Dopamine Addiction

Most of us have heard the term “dopamine” at some point, whether in formal (or not so formal) settings. 

The term is used frequently to describe feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, or reward.

For instance, you may have heard a friend say they got a huge “dopamine hit” from playing an exciting video game or from taking their first bite of a delicious chocolate brownie.

You may have used the term yourself to describe a fun date or riding a rollercoaster for the first time.

These reward-seeking behaviours can make us feel addicted to the thrill or excitement of a particular action or behaviour.

However, dopamine is not an addiction in itself.

Instead, it’s an outcome related to a reliance on specific behaviours (such as video gaming or substance abuse) that stimulate dopamine release in the brain, triggering all those feel-good sensations that make you want to keep coming back for more.

Understanding this distinction is crucial, particularly if you struggle with addiction issues and need some form of treatment to help you get a handle on your behaviours, regardless of how they may present.

This article looks at the concept of dopamine addiction and effective treatments that can help you overcome these issues.

How We Can Help

At White River Manor, we understand the many challenges that addiction, regardless of what form it may take, can bring to individuals and their families.

In our experience, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to treating addiction and dependency issues. Each individual is as unique as the addiction itself.

For instance, some people use substances or other behaviours like gambling or gaming to numb or avoid painful feelings. 

For others, the thrill or “dopamine hit” makes it almost impossible for them to control the very behaviours that wreak havoc on their lives, harming both the individual and those they care about.

We provide personalised, integrative treatment programs that not only address your addiction but also any underlying causes that may trigger or worsen these behaviours, including depression, anxiety, and unresolved trauma. 

This personalised care is designed to bring you relief and comfort, knowing your unique needs are being understood and supported throughout recovery.

Addressing the root cause(s) of your addiction is an essential component of all our treatment programs. 

This ensures you receive holistic, comprehensive care and not just symptom management, which rarely works, at least not in the long term. 

This comprehensive approach is designed to reassure you that all aspects of your addiction are being addressed, giving you confidence in your recovery.

Our professional, multidisciplinary team has a wealth of knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating various addiction and mental health disorders, utilising a trauma-informed approach to ensure you feel seen, heard, and validated throughout your recovery and beyond.

A typical treatment program for addressing addiction issues at White River Manor can look something like this:

• A thorough assessment and psychiatric evaluation at the outset.
• A supervised, medical detox to help rid your body of substances if drugs or alcohol are a problem for you.
• Psychological therapy and counselling, including behavioural treatment like cognitive behavioural therapy or dialectical behaviour therapy, help address and change maladaptive thoughts and behaviours that may cause or worsen your addiction issues.
• Trauma treatment such as EMDR (eye movement desensitisation reprocessing therapy) helps you process traumatic memories or painful experiences from your past that may cause you to want to numb or suppress painful feelings, memories and emotions.
• Experiential therapies, such as yoga, mindfulness, and deep-breathing exercises, help you stay grounded and present during and after treatment.

Aftercare and Support

Aftercare and support programs are integral to our services. 

They are designed to help you stay on track with your recovery once you complete your inpatient treatment program. 

This ongoing support is a testament to our commitment to your well-being, making you feel secure and cared for even after your formal treatment is over.

Addiction is a complex disease. 

Therefore, treatment must address the complexities that often lie at the heart of addictive issues, such as trauma and chronic stress.

Recovery can be a long and challenging process, but, as many of our clients will agree, a very worthwhile journey once you begin taking those initial steps to healing.

Contact our friendly team in South Africa today for further information and support about our addiction treatment programs.

What Is Dopamine Addiction?

As already discussed, dopamine addiction isn’t a formal diagnosis but rather a concept that describes a reliance on behaviours that trigger the release of dopamine in your brain.

For instance, when drinking alcohol, you may get a rush of feel-good sensations, such as relaxed muscles and reduced anxiety, or you may feel more socially connected.

On the other hand, you may feel more alert, confident or energetic when taking certain drugs like cocaine or ecstasy, all of the sensations that dopamine is responsible for.

But what is dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, or reward. 

