Drowning Us In Dopamine?

[jimcaster]

I don't subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, so I can only read headlines on Facebook, but not the actual article.

I just saw this headline: Digital Addictions Are Drowning Us in Dopamine.

"Yes, please", I thought with a smile. 😄😁😆😊

[Bolt_Upright]

When you get a reply, you get a dopamine hit! You are welcome!

[jimcaster in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Haha!

[bassofspades in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Here's one for ya ! Cheers!

[WinnieThePoo]

Have a hit on me - I think this is the story...

theguardian.com/global/2021...

[JAS9]

My neurologist suggested to me once that one upside to having PD was that I cannot become addicted to anything anymore! I doubt that that is true, although I have seen some evidence that she had a point. For example, I can change my diet much more easily than my wife, who has a panic attack if she doesn't have chips on hand. I see the problem in a lot of people in my life and I remember how I "had" to have my 32 oz diet Coke every day! Now they are telling us that those artificial sweeteners cause our gut biome to become dysfunctional and that PD may originate in the gut. So, did my addiction to diet Coke for 20+ years cause my PD? Maybe.

This reminds me of a book called The Pleasure Trap. It explains in much more detail what's going on and how to get beyond it. Maybe the real "benefit" to having PD is that we might see addiction more clearly? Maybe we can help someone by being aware of its effects on everyone's lives?

[jimcaster in reply to JAS9]

Good for you for looking for a silver lining and trying to help others, JAS9!

[Pezo]

The general public dont really understand what dopamine does , they always focus on it being a 'reward' chemical ... when actually it also controls movement

[JohnPepper]

I for one do not understand what they are talking about. Are they saying we take too much dopamine?

[Jana86 in reply to JohnPepper]

No, John. This isn't about "us" at all. It is about some research that shows that people who use smart phones get a bit of a dopamine hit each time the phone beeps from a like, a text message, a FB reply, etc. The author refers to this as "addiction to dopamine, or that "we (meaning society) are awash in dopamine." For one, I have not noticed that using my Iphone has any effect on my symptoms. If there is a dopamine hit, it isn't enough.

[JohnPepper in reply to Jana86]

Thanks! Have you read the Mayo Clinic article publishe don this site, confirming that what I do is spot on?

[Jana86 in reply to JohnPepper]

No, but I have read your book and I have increased my brisk walks as a result. Feeling better. Thanks!

[JohnPepper in reply to Jana86]

Have you seen the Mayo Clinic video on Exercise? I am attaching it for you.healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Jana86 in reply to JohnPepper]

Thanks.

[Smittybear7 in reply to JohnPepper]

Can you forward the article? Thanks

[JohnPepper in reply to Smittybear7]

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[MUCU]

In England is the same

[kaypeeoh]

I wonder if it's different on a DAT scan. A positive scan shows as less dopamine being secreted from the substantia. So in this case a positive sign is bad. It suggests we don't have enough and the body is wanting more. So a smart phone gives one a 'HIT' of dopamine?

[janers]

I wonder if the dopamine has different effects on the body depending on what part of the brain is secreting it. Perhaps a part of the brain secreting dopamine when addicted to something has a different effect than the dopamine secreted from the substantia nigra?