The 'Dopamine Detox' trend needs to end.
Dopamine detoxing is super popular - with many people claiming that it can completely "reset" your brain. Unfortunately, there are a whole load of misconceptions that it brings along with it - some of which can be quite dangerous.
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As usual, here are references & sources:
Dopamine fasting: Misunderstanding science spawns a maladaptive fad - www.health.harvard.edu/blog/d...
Dopamine reward prediction error coding -
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
The neural basis of delayed gratification -
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/s...
Dopamine as a Prolactin (PRL) Inhibitor -
academic.oup.com/edrv/article...
Liking, Wanting and the Incentive-Sensitization Theory of Addiction -
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
I made this so long ago but I figured I'd share a summarised version of what my argument is - as a a few ppl have gotten confused! 1) Most Dopamine neurons in the midbrain (the part of the brain we're talking about in dopamine detox) signal a reward prediction error (RPE - difference between reward and expectation). 2) This system 'updates' - we become better at knowing what to expect after multiple experiences and thus need a larger reward to achieve a positive RPE (e.g. your first chocolate bar tastes better than your 100th) 3) These neurons are mainly involved in driving motivation (seeking) rather than hedonic pleasure (liking). RPEs are also involved in learning processes. We can therefore learn to seek these things that give us a positive RPE, somewhat independently of whether we enjoy them 4) While *midbrain* dopamine ('mesolimbic pathway') affects motivation, it's not the only thing dopamine does in the brain + body overall. Dopamine on the whole, does a bunch of things. 5) E.G there is research to suggest that Dopamine activity in the VTA (part of the midbrain) may form part of the neural basis of delayed gratification (this is relatively new research though!) 6) Issues like video game addiction are so often multi-faceted, and involve so many different aspects than just desensitised midbrain DA neurons. I'm preaching to think of these problems not only from a neurotransmitter imbalance side of things, but also to consider how cognitive, social and other psychological factors affect your behaviour. Otherwise you might be disappointed in the promises made by a detox (basically, a detox might help re-sensitise DA receptors if you do it for a good while, but your issues are almost certainly more complex than 'just' that). For reading on midbrain dopamine, I would really recommend 'Dopamine reward prediction error coding' (Schultz, 2016) as a starting point. It's a really readable paper (and he's also my old University professor lol, a lil biased). Also Dr. K over at HealthyGamerGG has some good videos on this too! They inspired some of this video!
yo i like the way you present your video
yo so what alternative method do you suggest to stop addiction and loss of enjoyment in activities?
Going into this video, I was a super big anti-dopamine individual. But both its calm tone and well-structured argument has reminded me the value of skepticism. For instance, at 6:00, Fads states that "even though I couldn't find any similar research in humans, I'm going to choose the same thing applies for us," using a heavy dose of skepticism in how he phrases it passively. I was expecting some rant, typical internet stuff, but this ended up being a gem. So here's my two cents, if you care: Reality is complicated and weird, and while the anti-dopamine narrative is twisting the facts, that doesn't mean it's purposefully lying; it's oversimplifying to the point in which it isn't correct. Due to its oversimplified nature, it can easily be extremified and, for the lack of a better description, cultically scapegoated as there isn't as much nuance to the overall narrative. It's important not to slip into a close-minded mindset simply because it's easy or comfortable. Frankly, your mind likes to put a large emphasis on things that are easy to comprehend, and even more so when it can escape responsibility through scapegoating. Quite ironically, that's what all these anti-dopamine narrative individuals claim to be against. None of your brain's chemicals were ever evolved to harm you, and dopamine is no different. It was meant as a reward stimulus, which was a helpful survival mechanism when humans were hunter-gatherers. Hunt down a deer, get praise and adoration from your tribe, and be motivated to hunt another one; thus, you help feed people. Feelings of reward are helpful, but they are not feelings of happiness. The simplification of it as "happiness" is unhelpful because a) we don't really have a concrete definition of happiness, more just an abstract understanding and b) Oxytocin, Serotonin, as well as several other chemicals are also involved inside what we generally define as happiness. The anti-dopamine narrative conveniently leaves these facts out, simply because it's easier to tell the scapegoat story; however, these facts would remind people what the actual problem is: overconsumption. There is a kernel of truth in the narrative, but needs to be brushed off with a heavy does of skepticism. Our minds, and dopamine along with it, have been carried off into another world constructed by human ingenuity which our natural selection has yet to adapt to. We aren't used to all these stimulants around us, such as social media (feeling of social achievement in validation), trans-fat infused food (feeling of achievement in "hunting down" a "large prey"), video games (feeling of literal achievement), and pornography (feeling of reproductive achievement). Again, these reward stimulus in nature were good things, because they helped us survive. But because we are swamped with it, we consume it like crazy, destroying ourselves. And well, since the human being, ever adaptable, decided to adapt to these new surroundings and demand a greater influx of reward to be similarly stimulated. That's where addiction comes in. But this stuff doesn't provide you happiness. It only gives you a fleeting feeling of achievement. But nevertheless, the problem isn't dopamine, or your brain, or any of your chemicals, or the natural selection your ancestors went through as hunter-gatherers, it's you own self indulging within the modern artificial world. Taking away dopamine isn't going to fix the problem, nor will it be quick whatsoever. Scapegoating a chemical in your brain won't solve internet addictions, but it is helpful to remember that mechanisms- however complex- exist inside your brain that addict you to these things. Anyways, that's my two cents.
