Member-only story
The Dopamine Detox
And How It Worked For Me
Get to Know My Brain — The Dopamine Addict
So this is what went down: I was in the midst of one of those doom-scrolling loops on Instagram one night, liking dog videos and half-eating a cold slice of pizza and having an online argument with someone about why pineapple on pizza is a war crime. Between the third "relatable meme" and the sixth TikTok dance, I noticed something terrifying.
I was hooked.
Not on drugs, not on gambling, nor even on pineapple pizza — but on dopamine.
And now, in case you're wondering what dopamine is, I'll introduce you to the silky little neurotransmitter that's controlling your life. It's the one that tells you, "Ooh, that feels good. Let's do it again." Your brain fills up with it when you consume sugar, check your phone, or avoid being productive by watching productivity videos rather than being productive.
In short: Dopamine is the cookie that your brain treats itself to for doing absolutely anything — even just locating the TV remote.
Why My Brain Is Basically a Lab Rat in a Hoodie
Let's go all science-y for a moment. Back in the 1950s, scientists found that rats would push a lever over and over again to…
