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Does Dopamine Fasting Really Work?

  • thegeneralistwrit
  • Aug 11, 2022
  • 3 min read

A skeptical look at dopamine fasting and whether it can help with addiction.



There's a new trend on the internet that's been making the rounds on social media lately: dopamine fasting. This involves abstaining from all dopamine-producing activities for a set period of time, supposedly in order to increase productivity and creativity. But does dopamine fasting really work? Or is it just another fad that will fade away over time? In this article, we'll take a closer look at dopamine fasting and see if there's any truth to it.

What is dopamine fasting?

Proponents of dopamine fasting say that it's a way to reset your dopamine levels and improve your focus. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that's responsible for pleasure and motivation, and too much of it can lead to addiction and impulsive behavior. By abstaining from all activities that produce dopamine (including social media, phone usage, eating, sex, and exercise), proponents say that you can "cleanse" your dopamine receptors and improve your focus.

Can you have too much dopamine?

In examining the brains of addicts, scientists have found that dopamine plays a key role in addiction. When dopamine is released, it creates a pleasurable feeling that encourages people to repeat the behavior that releases it. However, after repeated exposure to the stimuli that once released dopamine, the brain becomes less sensitive and needs more of it to achieve the same effect. This is why addiction is often described as a "dopamine deficiency."

In this case, it would seem dopamine fasters are more likely fasting from behaviors that have contributed to desensitization than dopamine itself. Interested to find out more? Keep reading.

How does dopamine fasting work?

Dopamine fasting is said to cleanse dopamine receptors by resetting them to their baseline levels. Supposedly, when you abstain from all dopamine-producing activities, your dopamine receptors are no longer being bombarded with dopamine, and they eventually return to their baseline levels. This is supposed to help improve focus and productivity, as well as reduce impulsive and addictive behaviors.

Does dopamine fasting really work?

There's no substantial, scientific evidence to support the claims made by dopamine fasting proponents. However, there is some anecdotal evidence that dopamine fasting can be helpful for some. Some people say that dopamine fasting has helped them break bad habits, become more productive, and improve their focus. Others have reported feeling more creative after dopamine fasting.


A 2017 study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience found that dopamine fasting can indeed help improve focus. The study found that dopamine fasting increased participants' ability to pay attention and resist distractions. However, the study was small and only looked at a short period of time (two weeks). More research is needed to confirm the long-term effects of dopamine fasting.

How to do a dopamine fast

If you're interested in dopamine fasting, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it's important to set realistic goals. Don't try to do too much at once or you'll likely end up feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Second, dopamine fasting is not an all-or-nothing proposition; you can still partake in some dopamine-producing activities as long as you don't do them to excess. Lastly, make sure to listen to your body; if you start feeling deprived or stressed, take a break from dopamine fasting and resume when you're feeling more relaxed.

The following is a step by step guide on how to prepare to participate in a dopamine fast.

  1. Set a goal: What do you hope to achieve from dopamine fasting?

  2. Choose a timeline: How long do you want to dopamine fast for?

  3. Eliminate dopamine triggers: Remove all dopamine triggers from your environment. This could include social media, your phone, certain foods, and so on.

  4. Start dopamine fasting: Once you've eliminated dopamine triggers from your environment, it's time to start dopamine fasting. This involves abstaining from all dopamine-producing activities for a set period of time.

  5. Monitor your progress: Throughout the dopamine fast, pay attention to how you're feeling. If you start to feel deprived or stressed, take a break and resume when you're feeling more relaxed.

Conclusion

Dopamine fasting is a controversial practice with no scientific evidence to support its claims. However, some people say that dopamine fasting has helped them break bad habits, become more productive, and improve their focus. If you're interested in dopamine fasting, make sure to set realistic goals and listen to your body.


Give us your feedback

Have you tried dopamine fasting? What were your results? Let us know in the comments.


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