Stop frying your dopamine receptors

Wedge of Lime

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

dxhound2005

What's the etc.?

Bio Mech

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

Fortunately this isn’t one of the things you need to “believe” in thanks to the fact that science exists.

Force Carrier

Can I have a thesis on the subject.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Thankfully, you believe incorrectly OP. And it's always a mistake to project your obsessions on to everybody else.

More importantly, you don't seem to actually realise the role of dopamine receptors within the central nervous system. They affect behaviours like spatial working memory, cognition, prolactin release, emesis and motor function. They can, due to dysfunction impact on schizophrenia, Parkinson's and Tourette's and such diseases. Depression is not generally a result of their disfunction.

Danzy

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

Maybe not desensitization but certainly all the above is training to look at life in a very messed up way. So same effect, whatever the cause.

All are self focused activities.

debok

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

Case closed folks

Ya hardly expected him to agree with you or anyone for that matter

Raconteuse

That reading and listening to music carry-on spells doom for us all.

Seriously though, the other stuff you list probably isn't ideal for our mental health in large quantities, but reading and listening to music?

ILoveYourVibes

I think people just don't get out into nature enough and feel like everyone is watching them all the time.

ToddyDoody

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

Evidence is over-rated anyway.

You can prove anything with 'evidence'.

Your Face

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

Sounds messy.

ToddyDoody

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

If nobody ever had a hunch or hypothesis nothing could be tested for validity and no progress would be made.

Do a google search at least

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I'm of the opinion that everyday activities become more tedious and irritating, and you develop a certain "numbness" to life when you over stimulate yourself. You can't enjoy simple things like a walk in a forest or watching the sun rise.

I agree that many people are too 'busy doing nothing' to enjoy the peaceful yet mind-opening wonders of the world around them. We all need time out to catch our breath and rebalance priorities. My point was dopamine reactors are nothing to do with it.

Constant stimulation of the sort offered by current media trends, overindulgence in alcohol or drugs, and the general fast pace of life do indeed take their toll. Whether they lead to depression, insecurities, a loss of perspective or mental exhaustion is still being studied.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

debok wrote: »

Ya hardly expected him to agree with you or anyone for that matter

Okay. How do you agree that dopamine receptors have any connection with depression levels in today's society? Show the connection and I'll agree with you after reviewing it.

ToddyDoody

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

Is there something on a google search that disproved my hunch?

A hunch needs to be proved right not proved wrong.

sexmag

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

You're saying science proves my point? Fair enough, I haven't seen the evidence so I remain open to being proven wrong.

Ok well I assume you masterbate or have sex? Do you do it every day or two? Why have you not becomes desensitized to it yet?

ILoveYourVibes

What does coffee do to your dopamine receptors?

dxhound2005

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

Anhedonia is considered a core feature of major depressive disorder, and the dopamine system plays a pivotal role in the hedonic deficits described in this disorder. Dopaminergic activity is complex and under the regulation of multiple brain structures, including the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus and the basolateral amygdala. Whereas basic and clinical studies demonstrate deficits of the dopaminergic system in depression, the origin of these deficits likely lies in dysregulation of its regulatory afferent circuits.

So you are now saying a deficiency of dopamine causes depression?

dxhound2005

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

A dysregulation of the afferent circuits Whatever the technical reason it doesn't really matter, what matters is the affect of using stimuli as a continual distraction or form of anxiety/pain relief. I believe it negatively affects people's enjoyment of life.

A day or two in solitary confinement might change your mind.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

What does coffee do to your dopamine receptors?

It increases dopamine levels and makes you feel good. Caffeine blocks adenosine reception, making you more alert and injects adrenaline into the system. Of course the down side is reliance on it for a hit and it's affect on sleep patterns.

The best way to restore dopamine receptors - according to the most recent research - is get enough sleep, eat foods that contain the amino acid tyrosine, such as bananas, and exercise.
It'll help the dopamine receptors function as intended but I can't say it'll do anything to prevent or cure depression.

GRACKEA

In the words of Paddy Kav, "through a chink too wide there comes no wonder."