It is a chemical that reinforces behaviours that bring joy, satisfaction, or relief.

Many behaviours and activities, including gambling, social media, eating sugary foods, and even drugs, can create dopamine spikes, reinforcing your desire to repeat these behaviours, often leading to addiction or dependency.

The point where it becomes challenging, if not impossible, to control the desire to engage in a specific behaviour is usually when individuals and, sometimes, even their families start considering treatment to help them overcome these issues.

How Does Dopamine Work?

As mentioned, dopamine is activated in our brains when we do something we enjoy or get pleasure from, such as eating unhealthy foods or abusing substances like drugs or alcohol, through to the seemingly more innocuous behaviours such as gaming or social media.

These behaviours create positive reinforcement, encouraging us to want to keep doing the ‘thing’ that may cause us damage or harm in the long run.

But here’s where it gets tricky. 

Dopamine is also a central aspect of human survival, encouraging us to engage in essential activities such as eating.

However, this cycle can often become destructive, particularly when it fuels our motivation and goal-seeking behaviours, highlighting its potential adverse effects.

For instance, engaging in certain behaviours can train our brains to “expect” a specific feeling or sensation (like pleasure or reward), reducing dopamine production under normal circumstances.

Reduced dopamine production can mean you experience little to no pleasure or excitement when engaging in regular activities such as when socialising with friends or petting your favourite animal.

This may create a cycle in which you chase more intense or frequent experiences to get that same ‘high’ or euphoria, further highlighting the implications of reduced dopamine production.

What Kinds of Activities Create Dopamine?

All kinds of experiences and activities can release dopamine in your brain!

The most common activities that are responsible for increased dopamine production include:

Social Media Apps

Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook can increase dopamine production due to the inherent ‘like’ culture. 

In these online communities, users experience a ‘high’ or dopamine hit when their posts receive lots of praise or engagement. 

The attention individuals receive on these apps reinforces their desire to keep posting or creating content that raises the bar – the more likes or shares they get, the more they expect the next time around.

This creates a “scrolling loop” where a person constantly checks for updates, a pattern of behaviour fueled by a dopamine feedback loop.

Gambling and Video Gaming 

Gambling and video games often use a technique called ‘intermittent reinforcement,’ where feelings of pleasure or reward are unpredictable. 

This unpredictability, combined with the release of dopamine, can make behaviours such as gaming or gambling more reinforcing, thus highly addictive.

Drugs and Alcohol

When a person takes substances such as alcohol or drugs, this can trigger significant dopamine production in the brain.

The rush of euphoria experienced in substance abuse can lead to intense feelings of pleasure, reward, and relief, making the person want to use substances again and again.

How It Works 

Most addictive substances activate the brain’s reward centre or pathway, especially in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental, and nucleus accumbens, linked to dopamine production and perception.

Substances such as cocaine, nicotine, opioids, and alcohol activate a significantly higher quantity of dopamine than other chemicals, creating a more intense “high” or sense of euphoria.

These feel-good sensations and reinforcing behaviours are what often lead to substance use disorder or full-blown addiction.

For instance, when you drink alcohol, your brain releases dopamine, which, in turn, enhances other chemicals such as GABA (responsible for reducing brain activity) and glutamate (which elevates activity), creating feelings of pleasure and relaxation.

However, with each sip or repeated use, the dopamine receptors in your brain change over time, meaning you may need more alcohol to achieve the desired (or the same) effect as when you first started.

Stimulants

In the same way that alcohol increases dopamine production, stimulants such as cocaine can increase and block dopamine reuptake, meaning that higher levels of dopamine stay in your brain’s synapses, prolonging feelings of pleasure and euphoria.

The intense sensations that cocaine users experience can lead to intense highs and chronic use of the drug, putting them at increased risk of substance addiction.

Symptoms and Causes

Although dopamine addiction is not a formal medical diagnosis, the activities or behaviours that saturate the brain with dopamine can lead to a vicious cycle of craving and dependency.