@@samchiu9918 damn you write books?
@@samchiu9918 I ain't reading all that. I'm happy for u tho. Or sorry that happened.
Delayed gratification is the bomb. It's like "yeah, I could watch KZhead now, but if I clean the cat boxes, take a shower, and make some food I'll be a lot more relaxed and comfortable, which will make the experience of watching some KZhead even better."
Yes! It's like cleaning the house, taking a shower and after that, enjoying and the clearness of both the body and the house itself. The sensation is so good that's almost magical to me!
this has something ive been doing and its a great change. i can still do the things my brain craves, but if i make it wait and do the things that will nag at me during recreation first, I end up having a much better experience.
Exactly. Delayed gratification. Get your work done first, then play is more valuable.
I do this all the time when it comes to cleaning or doing chores or excreting waste etc and it truly does help me sit down and relax more to music or do you do because I have nothing else to focus on but those things
Damn, I never thought about it like that.
"The things you want are not necessarily the things you like." Story of my life.
This is referring to motivational salience. Read the wikipedia page on this term if you are interested in further information. "wanting" is not necessarily "liking".
"I do what I hate"
yeah that one hit home :/
@@eternalchocolate53Could you guys please elaborate on that? I still don't quite get the full difference
@@spacecat942 I don’t like to get out of my comfy bed early in the warning to torture myself in the gym and take a cold shower afterwards, but I want a nice body and mind. I don’t like to study boring textbooks, but I want a good grade. That’s what it means
"A book is never gonna compete with a video game if video game is your standard for what a good experience is." WISE WORDS RIGHT THERE
yeah this is the quote that really stood out for me in the video
real
can anyone explain what does that quote mean? pls
if the thing that you always find fun is a video game, then books will seem boring because you compare them to video games@@youtubeissocialmedia_
@@youtubeissocialmedia_if you set your standards and expectations for things too high or too specific, then you won't be able to enjoy the little things and sometimes better things that matter. Essentially if you set your mind to thinking a video game is better and more enjoyable, you won't be able to appreciate the joy of reading. Of course, you can think one is better than the other but don't let it cloud your judgement completely.
one incredible thing my psychiatrist taught me is the type of dopamine you set yourself up to get first thing in the morning. you wake up and check your phone? that's negative dopamine, and that's gonna wire your brain to search for that for the whole day. if you wake up and do something before you check your phone, like make your bed or brush your teeth or do some sit ups, you will feel *so much* better for the rest of the day, because your brain will be wired to search for that healthy dopamine. as someone with adhd, it literally changed my life to learn that. i still have trouble on some days, but when i actually get up and brush my teeth or do a plank before i check my phone, my entire day has always been so much better.
thank you for this, i’m gonna try this tomorrow hopefully it helps😭
@@pragyakansal9017 absolutely man
Guess that's why we were all told to make our bed in the morning. Should have listened.
Yes , also if you get straight out of bed, gulp some water and go for a 1-2 mile run every morning, you've already done the hardest thing you will do today and you just woke up, then take a shower , eat some healthy food and get crackin
Thank you for this
If it takes a lifetime to manage an addiction (smoking, hoarding, gambling, etc), then a simple 24-hour step back from social media isn't enough
honestly out of every self-help irl advice or whatever channel i've ever seen, i've never seen any of them get this point wrong. They always say it like it's a minor, initial training for keeping bad habits from ruining good ones on a longer term, not getting rid of the bad ones completely; and definitely not in just a day.
Yeah but it does reset you. At least for some people. Depends how disciplined you are
@@user-gv5hm8po6b yup. Some friends told me about a similar experience too. I wouldn't assume there's actually some sort of reset though, I don't think it works for everyone, just some people
That’s why you just practice harm reduction
@@vicro4193 i mean for me personally when i took a break from it all for a while,, rlyyy helped cuz now i cant even stand to look at instagram or tiktok just not rewarding anymore.. eh prob just me tho
This feels like a nice relief of fresh air compared to so many other creators.
Agreed!
facts
Because most of the creators are trying to follow the trends to keep getting more publicity which is obviously dumb for bunch of different reasons
@@nikodemluzynski7444 Yeah, they are just brainrots coaches who just repeat what other people say in their videos, no matter what country they are, the edition they use or the subs they had, the content in their videos are literally the same thing
Facts it feels way more genuine and not like he's talking down to us.
I once didn't use any social media, didn't listen to music or watch youtube for a week and it helped me a lot. I don't think that it was because of dopamine though, but because I was less distracted and had more time to get things done!
yup, i agree. simple as that.
how did you deal with no music? or can we try like soft beats with no music at all (lofi) or absolutely nothing
True
@@euumiu Honestly, the not listening to music part was the hardest, I could probably go without KZhead for a long time but not without music...
absolutely! i did the "dopamine detox" fad and got rid of social media, but tbh when i look back, i dont think social media was even giving me any sort of pleasure rush lol it was just a habit to use it bc it was easy to fall into tiktok while i wound down for the day and so when i stopped using it, i basically had to find something else to keep me entertained so i just started picking up old hobbies lol
"Too much of anything is bad for you." I feel like this quote is the magnum opus of all quotes because it applies to quite literally everything...including social media.