It's not scientific, but there's definitely merit in the idea. A period of abstinence in order to appreciate something more, and delayed gratification, certainly work for me.

Those ascetic Monks are on to something.

ILoveYourVibes

Felix Beautiful Wiretap wrote: »

It increases dopamine levels and makes you feel good. Caffeine blocks adenosine reception, making you more alert and injects adrenaline into the system. Of course the down side is reliance on it for a hit and it's affect on sleep patterns.

The best way to restore dopamine receptors - according to the most recent research - is get enough sleep, eat foods that contain the amino acid tyrosine, such as bananas, and exercise.
It'll help the dopamine receptors function as intended but I can't say it'll do anything to prevent or cure depression.

Well...some stuff has gotta be fried

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

Anhedonia is considered a core feature of major depressive disorder...…….

© Tony Grace et al. ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Well...some stuff has gotta be fried

Personally, I like plenty of strong coffee and a food fry.

My abundant free time and living surrounded by nature must be counterbalancing the effects.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Oh, he's gone.

Must have been fried.

Beasty

Felix Beautiful Wiretap wrote: »

Must have been fried.

"Nuked" is the term we tend to use....

4068ac1elhodqr

Dopamine overload is one factor (could be some major sugar-fix factors here too, besides the media overload), but also important is average brain wave frequency.
Most folks are 'buzzing in beta' at 14hz+ for 12hrs per day with elevated levels of hormonal stress. 5G&IOT will likely increase this even further.

Perhaps the best benchmark for human activity would be to look at what we've 'evolved to do' over many 100's of thousands of years:

Hunting/fishing, eating/fasting, swimming/running, gathering (all outdoors). Then sleeping again (in the afternoon, at 8-13hz alpha state), back to fire-making, raw/cooking(paleo), fighting/games and finally a bit of riding under a starry night sky.

Ocassionaly the tribal elder will econourage all to go into a Delta/Theta (0.5-7hz) shamanic dance-off for higher wisdom and guidance.

80j2lc5y7u6qs9

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, , reading etc.

not really a dopmine kick in there except perhaps in masturbating to porn. Dopamine is kinda like reward like in gambling although i wonder how much the people who talk about gambling know about dopamine. I heard recently in fruit machine addiction a near miss is nearly as good as a win but think its over simplified these days. Kind of a buzz word. It is implicated in schizophrenia and in parkinsons which is why anti psychotics can cause parkinsons

80j2lc5y7u6qs9

Wedge of Limes wrote: »

I wouldn't rule out dopamine in other activities, such as youtube videos.

maybe, maybe not. Not as simple as the op said

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Wedge of Limes wrote: »

You should find something more productive to do with your time.

Than re reg'ing to troll? Probably.

Obsessive behaviour can depress you.


One has to laugh.
🤡

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Kaiden Dry Orchid wrote: »

maybe, maybe not. Not as simple as the op said

He is the OP back again.

Wedge of Limes

Wedge of Limes wrote: »

You should find something more productive to do with your time.

A bit of self-awareness mightn't go astray yourself.

80j2lc5y7u6qs9

Wedge of Limes wrote: »

I wouldn't rule out dopamine in other activities, such as youtube videos.

Wedge of Lime is Op and you are Wedge of Limes? . is there a dopamine kick there?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Kaiden Dry Orchid wrote: »

Wedge of Lime and Wedge of Limes?

Originality is he forte.

80j2lc5y7u6qs9

Felix Beautiful Wiretap wrote: »

Than re reg'ing to troll? Probably.

Obsessive behaviour can depress you.


One has to laugh.
🤡

good for the receptors

RobbingBandit

The police of vice and virtue will clean up your decadent ways western pigs.

lola85

Seems we only use 10% of our brains according to scientists I think we have plenty of dopamine spare to burn.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

NO, but you wil have an article for the paper in a few days, correct?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

NO, but you wil have an article for the paper in a few days, correct?

He's gone. But he'll be back again soon no doubt. In one form or another.

Gregor Samsa

I’m with the OP. This scene in Hannibal put me right off frying dopamine receptors.