Here are some common signs and symptoms linked to dopamine-related addiction:

• Intense or severe cravings. You may experience an overwhelming urge or craving to engage in a particular behaviour like gambling or social media. On the other hand, you may crave a specific substance, such as cocaine or alcohol.
• Withdrawal symptoms. You may experience severe withdrawal symptoms when not engaging in a particular behaviour or consuming a substance. For instance, you may experience severe agitation, anxiety, restlessness or low mood. Stimulant drugs like cocaine can lead to more physical symptoms such as shaking, trembling, and sweating.
• Increased tolerance. You may require more of a behaviour or substance to achieve the same “high” or euphoria due to the brain downregulating dopamine receptors, making it less responsive or sensitive to dopamine.
• Neglecting or avoiding responsibilities. You may lose interest in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed or neglect daily duties such as family, work, or health.
• Obsessive thoughts and preoccupation. You may spend much time thinking about or engaging in a specific substance or behaviour. This may include thinking about the next opportunity you will get to drink or take drugs or how you will obtain these substances. Over time, this can disrupt your focus, motivation, and relationships.
• Social withdrawal. You may socially withdraw from friends and family or isolate yourself to engage in the behaviour or consume substances.
• Low mood and emotional instability. You may experience depression, anxiety and low mood due to dopamine dysregulation from addictive behaviours. The euphoria you experience during use can make you feel on top of the world, but the comedown can be just as intense, creating a cycle of emotional highs and lows.
• Engaging in risky behaviours. Many people who are addicted to the dopamine hit from specific activities like drinking or gaming often engage in other dangerous behaviours such as reckless driving or unsafe sex to maintain dopamine stimulation. 

Treatment

Treatment for dopamine addiction can vary but is often similar to how professionals treat all types of addiction and dependency.

A successful addiction treatment program typically involves an integrated, holistic approach to recovery, incorporating a wide range of therapies and methodologies to enhance outcomes and reduce the potential for relapse.

Common treatments used to treat dopamine-driven addiction include the following:

Counselling and Therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) are common treatments used to treat addiction as they address unhealthy thoughts and behaviour patterns that trigger or exacerbate dependency. 

These therapies also teach healthy coping skills and strategies to help you manage cravings or urges you may experience as you navigate recovery.

Trauma Therapy

Treatments such as eye movement desensitisation processing therapy (EMDR) can be beneficial in addiction treatment as they help you understand and address the root causes of your issues, such as unaddressed trauma or other types of adversity. 

EMDR therapy can help you reprocess painful or traumatic experiences that may cause unpleasant symptoms such as anxiety, depression or substance use, making these memories less intense and distressing and reducing your need to escape or avoid. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication therapy can be helpful, particularly if you struggle with substance-related dopamine addiction, as certain medicines such as Naltrexone can help reduce cravings and block the euphoric effects of substances like opioids and alcohol.

Exercise

Regular exercise can help increase natural endorphins in your body, promoting an organic hit of dopamine, improving your mood and reducing any cravings you may have.

Other helpful approaches can include:

• Social Support – You may find social support programs such as AA or Smart Recovery helpful when navigating recovery. These peer groups offer social support and accountability where members share their experiences and provide care and support, making you feel less alone.
• Digital Detox – If social media addiction is a problem for you, a digital detox where you gradually reduce your online activity can be incredibly beneficial. Setting boundaries, such as limiting your online use to specific days or times, can help reduce dependency over time. Replacing time spent on social media with healthier activities or hobbies, such as learning a new skill like cake-baking or a hobby like group hiking, can help redirect the brain’s reward system.

Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention techniques, for instance, creating a plan for triggers and understanding how and when these triggers arise, can help you avoid relapsing back into unhealthy, addictive patterns like substance abuse or gaming.

It may also be helpful to have a list of support contacts you can reach out to during challenging moments or when cravings become intense or difficult to manage.

As mentioned, addiction can be a long and challenging road; however, with the proper help and support, recovery is possible.

Contact White River Manor today and find out how we can help guide you in this process.

You are not alone.

Our team is always here to offer guidance and support, no matter your struggles.