Introduction to Dopamine
We tend to associate dopamine with the pursuit of pleasure, but dopamine is the molecule of motivation. It constantly wants to keep us on the run and in pursuit of actions that promote reproduction and survival, such as eating food, winning competitions and having sex.
The Cycle of Addiction by Dr Daniel Amen
In her book Dopamine Nation, Anna Lembke explores the concept of the pleasure-pain balance. When we indulge in something we enjoy, like eating chocolate, we experience pleasure. However, this pleasure is followed by a subtle pain that slightly outweighs the initial pleasure, making us crave more. This cycle of wanting “just one more piece” is driven by dopamine. When we engage in activities or consume substances that boost dopamine levels, the subsequent drop in dopamine leads to the sensation of pain.
Questions for Discussion:
Session I :
Top 10 addcvtion things without dug :
Mobile Phones: Social media, games, communication.
Bubble Tea: High sugar, frequent consumption.
Social Media Apps: Facebook, Instagram, LINE, TikTok.
Online Shopping: Shopee, PChome, Rakuten.
Video Games: Mobile and console games like “Genshin Impact,” “Animal Crossing.”
Streaming Services: Netflix, Disney+, KKTV, iQIYI.
Fast Food: McDonald’s, KFC, local fast-food.
Snacks: Chips, candy, processed snacks.
TV Dramas and Variety Shows: Local and international.
Coffee.
Q 1: Which of these activities or substances have you found yourself becoming addicted to, and how do you manage this addiction while maintaining a balanced life?
Q2: If a friend or family member is struggling with addiction, what steps can you take to support them in overcoming it?
Q3: Dopamine, often referred to as the “motivation hormone,” can help you achieve a state of flow where you are fully focused and lose track of time. Have you experienced this state, and if so, how did you manage to reach it?
Session II Pain ,awake and recover
Tipping our scales toward pain can ultimately lead to pleasure.
After quitting drugs, Michael, another of Lembke’s patients, discovered that cold showers made him feel really good. Soon enough, he was taking ten-minute ice baths every morning and every night, describing the feeling as comparable to taking ecstasy.
Science backs this up. A study done at Prague’s Charles University found that an hour of cold-water immersion increased dopamine levels in the blood by 250%.
some of dopamine boosting activities : • Cold Showers
• Intense Cardio Workouts:
• Heavy Weightlifting:
• Extreme Sports:
• Intermittent Fasting:
• Public Speaking:
• Cold Exposure Therapy:
• Long-Distance Running:
• Meditation Retreats:
• Learning New Skills:
Q4 : Would you be willing to step out of your comfort zone to try these activities? If you do, would you share your experience with us??”
Q5 : A lack of dopamine can also cause mental diseases, restless legs syndrome, and depression. One important point in the book is to be aware of your condition and take steps to recover. For example, one day I felt back pain. Luckily, I discovered that practicing yoga completely relieved my back pain and enhanced my mental health. What about your story? Could you share it with ussease, restless legs syndrome
Q6: "One of my favorite movie "passangers" illustrates how dopamine affects our behavior.
Stage 1: Someone wakes you up, and you start looking for how to survive (dopamine levels slowly increase).
Stage 2: Daily life becomes boring, and you seek something exciting. You wake up one of the ‘sleeping beauties’ (dopamine levels are low due to depression but then boost to high as you search for true love).
Stage 3: After achieving everything and enjoying a wonderful life, you discover an ugly truth, and the ‘Titanic’ is about to sink and be destroyed (dopamine overdose stage, followed by a huge drop).
If you were in the position of the first awakened passenger, would you choose to endure boredom and die in two years, or would you selfishly wake someone up to keep you company until the end?"
Agenda:
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:45pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
7:45 ~ 8:00pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:00 ~ 8:05pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 5 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
8:05 ~ 8:40pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
8:40 ~ 8:55pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:55 ~ 9:00pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements
Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘
Important Notes:
1. We advise participants to print out the discussion questions and bring them to the meeting for reference. As for the supporting articles, feel free to print them out, as well, according to your preference.
2. We suggest that participants read the articles and think about the questions in advance.
3. Newcomers should prepare a two-to-three minute self-introduction in English to deliver when called upon by the host before the start of the discussion. The host may also ask you to give brief feedback about the meeting at the conclusion of the meeting.
4. We conduct the entire meeting in English. All participants should have at least moderate English-conversation skills and be able to articulate your ideas for each discussion question.
5. We welcome newcomers and other guests to attend the meetings and join the discussion freely for two times. After that, we hope you will consider becoming a YoYo English Club member. We charge a NT$1500 lifetime membership fee, or NT$1000 for students.
