You don’t only have to give up eating your favorite foods in the name of well-being. With a new form of fasting, you should be abstaining from all of the activities that mess with your brain’s chemistry to promote a brain reboot.
Dopamine detox involves abstaining from pleasure-seeking activities for a set period of time in order to reduce our brain’s sensitivity to rewards. (Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is called the brain’s reward center, and stimulates us to feel good when we do something pleasurable or achieve our goals.)
The scientific basis for the dopamine detox may not be as conclusive, still, you should know what dopamine fasting is really all about to decide whether or not you should try it.
In order to perform a dopamine cleanse, one needs to stay away from daily distractions, such as shopping, social media, and sugar intake. Instead, more responsible lifestyle choices and habits need to be adopted. Fasts can last from several hours to even a few days.
Despite the fact that it may seem scientific, on the face of it, dopamine detoxification has, of yet, no conclusive scientific backing. Any benefits are placebo, and the majority of them are realized after stopping to engage in harmful activities, like addictions.
Dopamine detoxification is a concept that lacks scientific validity, and implies a simplistic view of the brain. Despite this “dopamine detox ” craze, the reality is much more complex.
In this article, we’ll examine dopamine detoxification in greater depth, including risks as well as some potential benefits.
So. read on to know all about the dopamine fast.
Dopamine detox: what is it?
The dopamine detox was thought of by Dr. Sepah. In his clinical practice, he frequently employs the technique to help entrepreneurs and tech workers. Dr. Sepah wants his clients to stop being dependent on outside stimulants or distractions such as texts, phone alerts, and social media updates.
He uses this technique to help his patients get better. The research he has done into this new approach is based on Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT.
Through the dopamine detox, patients are empowered to overcome any mental obstacles. The tendency of addictions to produce recurring, almost automated behaviors means that addicts often feel powerless in their face.
Given that addicts have behavioral control issues, they should not only find a treatment center to check into but also work with the experts there to overcome their mental helplessness.
The idea behind Dr. Sepah’s “detox” is that people should let themselves feel a certain level of boredom or loneliness at times, rather than reaching out for cheap, quick fixes to relieve their mood and get a dose of the dopamine hit.
According to Dr. Sepah, dopamine detox addresses the following compulsive behaviors:
- Stress-induced eating
- Overuse of the Internet and excessive gaming
- Shopping and gambling
- Masturbation and pornography
- A desire for thrills and novelty
- Taking drugs for recreation
The brain’s neurotransmitters are stimulated when you abstain from these activities, thereby, reducing dependence on dopamine for feelings of temporary ecstasy, and thus reducing the risk of addiction.
How does dopamine work?
The brain produces dopamine as a neurotransmitter. As a chemical messenger, it naturally occurs in the body, and is involved in many physical and behavioral functions, including:
- Understanding
- Inspiration
- Sleep
- Feelings
- Observation
Mental health conditions are caused by excessive or inadequate dopamine production. Overwhelming stimuli can trigger such disorders, resulting in a dependence on an activity or substance.
Is it possible to detox from dopamine?
The process of dopamine detox involves avoiding triggers of dopamine for an extended period of time, which can range anywhere from an hour to several days.
A person who wants to detox from dopamine needs to limit their arousal, especially those that trigger pleasure. During the detox, you should stay away from everything that causes a boost in the production or release of dopamine.
The ultimate goal of a dopamine detox is to promote a more balanced, centered, and less stimuli-dependent approach in a person. There is, however, no such thing as a true dopamine detox, which would involve the total blocking of the neurotransmitter’s production.
Despite not being exposed to certain stimuli, the body keeps producing the naturally-occurring dopamine. An appropriate word for describing what the dopamine detox actually entails is “disconnection.”
Implementing the practice periodically may yield positive results. Nevertheless, the term “dopamine detoxification” poses a number of issues, and it is not even a scientific term. The name is not intended to be taken literally, warns Dr. Sepah.
Are there any health benefits of dopamine detox?
Natural dopamine cannot be detoxified completely. However, unplugging and detaching from some impulsive behaviors may provide some health advantages, including the prospect of increased mental clarity and heightened focus.
The effect of dopamine on some people can be distracting, and it may hinder them from reaching their goals. Feel-good behaviors are what cause us to repeat certain behavior patterns, such as binge-watching TV or mindlessly browsing social media.
It is compulsions like these that rob you of the time you could spend on more productive activities, such as improving your health, performance at work, and making effort to declutter your home. By avoiding the distractions, people may be able to devote more time to what matters most to them.
A person may achieve a greater state of mindfulness by not checking their phones and social networking sites for hours on end. The benefits include stress relief, improved sleep and a lowering of the blood pressure.
Final Words
The bottom line is that a true “detox from dopamine” is impossible, since the brain constantly produces dopamine naturally. In contrast, refraining from impulse and compulsive activities has benefits for a limited period of time. As a lot of the habits and substances—fast foods, social media, mindless entertainment consumption—that people engage in have an addictive effect, distancing from them for a certain period can improve a person’s mental health and overall lifestyle.