I don’t know about the magnum opus but it is helpful
i dont think this quote works for studying or training
@@yassirtd8927it easily does, studying too hard that you’re disconnected from everything. Training too much that you get injured or don’t have enough time to rest for muscles to repair
@@yassirtd8927 most definitely works for studying !
@@yassirtd8927 Those are tasks one needs to do to maintain something in their life or to improve it. But i agree logically speaking that qoute applies to everything except the basic and essential tasks to life.
I actually learned the phrase “delayed gratification” over a decade ago as a kid; my parents would commend me because I was usually patient for the dessert after dinner, or completed all of my daily chores before allowing myself to relax or have a treat. I later learned to apply that in other aspects of my life, but a lot of that faded away when I became more dependent on my phone and social media to entertain me (I used to be an avid reader and now have almost no attention span)
i’m so glad others can relate, especially to the reading thing. it also influences my writing so i used to be a pretty good writer but with more time on my phone, my ability to read and write a lot has gone down a lot.
That's exactly the same with me. I had a flip phone until 2012. I bought a smart phone and it genuinely, or my use of it genuinely, destroyed my attention span. I no longer read. I no longer meditate. I don't go hiking. I still stay fit but my phone is with me 24 hours a day. It is very hard to stop. It's, now, getting in the way of my productivity.
I used to be able to read ridiculous amounts of pages of books haha, now I can barely make it through a chapter without falling asleep which sucks
Damn I'm really sorry you guys, looks like we're all sort of in the same boat. Don't go with the idea that you've lost the ability though, I find it encouraging to just think that in a way we may be a little out of shape but give us a week at the gym (or library I guess) and we'll be better scholars then ever before I'm sure of it. Seriously tho just a little practice here and there to remind yourself you're smart goes a long way!
Also if you haven't yet give audible a try, if you're into fantasy listen to name of the wind and enjoy the national treasure that is the narrator nick podehl. Audible is fantastic once you find some narrators you like!
Okay, I get it. Delayed gratification is when you set a condition to get something done before you have the reward. That's really smart. It's like you're training your brain to want to do work because there's a reward at the end. Like in a video game where you level up for performing certain actions.
Perfect summary
The problem here is, that that can (and is) also be exploited. Pretty much all social media feeds tap into that. They build on the dopamine released by anticipating a reward, rather than some reward itself. That's why basically all social media feed implements infinite scrolling. To keep the anticipation up. People scroll not because they get any instand gratification out of it, but because they _might_ find something interesting, if they just keep scrolling long enough.
video games are NOT delayed gratification. They are literally designed to give you a badge, new level. cool sound, emotes and other variable rewards every minute or so to get you hooked. real life is not "constant measurable growth" its more difficult to measure and comprehend, thats why people give up on stuff so quickly. however, you can also gamify real life experiences with apps. for example "simple piano" for learning how to play the keyboard.
@@johnny1max113 Correction: Modern games are all about that. Older games expected you to work and be patient for your victory, and CRPG's/Sims were well known for requiring long time investments and patience. The skinner boxing you see today is a fairly recent trend compared to gaming's overall history.
"like a video game" you understood nothing
Tbh I'm tired of the social media... everytime I open it it just tells me that the way I'm living my life is completely wrong I mean one minute I'm seeing videos related to dopamine detox and stuff and the other minute this... I'm seriously just tired of it I just want to live my life and improve it
People love to play with words, they love magic pills, they like to think about problems with a smart look, which can impress some people and make you look better in the eyes of friends or colleagues, to help you socialise a little, feel a little more important, a little smarter, what he really is. Solving real problems in a well-fed contented society full of all kinds of entertainment, video games, delicious and affordable food, having supercomputers in your pocket with giant displays and connecting to an endless stream of information - in such a situation, you need to come up with a problem that unites you with other people in order not to feel being so lonely, but not solving that made-up problem, like dopamine, depression, adhd, Asperger syndrome.. what else? So many fancy words, that actually means NOTHING related to actual solving the problem. Well, at least people have something to think about sitting in the toilet and get rid of the boredom. It's also fun to be a pretender that you're up to business, make career or something made up, and getting attributes of it, instead of actual real work. Straight and simple, without any extra words.
@@exception05 those made up problems can't be real? A stressed guy will look after those fancy words in order to get out of his depression. People look after those fancy words because those are something relatable to them. I don't feel so much better when I solve problems with united people . United people or friends can't make you forcefully laugh, feel better or enjoy if you're not really enjoying it. And about your pretending term it is somewhere right because we are in illusion about career, jobs ,promotions etc . These are human made qualifications that keep you in illusion of getting better in life.
@@exception05or, alternatively, there is an issue in your logic here. In absolute reality all is illusion, everything is a concept. Much like a light revealing a sock to be a snake, when we die from this dream it’s revealed that all is forgiven as we are in a play with ourselves. All problems are made up, everything in this world is. We are making theatre of an experience we are given, and honestly I don’t see what harm can come out of dopamine detoxing or deciding to try to be a better person or work on oneself. If quitting porn, social media, video games, sweets, and practicing mindfulness makes you a kinder, more open person, and allows you to feel more fufilled, than what’s there to be a problem? All problems are illusionary as long as there is an “I” to identify with the body, it’s our attachments that get us in that cycle of suffering. Until we can let go in every moment and choose forgiveness and love, it takes small movements like this, action, people fighting, war, to get there. You cannot know what you are without first knowing what you are not.
I feel like nowadays everybody uses that and it’s hard to get over social media because of society
Currently battling this. Every other video tells me I've wasted my while life and I need to dopamine detox or delete social media to improve it
Am I the only one impressed by just how much effort went into this video, how much effort it took to make it look so effortlessly? The visual representations of the things he talks are clips he took of himself, he could have just downloaded this stuff on the internet, but he chose, “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” Bravo bro!!
Yes you are the only one
I thought the same thing! At times due to a low attention span (probably due to social media addiction) i noticed myself wanting to click off and then the animations or new presentations came on and i was like ooo!!! very cool bro, keep it up
EDIT: I realize ADD is no longer used as a medical term. My country still hasn't updated their diagnostic manual, sadly! I have ADD, which causes me to have too little dopamine as far as I know. People assume dopamine is only about happiness, but lacking it does not mean I'm perpetually unhappy, on the contrary, I'm more cheerful by nature than most people I know. It does, however, make it hard for me to start a project, end what I'm doing, and results in some "careless" behavior that I have to keep under control as best I can.
Wow, exactly me. Are you my long lost twin?
Tri twins, buddies. ✋🏼
you’re not living life to it’s best. sure if you wanna live blind and have a dull life then keep doing you
@@paultorres3798 lol whatever you say, “Paul Torres” basic cat pfp, zero subscribers, joined KZhead 2 days ago.
@@CharlieTooHuman why does it say you said some deep shit on notifications then when i click on it u just pointed out my sub count and name
Bro the angles of the hydroxy groups on that benzene ring is mildly infuriating ahah
said like a true chemist lol
dude i was gonna say the same thing
Lol true 🤣
We need more videos like this on youtube. clear, informed, capable of explaining complex matters in an articulate fashion, while dismantling trendy misconceptions. awesome work mate
they exist just look!
But without any source. I would rather look for videos by Andrew Huberman who clearly knows what hes talking about.
@@-_-Gigachad-_-I see sources in the description
@@-_-Gigachad-_- I doubt his videos because in one of the videos he said kindness is the primary attractive trait that women look for. Sadly it’s not the case. Women want challenge the most out of any other trait. A woman craves a man who is challenging. Someone who is not sold out on her immediately. And being kind can work against this.
As a psychology professor... I couldn't explain this better myself. Great Work!
But how do I make my brain think that a book is better than a videogame? Delayed gratification might work, but it would label the book as a negative experience or a chore.
@@VazuzzuThe example of the "book instead of video game" is in itself the core reasoning of delayed gratification Vs instant gratification. You have to make the example work for you.. The book could be replaced with exercising, studying, chores, etc
@@CoffeeOrBust Great explanation.
@@Vazuzzu Agree find what works for you. Takes work at first. Be aware when you reach a device and that it’s out of habit and reflex then force yourself to stop or walk away for 15 min and do something else. Write down all things (not gaming or device related) you see as fun, relaxing etc. Turn PC/devices/phone OFF at 8pm and put what you can in kitchen or where you prob won’t try to get them. Turn phone off at meals esp w/others. Good luck.
@@jmc8076 I don't find anything except videogames fun, I'm sorry. It's sad but I don't have hobbies
All the science aside, it's still a really good idea to decrease or give up using social media or any instant gratification in your life, you shouldn't do it for 24 hours, do it rest of your life and it'll make your mind more clear, calm and happy. (I'm not saying that you should never use any social media, do everything in moderation.)
YEP
hello dondlo
I 100% agree. I deleted my social media apps (except for KZhead) off my phone and I feel like I’ve been doing better mentally. It’s a lot easier to avoid mindless scrolling and I’m not get oversaturated with inflammatory or upsetting content. I can still check it on my computer if I really need to, but I don’t find myself doing that frequently at all. It helps to have something to do to fill that space. I listen to podcasts or read books when I’m waiting in line, in the bathroom, etc. all those places where social media would keep me entertained.
@@cacohat hello cacohat, didn't expect you here, haven't seen you for a while
Tell me about it man, i’ve wasted years of my life putting off doing things which I have wanted to do. All because of pleasure seeking
You post content that somehow exactly corralated with what is popular in media today. its really nice to have a creator who is so in tune with being the audience themselves.
im gonna make ur fard 0.3% hydrogen sulfide >:D
@@fatfurry VSAUCE FAN LESS GOOOO
@@polarl6488 >:D
The channel is called "Fads". A fad is what is currently popular. So obviously he is looking at the media and social landscape and examining popular trends, there is no "somehow" about it, it's what you would expect.
