For anyone who is having trouble controlling their urge to use drugs or alcohol, a dopamine detox may be the answer. The term "dopamine" refers to an amino acid found in the brain, which is crucial to feelings of reward and pleasure. Dopamine is released when the nerve impulses that cause the sensation of pleasure are sent from the brain to the skin to increase sensitivity. Check out this article for more of the best insights on how to do a dopamine detox.
Unfortunately, there is some evidence that suggests that there are some people who are more sensitive to dopamine than others. This is why coffee, chocolate, and other common stimulants have been linked with more severe cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The difficulty with trying to give patients this type of medication is that they may need to keep on taking the medication long after they no longer feel the "reward" from the therapy - i.e., if they stop taking their medication, the symptoms may resurface. This is where a dopamine detox comes into play.
A dopamine detox consists of two parts. First, it stops the brain from stimulating the nerve cells with certain stimuli such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Second, it regulates the levels of dopamine production in the brain so that there is a constant flow of neurotransmitters (neurotransmitters help move information from the brain to the rest of the body) to stimulate activity and provide pleasure. In addition, certain stimuli such as alcohol or caffeine withdrawal can reduce the levels of dopamine in the brain.
So, how does a dopamine detox work? To perform the detox, the patient will be placed on a regular schedule, which usually takes about half an hour per day. During this time, the patient will be denied access to all substances which contain high levels of caffeine or sugar such as soft drinks, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, etc. Caffeine and sugar are the most potent inducers of dopamine, while other substances (such as alcohol) only increase dopamine levels slightly.
While a person is under a dopamine detox, they must avoid substances that increase dopamine levels such as junk food, processed foods, sugar, etc. Processed food contains artificial chemicals that mimic the effects of dopamine. It also contains high levels of fat and salt, which are not good for one's health. Sugar and fat are the preferred nutrition for those who want to 'get high' and 'be high'. However, the brain needs carbohydrates and protein to function normally. This is why people who have gone through detox will crave high-fibered foods such as pizza, ice cream, doughnuts, soft drinks, cakes, and candy.
During a dopamine detox, patients are advised to develop a healthy sense of self-discipline and self-motivation by engaging their 'limb' muscles. The limbic system is involved in storing and producing new memories and identifying with one's self. When a person becomes idle or loses interest in his daily life, he can be said to be undergoing a repetitive, meaningless daydream. Patients are then encouraged to make up their minds by engaging their 'limb' muscles and engaging in daily activities once again. This can be achieved by simply telling your brain to engage in something again (and think about something else at the same time). If you want to know more about this topic, then click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detoxification.
