal part of the brain, is structured to seek activities and behaviors that reward us with pleasure. The brain does this as a mechanism for survival. In this part, we're going to discuss dopamine and how it can lead to a dangerous cycle, known as the dopamine connection. So, what is dopamine? The neurotransmitter in the brain that controls our moods and motivation is dopamine. Dopamine has a powerful effect on the way we feel and behave, and what truly allows us to feel pleasure. When our brain cells are producing dopamine in adequate amounts we feel focused, alert, and good about life in general. If our brains aren't producing enough dopamine, we feel fuzzy, fatigued, and unmotivated. Often we don't find much pleasure in normal activities. If we've been living like this for awhile and we come across something (i.e. a substance or activity) that we get unexpected pleasure from, what does our brain do? That's right. It craves that substance or activity. In fact, the brain views that substance or activity as something it needs in order to survive. Once the brain tells us that our survival depends on this substance or activity, anxiety and/or depression kicks in if we don't use the substance or participate in the activity. At this point, a dangerous cycle starts as the substance or activity achieves two things: it creates pleasure AND it alleviates anxiety and/or depression. Thus, we start repeating the behavior over and over again regardless of the consequences. The brain truly believes that it will die if it does not use this substance or participate in this activity. Most addictive substances and activities become addictive because of this dopamine connection. For example, heroin increases the amount of dopamine that the brain produces. Cocaine operates similarly and increases the availability of dopamine in the brain. Both result in a euphoric, and addictive, high. Other substances that artificially produce dopamine include cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, and pornography. Activities that artificially produce dopamine include sex, high-risk activities, and gambling. As the brain gets used to these substances or activities, it will need more and more to get the same results. So the cycle can go from dangerous to deadly. So, what's the way out? Usually it's a long process that requires patience, support, and a true commitment to recovery. When working with young adults, I often tease them about being junior pharmacists: they need to become experts on how to recognize their dopamine levels and then find ways to raise their level through healthy means. I also explain to them that they've allowed the primal part of their brain to take over. Once students fully understand the dopamine connection, they no longer feel the shame they used to. By truly recognizing the physical and physiological mechanisms at play and how powerful these mechanisms can be, students are able to take concrete steps to extricating themselves from the dangerous cycle. What I keep asking them is "Do you want your brain to rule you? Or do you want to rule your brain?" So what are healthy ways to increase the dopamine levels in our brains? The quickest, but not always the best way, is through anti-depressant/anxiety medications. Other ways include good nutrition with adequate amounts of protein in each meal, specific supplements that are based on results from blood work, strenuous exercise daily, acupuncture, meditation CDs, and counseling that focuses on shame-release activities. With all of these, time and consistency are paramount. In our next
part of our Brain Series, I'll explain how we can establish new
neuropathways to truly keep our brains functioning in a healthy
and effective way. Back to Nov/Dec '06 Enewsletter
|