@@PinataOblongata I meant somehow in terms of: the internet being a large place and it would take coincidince, skill or both to choose the right topics. And just because a youtuber claims to appeal to exaclty whats going on on the mainstream right now(if there even is such a thing); doesnt mean its true or consistent. The scope of different communauties and ever changing quick content makes it quite difficult to catch exactly what could benefit your audience. So no, it wouldnt be "what you would expect"
I wrote a paper on addiction, dopamine, the rewardsystem, etc, back in college and I've noticed the exact same issue with all these articles and videos about dopamine being completely wrong. Been thinking about doing a video about if for years but never had the time, great to see someone actually did and getting the word out
Hi can you share your paper with me? It seems really interesting and I would love to read it! :)
Seems like this is the side of you tube i want to be, can you guys suggest more channels like these
Dopamine detox is not a 24h challenge. Its a lifestyle
Agree but it’s also a process. We’re human not perfect. ✌️
Here's my experience with dopamine detox: every thursday, i'd cut myself off everything, turn off phones and all to do this dopamine detox thing. During the day, i would usually do work that i wouldnt do during other days: paying bills, cleaning my flat, housework, you name it. I've done this Dopa Detox Thursday for 2 months, and all I can say is that it tremendously helped me. Not in clearing my dopamine levels or whatever, but it rather helped me set in motion a pattern, a habit: every thursday, i take care of doing thigns i wouldnt do normally. But for some odd reason, it has also helped me do "non-rewarding" activities outside of thursdays! Which is where your video struck. Delayed gratification. That was the answer. those "non-rewarding" activities ended up being rewarding but much later. A cleaner and more tidy place made me feel much better at home. It also helped me love "getting things done". I do entirely agree with you. Dopamine is NOT an enemy. It's not an ally either. It's a tool. The relation you have with it depends on how you use it. Learning to use it to motivate yourself to achieve more difficult tasks is part of that process. As you said, little by little, you can achieve bigger things. All in all to say: I agree with your statement, we are making a massive deal out of something that isnt really true. But the answers that are proposed aren't destructive either. Its not a simple answer, but doing that dopa detox thing regularly during 2 months helped me massively. Foot note: Maybe it helped me more than other people because I have ADHD? Who knows.
ADHD is just weak concentration. Easily remedied with practice.
@@FrameWinnerTennis No, not really
@@elizas4820 Yes really. They just have a name for it to sell you drugs and make $
@@FrameWinnerTennis that’s a big oversimplification, and for many people it’s not easy to deal with
Who cares, maybe it means that ADHD has cognitive, psychological and social components that have been ignored. Just like other conditions the current mindset is that there's a pill for everything or it can be explained by neurochemistry. Everyone seems to have forgotten that correlation is not causation yet calls the correlation "science".
My KZhead feed has been bombarded with this dopamine detox fad lately, and like other erroneous fads I find it annoying, especially when they try to be all 'scientific' about it while ignoring nuance. I call it bro science. So basically, thanks for contradicting the fad. It's something that needs to be done.
"Bro (insert culture here)" is a symptom of humanity's fascination for finding the singular thing (whatever that thing is) that explains away their whole life experience and when they feel they've gotten an answer, they feel like they don't need to do any further exploration into the subject. That explains why "Bro Film Analysis" doesn't explore more experimental foreign films, let alone ones from an older generation beyond the same 50-100 "underrated gems" from the 1970s-1990s they all fawn over. Sometimes, your palate needs to be tested by the unfamiliar to see what more nuanced view of the world, but to get there, you might need something flashy with a super clickbait headline to guide you towards the more nuanced side of the world.
I mean dopamine detox still works, it's just that the term isn't really fitting and you would need to do it for more than 24 hours to see a significant effect
All science is bro science
@@SimGunther Yeah bro film analysis is really frustrating, things like ran and everything everywhere all at once get ignored whilst people focus on the same old western movies like casablanca (still a great movie, it just gets way more praise than obscure asian movies)
@@Original-Phantom hell yeah bro
The kindness you radiate while you speak and teach is so soothing. I could watch and listen to you all day. Thanks for sharing this video and helpful information!
Here are the six most important points from the video: • Dopamine is not the bad guy; it's our expectations and the way we use technology that can be problematic. • Dopamine is not the cause of all our problems. It's just a part of a larger system that affects our behavior. • Dopamine detoxes are not effective and can be harmful because they can make us feel like we're missing out on something good. • Delayed gratification can be beneficial and dopamine is involved in this process. • The brain is complicated and there is no single cause for our problems. • Take the time to question and verify the credibility of the information you consume.
I personally performed a “dopamine fast” for a month where I didn’t do the things I normally did in my everyday routine like play video games, watch shows/movies, watching KZhead, and listen to music. During that period of time, I was able to do other things that I had been meaning to do, but had a really hard time starting. For example, coding, drawing, playing tennis, and reading. My fast ended recently, and my intent was to limit my consumption of all the aforementioned “pleasures” to 4 hours per week (for each one). I’ve epically failed to maintain the discipline of limiting the use to what I originally set for myself, but I am instead trying to develop the habit of coding and playing tennis more regularly. It’s not perfect, and it’s not the silver bullet for every problem, but I genuinely believe that taking a break from the instant gratification of the “easy” activities pushed me / allowed me to pursue more “difficult” activities with delisted gratification. It’s all about discipline~
There's no perfect. Just find YOUR balance where you feel good and happy and you achieve important things at the same time
I think the coding and tennis part is key. you can only get rid of something by replacing it
Bruh how does listening to music interfere with coding, drawing, playing tennis, or reading?
