Life Workshop – Bridge to Wellness
What is Dopamine?
You feel happy because of a neurotransmitter called dopamine that is produced in the brain. It is essentially your bridge to wellness. Dopamine levels must be balanced for the health of your body and brain. Dopamine facilitates communication between nerve cells. It is created by a cluster of nerve cells in the center of the brain and communicates with other regions of the brain.
What function does dopamine serve?
You may experience pleasure, happiness, and motivation thanks to dopamine. Dopamine levels in the brain spike when you feel good about what you have accomplished. However, it’s likely that you begin to want for more of this dopamine “reward,” which is brought on by a variety of pleasurable events, such as indulging in delectable cuisine, engaging in sex, succeeding at a game, and obtaining wealth. Dopamine surges are also caused by alcohol and many illicit substances, which is one of the reasons why individuals get hooked to them. Dopamine is also involved in the regulation of bodily movements, emotion, learning, sleep, and memory.
What happens if my dopamine levels are too high or too low?
Dopamine deficiency may cause a person to lose motivation and excitement for activities. It has been related to a few mental diseases, such as schizophrenia, psychosis, and depression. Being overdopamined, or having too much dopamine concentrated in certain areas of the brain while having insufficient dopamine in other areas, is associated with being impulsive, aggressive, and more competitive. ADHD, binge eating, addiction, and gambling are just a few of the diseases it may cause. The dopamine-producing nerve cells eventually deteriorate in Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine aids in muscular control, therefore difficulties with muscle stiffness and mobility result. The cause of the dopamine imbalance will affect the symptoms. They consist of: muscular tightness, spasms, or cramps
digestive issues like reflux pneumonia or constipation
difficulty sleeping, slower movement or speech than normal, fatigue and lack of motivation, or sadness and hopelessness
experiencing hallucinations related to poor libido (sex desire)
How can my dopamine levels be changed?
By treating the root of the issue, you may raise a low level of dopamine. This might be a result of a mental disease, stress, lack of sleep, drug misuse, obesity, or an excessive intake of sweets and saturated fat. An issue with the adrenal glands may also contribute to low dopamine levels. By maintaining a balanced diet that contains foods high in L-Tyrosine, a protein required for the production of dopamine, you may naturally raise your levels of dopamine. Almonds, avocados, bananas, meat, poultry, and eggs are a few of them. Supplements including omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, vitamin D, and magnesium are also said to raise dopamine levels.
Dopamine will also rise during enjoyable activities. Exercise, meditation, getting a massage, and getting adequate sleep are a few of them. It might also be beneficial to reflect on your successes and all the positive aspects of your life. Your doctor could prescribe antidepressants or mood stabilizers as well as other mental disease therapies if low dopamine is the cause of your depression or schizophrenia. Typically, Parkinson’s disease patients get medications to increase their dopamine levels. These often result in significant relief in symptoms.
To learn how to naturally maximize your dopamine levels, check out: