The Dopamine Trap
Pleasure-seeking enticements, such as rich foods, coffee, cola drinks, alcohol, and recreational drugs, are different faces of the same trap. By causing artificially intense releases of dopamine within the brain's pleasure centers, these substances create a deceptively intense, short-term feeling of well-being. But there is a price.
The motivational triad encourages the aggressive search for the next possible dopamine "hit." In our ancestral environment, that meant the tastiest whole natural foods or the finest mating partner. Along the way towards these goals, serotonin was there to give us hints and encouragement. It helped us to change direction when necessary.
But in the modern world, this natural integration between serotonin and dopamine, between the moods of happiness and pleasure, has been partially lost. Though still perfectly operative when allowed to function, this integration is compromised by the artificial choices of modern life. It is no longer necessary to exercise in order to obtain food and security, we can sit at our jobs, instead. It is no longer necessary to sleep after darkness; we can extend the day, instead. and in the morning, we may no longer need sleep to satiation, because we are needed back at our desks. So we function not rested, but stimulated by caffeine, instead.
By using alcohol, tobacco, coffee, cola drinks, drugs, chocolate and other rich foods as shortcuts to induce dopamine for brief moments of pleasure, we compromise our health and happiness, instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Pleasure-Trap-Mastering-Undermines-Happiness/dp/1570671508
Pleasure-seeking enticements, such as rich foods, coffee, cola drinks, alcohol, and recreational drugs, are different faces of the same trap. By causing artificially intense releases of dopamine within the brain's pleasure centers, these substances create a deceptively intense, short-term feeling of well-being. But there is a price.
The motivational triad encourages the aggressive search for the next possible dopamine "hit." In our ancestral environment, that meant the tastiest whole natural foods or the finest mating partner. Along the way towards these goals, serotonin was there to give us hints and encouragement. It helped us to change direction when necessary.
But in the modern world, this natural integration between serotonin and dopamine, between the moods of happiness and pleasure, has been partially lost. Though still perfectly operative when allowed to function, this integration is compromised by the artificial choices of modern life. It is no longer necessary to exercise in order to obtain food and security, we can sit at our jobs, instead. It is no longer necessary to sleep after darkness; we can extend the day, instead. and in the morning, we may no longer need sleep to satiation, because we are needed back at our desks. So we function not rested, but stimulated by caffeine, instead.
By using alcohol, tobacco, coffee, cola drinks, drugs, chocolate and other rich foods as shortcuts to induce dopamine for brief moments of pleasure, we compromise our health and happiness, instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Pleasure-Trap-Mastering-Undermines-Happiness/dp/1570671508
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