@@Peasant_of_Pontus it doesn’t, but I wanted to give my brain a break from constant stimulation. Listening to music all the time seemed excessive, so I was interested to see what it would be like to take a break from it and be alone with my thoughts instead.
Lucky you, I guess. I did dopamine detox and it only made me feel much worse. A few months later it turned out that I had a heavy form of depression, and the problem was that I need more dopamine, not less of it, and dopamine detox could potentionally lead me to suicide, if I got further with it.
When people say dopamine detox, they don't mean it in a literal sense, they just mean getting rid of some stuff so that you can find other stuff more enjoyable
They absolutely do mean it in a literal sense, that's the entire point of the English language, to say the thing you're doing.
No, most people literally just don't understand what dopamine is or how it works. The word detox makes me so irrationally angry, dopamine is not a toxin lmfao.
@@Sammysapphira A butterfly is a fly made out of butter?
@@Sammysapphira Well, in this case, I think "detox" is just a buzzword
@@Sammysapphira what? So is figurative language not apart of the english language? Your brain must have fell out
After a decade of mental health awareness, all we've managed to do is come up with sober ways to deprive ourselves of joy.
“The things you want aren’t necessarily the things you like”. Wow, very good words. I very much agree.
Yeah so true😂
this true tho… the universe alr has a plan for u !!
I think "detoxing" is the wrong word, but abstaining/taking a break (more than 24hrs) is beneficial for many aspects of our lives. Whether it has to do with dopamine I'm not sure, nor do I care. My anecdotal experience abstaining from technology for an entire week was enlightening. It has taught me to moderate my usage of technology because I used to get sucked in and it was difficult to pull myself back from it. Whether it was going down the KZhead rabbit hole realizing two hours later that I need to put my phone down, or gaming an entire day, or binge watching shows on Netflix I was stuck and it would effect my life, my mood, my relationships, and throw my day off. Anyway, I don't think dopamine detoxing needs to stop; I think maybe it needs to be reframed so people don't misunderstand it's purpose and benefits outside of the dopamine aspect. Again, I think it's poorly labeled and not well explained beyond any role dopamine plays in it.
Yes!!
exactly! And also not frame it like it's bad and needs to stop, it's mislabeled and misused but it's still beneficial. Just a few tweaks and details and maybe it could even be an "eat healthy" equivalent for lifestyle and habits.
@@vicro4193 right , well said .
Dopamine isn't your problem, self control is.
@@Wyrm3 And what do you think regulates self-control? Dopamine... 🤦♂️
20+ minutes of meditation every day has done wonders for my brain function in every aspect. Dopamine sensitivity is something you need to work on daily imo.
What do you do when you meditate ?
There are lots of types of meditation. Generally, though, meditation involves having unbroken concentration, and being completely aware of the present moment. You can focus on your breath, feeling the breath move through your body, whether you feel it tickling your nose or expanding your chest/abdomen. The important thing is to focus on the physical sensations. When distracting thoughts arise (which they always do!) simply acknowledge the thoughts and then return to the breath. This is how I learned it, but there are other methods too!
Can you elaborate when you say “has done wonders for my brain function in every aspect”? Thank you 🙏!
i love how pleasurable watching this video was, the colors , the fonts , the storytelling, and your voice! just made me happy :)
it's only been a minute, but i'm already in love with your delivery.
I really liked how you brought your point across without making your video longer than it needed to be while still maintaining a good style in sense of general presentation. Definitly going to check out some of your other content
Solid stuff mate, instead of the usual force feeding "You have to completely remove all pleasure from your life, it's the only way to get better", you break it down in some concise and interesting points Definitely worth a try
Thank you for putting this out there. There’s also a natural flow to the way you talk on screen which is quite pleasant to listen to
You’re amazing! This is so informative and it debunked a lot of stuff! I’m so glad this video was recommended to me, I’m so inspired by what you do, you’re an inspiration
i think one of the most popular examples is waiting for a new episode from your favorite tv show to be released every week,, instead of watching the whole show in one run.
waiting for each new Episode of "the Boys" really makes me appreciate every single episode and look forward too it.
Ah, this is good to know. Shaming ourselves for seeking instant gratification is very bad as well - we need to recognise that, of course, our brain will try to seek what's easy and less resistance. We can work with this, and choose to override this desire.
Such a great video with nuance. Thank you for taking the time to make it!
Thank you. And other from that, what a high quality video. So much effort was put into this. Keep it up
shaking my head up and down when at the" delayed gratifiaction" So true!!! it feels so much better when you complete something that you have really struggled with. Go you!! love this video
I love that you showed actual scientific papers and that your approach for handling this topic was well... scientific. Also the animations were very engaging and aesthetically pleasing (the stop-motion one was super cool). And you seem like a very nice person. Subscribed!