I only grill them now, preferably on the George Foreman.

osarusan

I thought it was policy to nuke the entire thread when it was started by a serial rereg.

Leg End Reject

Ward J. Littell wrote: »

He's gone. But he'll be back again soon no doubt. In one form or another.

Wedge of lemon is my guess, I hope I'm right for the dopamine hit.

Leg End Reject

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Wedge of lemon is my guess, I hope I'm right for the dopamine hit.

He could surprise us all and venture outside the fruit world. Wedge of cheese perhaps.

Wedge of Lime

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

I believe this dulls peoples enjoyment of life as their dopamine receptors are desensitized. This is just a hunch, I know some of you will be asking for a thesis on the subject, I don't have one to give you.

The ironic thing about masturbating to porn is that of all the things you listed, its probably the only scenario where someone is actually paying attention to other people and focusing their eyes on them

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Ward J. Littell wrote: »

He's gone. But he'll be back again soon no doubt. In one form or another.

Well, whatever he has to write ain't gonna write itself. Maybe the deadline wa a bit closer than we thought.

Greentopia

Felix Beautiful Wiretap wrote: »

Personally, I like plenty of strong coffee and a food fry.

My abundant free time and living surrounded by nature must be counterbalancing the effects.

More a tea drinker myself but I used to like a nice cup of strong Greek coffee in the morning when I lived somewhere with a big Greek community. That's the one you want if you're looking for the best health benefits from coffee. Turkish would be similar.

Perfectly suited for people with abundant free time too as it's meant to be sipped verrrry slowly as the old guys do in Greece.

Served with or without sugar in tiny espresso cups. Plain and simple. Lower in caffeine and lots of antioxidants and polyphenols and good for the heart. Tastes great and simple to make in a briki-little traditional coffee pot. No hipster baristas, expensive machines or pods necessary.

Wish I could find it here.

harry Bailey esq

Wedge of Lime wrote: »

I believe that the incidence of anxiety and depression is more common today due to people over stimulating their dopamine receptors on a continual basis. People are rarely still and doing nothing. They are either obsessively scrolling on their phone, listening to music, eating, drinking, watching youtube videos, masturbating to porn, reading etc.

We'll agree to disagree on this one squire, were all adults here. At the moment,as in right now this minute, I'm scrolling through me phone, drinking, listening to music and snorting cocaine. I'm no scientist but me dopamine levels are probably gone poxy haywire but, and I mean this in all due respect, have ya notin more ****in serious to be worried about?

GRACKEA

Greentopia wrote: »

Wish I could find it here.

Amir's Delights in Millenium Walkway in Dublin.
Or you can buy the equipment and coffee yourself in Ayla Foods on Capel Street nearby.

vriesmays

Most anxiety people have rejected their religion. They want to be free with their life choices but have no-one to guide them other than the PC media.

Wibbs

lola85 wrote: »

Seems we only use 10% of our brains according to scientists I think we have plenty of dopamine spare to burn.

Nope, we use all of our brains most of the time. The 10% thing is a myth.

hatrickpatrick

Two weeks free of orgasms and stimulants such as caffeine is enough to reset your D2 receptors. Give it a go and you'd be amazed how good you'll feel afterwards. When people are doing the whole drysh!te January thing I usually just lay off the coffee for a few weeks in Jan instead. Not only does overall mood improve substantially after the initial withdrawal, but thereafter if you use it sparingly, every cup of coffee tastes better and lasts you longer in terms of stimulation.

I forget where I came across the two week figure, it was a PubMed article, but I'll link it if I can find it. Was either 14 days or 10 days, so two working weeks or two full weeks. Groups online which encourage abstention from things like sex and stimulants in order to refresh one's dopamine receptors have coalesced around a 90-day figure, but I've never found any literature supporting such an extreme reset and it strikes me that a lot of people will look at that figure, balk, and decide not to bother giving it a go at all. Try the two weeks and see how you get on - personally, I haven't returned to having daily coffee since doing this in Jan, I now limit it to two days per week (sometimes three) and I'm still able to maintain a caffeine high for hours after a single cup, where I once would have one with breakfast and a top up around lunchtime, and not even get that much of a kick from it.