24-hour ‘genie’ culture has caused a rise in dopamine overload with negative consequences, and here’s how you can fix it.
Dopamine is the latest buzzword trending on social platforms, with both positive and negative connotations. On the plus side, there’s dopamine decor and dressing, both of which focus on the desire to lift your mood through adorning homes and bodies with bright colours and fun textures with a feel-good goal in mind. Then there’s the opposing side which can facilitate the need for a ‘dopamine detox’. But how and why does this occur?
Modern lives are centred around the urge for instant gratification. This can be attributed to overuse of social media platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok, where immediate feedback through likes and comments feed the desire for social validation. This in turn releases hits of dopamine, the feel-good chemical which can become addictive. Another factor is our 24-hour ‘genie’ culture where we can access most desires on demand through streaming platforms, video games, entertainment, food delivery services, dating apps, gambling and pornography. All of which flood our brains with abnormally high amounts of dopamine.
Essentially we don’t need to work hard for pleasure anymore thanks to the evolution of technology. Slender are the days of natural dopamine highs through movement, hobbies, spending time with loved ones and friends or being outside in nature. Nowadays everything we want can be conjured up instantly with a click or a swipe – and as the old adage states, too much of a good thing…
According to the Neuro Clinic, there are various signs you may be struggling with dopamine overload that include; lack of focus, trouble switching off and falling asleep, no motivation or willpower to perform daily tasks, and a general feeling of overwhelm. But the good news is, you can be fixed through undertaking a dopamine fast or detox.
The best way to achieve this is through cutting out (or down on) online activities or social media habits that are all consuming and may have led you to this point. For example, if you scroll social media platforms every night before sleeping, try replacing that with reading a really good book. If you are ordering too many takeaways, cook from scratch instead. The idea is to ‘reset’ your brain back to a simplistic level to alleviate symptoms of overload.
Get in touch with us on social media if you have experienced this and want to share your reset practices.
(Please note it is always a good idea to seek medical advice as these symptoms are not exclusive to dopamine overload)