The intro alone on this video is phenomenal. 30 seconds in, and I already liked the video and was ready to subscribe: A masterclass in how to hook your audience.
Nice video with all the the different shots, views, and with the work you put in👌🏼
Reddit took me to your video, and I've got to say that it's great to see that you're using primary sources of information rather than random tertiary sources of info!
I've never really been searching about neuroscience but wow this was incredibly informative. I love how this video wasn't too long, straight to the point, no raising your voice and even the background music wasn't too loud either. Thanks!
So grateful for taking the time to make this video. Social media and consequently our culture is riddled with over simplified solutions for complicated multifaceted issues. I think this in itself is an example of us being prone to attach to a smaller short term reward as a apposed to more complete but delayed reward. That is we quickly get a simple answer to our question. We FEEL satisfied that we have the solution vs exerting the time and energy required to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and it's various solutions.
Thank you for this video. I’m already sick of those “personal development” videos and creators with clickbait videos, who claim that they know what’s the best for you. It’s an unfortunate trend of last years. And they’re usually the part of what they say it’s bad. Their short videos with clickbait names are often in feeds while using negative emotion awakening algorithms of social media.
whats your reasoning that this isnt clickbait?
Some people just think that having fun is wrong and we all must work ourselves to death for no reason.
@@o-zone9330 This can be clickbait too. You’re right. But it’s little bit refreshing type of clickbait. :-D
Thank you for this! As a medicine student I always hated these videos because they always missed the actual mechanism of action. Although Dopamine-Detox can help some people to get rid of their bad behaviors… greetings from Europe
Same, i was like "so you basically want Parkinson's disease judging by how you talk about dopamine"
this channel gonna blow up in the future, mark my words
Thank you so much for not only using trustworthy sources but also sharing them. Liked and subbed!
I really liked the way you presented dopamine and explained the topics in this video. No BS, no made-up theories, and the research you made is up there so everyone can see it if they don’t believe it. Great work! Keep up like this and you’ll get to great places 💪🏼❤️
I enjoy how calm your videos are
please never change your style of video and voice, i watched to attently i forgot i was eating dinner lol, thank you for the educational video!!
I'm so thankful I finally get one of these videos in my feed. Thanks for fighting misinformation!
what an awesome video.. omg I have got an ADHD diagnosis and hear a lot of that dopamine detox thing. Your explanation and the highlight of how things are not that simple just sit a lot better with me than the click baits out there. You deserve more views, much love.
I believe you deserve even more subscribers. I accidentally stumbled to your channel the second time, and I can confidently say, that I recognize your voice instantly. It has the great soundation, and your intonation is making it even more lovely! I guess you found it, your putpose and the key hook:)
Such a good video essay with a positive intuitive vibe! Very underrated!
Oh my gosh when you mentioned headlines I got blasted back to my previous year of college. I’m a psych student and we talked about how, even when researchers are very specific about the pitfalls of their findings, reporters only write down buzzwords and strong claims, even if the research they cite doesn’t support them at all. It’s such a difficult concept because misinformation or misrepresentation of research is the best way to profit for some people.
I enjoy learning about neurology and behaviour, and I thank you for bringing up this argument. I always saw dopamine detox as a good thing, but this video has made me question my original assumption. I admire your professionalism. Some people making these video essays do not put citations and are inaccurate. I try not to take anything for face value and allow myself to listen - but form opinions myself. So I appreciate linking the studies so I can further research independently. There is so much we are yet to discover about the brain. I am a kid, but I have been debating going into neurology because I want to research current information, create my own, and challenge or strength arguments.
This is a game changer for me, bro. I've heard of delayed gratification, but it made me worse because for the longest time, I expected the 'waiting' itself to be torturous and it unconsciously made me go for the instant gratification even more. But now that I finally learn that expecting the bigger reward at the end in itself is as rewarding as an instant gratification, too, this might just do it for me! My mind was blown. Come to think of it, I have had this all along. For example, wanting to go on a vacation, but postponing for the longest time because I hate to do all the planning and reservation, and paying. But once I've confirmed my date, once I'm inside the car, I'm just looking forward to the destination. And even though the destination itself is great, the road that leads to it also looks brighter than say a commute to work, simply because I'm joyful and expecting a nice vacation at the end of the road.
Oh thats a really good metaphor thanks
Thank you so much for making this video! It's incredibly informative.
YESSS I’m a huge supporter of this! Delayed gratification is always so much better
You a really good communicator, charismatic person and good at explaining in a scientific correct way buy easy to understand. It is so good to find someone actually trying to do useful content in this sea of sensationalism and marketing that youtube is. Thank you for your video
i'm whatching your video right now and I'm afascinated from how well you explain concepts. I wish you the besy my man
That was the most informative and positive video about dopamine I've seen on the internet. I cannot express how greatful I am for this. Informative videos like this are so inspiring. People could learn from this style of commentary nowadays rather than spreading pressure with overdramatic takes on certain topics.
