Introduction

Dopamine is both a Secret Hero and a Silent Villain in our lives, shaping our moods, motivation, and even our behavior without us realizing it. It’s popular known as The Rewarding System of The Brain.

The Secret Hero

Generally, dopamine refers to the neurotransmitter that governs how we feel pleasure and satisfaction. Its often referred to as the “feel-good” chemical because its released when we achieve something rewarding, even in small doses like eating food or getting a compliment. Here’s how Dopamine acts like a hero:

1. Motivation And Reward:

Dopamine motivates us to pursue our goals and rewards us. Whether its completing a task or finishing a Workout session – It peaks with the act of completion and further reinforces the behavior and pushing us to keep going on.

2.Learning And Memory:

Its associated with learning as well. Whenever we experience a positive response to a behavior, it will strengthen the memory of the behavior that led to the positive outcome. This way a long-lasting memory of the incident is created.

For example: The time we solved that really hard math problem and felt good about, it is the dopamine’s way of saying, “Do that again!!“.

3.Focus And Attention:

It helps improve focus, enabling us to concentrate and stay on task. Once we make sure that the levels of Dopamine in our body is Healthy (Balanced), it will naturally help us get the job done and make us stick to the plans we made. Thereby, helping us to succeed in whatever we wish.

4.Pleasure And Happiness:

Apart from motivating us, It also brings happiness and well-being in general because it makes us feel good when we are doing things we enjoy, such as hobbies or the time spent with loved ones.

The Silent Villain

Visiting on to the other side of the coin, the darker side of Dopamine. When the levels of Dopamine in our body gets out of Balance, it starts to show its real ability. It starts poisoning out Character by making us get into Unhealthy Habits and Destructive Behaviors:

1.Addiction:

Dopamine plays a very significant role in the Brain’s Rewarding System, which is why many people develop Addictive Behaviors. Whether its a substance like Drugs, or activities like Social media, the bottom line is that Dopamine reinforces these Behaviors because these provide us with quick hits of Pleasures. Thereby trapping us into a Cycle of Instant Gratification.

2.Overstimulation:

In Today’s World, where one is constantly bombarded with distractions- from constantly checking out our phone, switching between Social Media, to TV programmes etc. Because of this constant stimulation in one’s life, Dopamine is constantly being triggered. This leads to Dopamine Burn-Out due to which an individual starts to feel unmotivated or even depressed in life unless he encounters another Novel Stimulus (Good Stimulus).

3.Chasing Short-term Gains:

The problem is that our Brain is desperate for quick rewards instead of long-term success. So, if once our brain finds a thing that releases a shot of Dopamine, then brain decides on to do that thing forever.

For example: Watching an Instagram Reel that triggers Dopamine release resulting in instant feel-good would make us Procrastinate over the much more important tasks that would bring Greater but delayed Rewards.

4.Mental Health:

Imbalances in the release of Dopamine has been linked to Poor Mental Health Conditions. If our brain is not capable of getting triggered to release Dopamine than it might lead to low levels of the same resulting in Depression whereas the complete opposite would lead to high levels resulting in Anxiety and in worse case a Disorder called Schizophrenia. These extreme fluctuations lead to mood disorders and create problems in emotion handling capacity.

Finishing Off

This is all for this article, if you enjoyed reading it and found it insightful, then make sure to share this article with someone like-minded.

Let me know your thoughts/opinions about Dopamine. And tell me whether you need an article on how to gain control over this fascinating hormone of human body.

Here is the Part Two: Dopamine!! The Journey of Silent Villain to The Secret Hero.

If you also like reading Secrets of Hindu Mythology like Valmiki Ramayan and Mahabharath then you can click on the article links mentioned below:

Krishna’s Iconic Peacock Feather And The Mystery Behind It!! And

Why ‘Karna’ in Mahabharat Was Born with Armor?