I'm glad I watched this video because I actually believed all these videos talking about dopamine detoxes...And I learned more about what dopamine actually is and does! Also, you explain things in a way that is very easy to follow and you have a very nice voice, so great video!!
your videos are so lovely thank you so much for making them
This is one of the most interesting KZhead videos I’ve ever watched. Keep up the good work
This video just popped on my feed, and I'm glad of discovering this channel. Hearing these ideas helps me to see things in another perspective. Honestly, thanks :D
As someone who just studied neuropharmacology (finished the final exam last week) at uni, this video is a treat. Thanks for sharing.
The concept of delayed gratification really made me think about my own habits I have developed in the last few years. I always set myself in an environment that makes me seek instant gratification. Take gacha games as an example. In gacha, you spend in-game currency for a chance to get a character you desire. To have more control over getting certain characters you could save up that currency so you can get that character guaranteed after some time. Or you instantly spend the currency and see if you're lucky. I chose the latter, subconsciously or not, becasue this instant gratification *could* be as significant as the delayed one, and I'm afraid it has influenced how I go with my routine as well, which in turn distracts me from the more important tasks. Maybe there's something else involved as well idk
istg i want to discuss neuroscience further with u, u seem very insightful, and you reminded us to keep asking questions, crazy how we can forget that
I love your relaxed attitude and always sort of smiling face man. Gonna check more from your channel
Great explanation, keep up the good work
I appreciate the videos, This one and the introspection video have had a lot of things that are true for me. I have way to high of an expectation for everything in life and I introspect to much and create false narratives in my head. Thank you for these and keep it up
Omg, listening to you explaining this is so calming and your energy is so good!! I wouldn't mind listening to you all day in a podcast! Great voice and explanation! Also, the video editing is perfect.
What a fantastic video- holy crap. It’s presented really well and done so in a way with the best intentions. This was stellar
Thank you for this video! As someone who studied a bit those predictive coding mechanisms and whose passionate about mental health promotion, I always feel a little bit scared when I see miracle solutions for unwanted behaviours (addiction, attention deficit, insomnia, ...), most of which I see as coping strategies.
Thank you! This was a great sigh of relief for me--I'd felt that something was off about the dopamine detox trend since I watched a video about it a couple weeks ago. It threw me for a wild ride, lol.
Beautiful, well researched and well presented video! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks man, this is juat what i needed, you have no idea how much i apreciate this video
the only thing i took away is that most or even all youtubers wants clickbait videos more than "correct" and super accurate videos, this one included too as in title it says "Dopamine isn't the problem" and "Dopamine detox needs to end", only to see that in the video he says "it might be your problem, just not sure", it is like "you should watch", instead of giving the main title idea to the video which is "Dopamine detox isn't always the problem"
Another factor I keep thinking about when I hear/see stuff about "dopamine detox" is that dopamine isn't alone in the brain, and not just as some certain amount of that single chemical. Dopamine plays a role in neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to (roughly speaking) "rewire" itself. As one repeats a behavior over and over, the brain adapts by generating connections to maintain that behavior to get a desired outcome. This can lead to "good" things, such as learning a new skill or habit. And it can also lead to addiction. A 24-hr "dopamine detox" isn't going to magically degrade those connections in the brain and definitely isn't going to form significant new ones. I don't understand the brain to be completely rigid. It is constantly adapting to information, including reinforcing neural connections and letting others degrade over time. Thus, any given level of a single neurotransmitter isn't the whole story.
This was an incredibly well done video, and I really appreciate you explaining the concepts in a palatable way 😁✌️ thanks!
A GREAT video! Very informative!❤ Keep it up G!!
as someone with adhd, i once got addicted to being sleep deprived, because the adrenaline spikes i got after not sleeping made me feel energised and almost "high". Id get a rush of dopamine from the energy and adrenaline, and would be hyperactively doing things i enjoy before i crashed. dopamine addictions are no joke lmao, and when your brain isnt built to properly handle that dopamine, then simply taking a day off of social media isnt gonna do shit
they never portray to take only A DAY off social media. that ofc wont work AT ALL ! it should b a consistent thing or u should have some balance
Really good ways of explaining this nice video
Why are you here
make more videos bro easy money
yoo we got beaver minecratf man
Beaver person
You fell off so hard 😂
Thank you I learned quite a lot from this and needed to see this after seeing so many detox trends esp involving waking up at 5am/dopamine detoxs
Nice and well articulated video Bruv. Thank you for W content.
Came from reddit. Great video. Very helpful thanks
thank you!!
Trying to reduce a complex problem like depression or addiction to any single chemical in the brain is just doomed to fail. Brains are WAY more complex than people often realize or appreciate.
Man, your format and refreshing rational approach is very refreshing! subbed.
Good job with the music. It blends so well with the video!
This video was amazing. Great use of the b roll and keeping the video engaging. Your editing was top tier and I learnt more about dopamine detox. I agree that it doesn't take a day to change our behavior but if we choose delayed gratification instead of instant gratification and implement in our lifestyle we could see a change. Again great video and can't wait to watch more.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it x
this completely changed my view on dopamine. I've been struggling with remembering and proceeding with stuff like homework, chores etc. and I've been trying to do more research on this topic. thank you for educating me on this subject.
I also have this problem. Can you help me plzzz
Ooh man this video boomed for you! That's amazing congratz!
Ultra high quality vids. Love the channel already.
we need to starting putting more value into delayed gratification