#cheap dopamine

[creature-wizard]

Found this image posted by a conspiracy theorist. I'm sure you can spot the problem with this "deep" advice, lol.

If you didn't figure it out: All of these things make your brain release reward chemicals! Going outside isn't any less "cheap dopamine" than playing a video game.

[raum-e]

The Trojan Horse(s) - Sophia Andreeva

[theladwhoisweird]

Making a mood board in Pinterest is also a cheap dopamine activity?

[spankingtheatre]

Hello sir, I'm desperately seeking for some help, I have an important Entrance exam this November and I still haven't studied anything, I've been procrastinating for 10 days, masturbating on porn for hours not getting any work done, plus, I live alone and I'm kinda introverted so I don't go for grocery shopping, I just order food which is unhealthy for me, I feel like my life is going downhill becuase of my deeds, I wanna self spank myself since I don't have anyone, please guide me.

I'm sorry that you feel so stressed, that you find yourself trapped in a pattern of avoidant behaviour.

It is very easy to become addicted to Cheap Dopamine, to flood your mind with transient pleasure instead of doing hard things and facing the possibility of failure. We can only learn and grow by failing.

You do not need to have your bottom smacked, spanking yourself will give you a brief dopamine hit, but change absolutely nothing. You need to adopt a radical new mindset. You need to look forward to challenges, not avoid them. You need to go out, not hide away. You need to build up the courage to live, rather than just exist.

Gratification is great, and one of life’s great joys, but if we surrender to avarice and lose our capacity to delay gratification, solace in quick buzzy stimulation can become a habit, and that can lead to negative avoidant behaviours when life’s inevitable frustrations arise.

Use pleasure as an incentive not a sedative - that's really why we have that capacity inside us. I'd highly recommend reading this article about Why Pleasure Matters. I can summarise it in a line:

First imagine your goals. Then pursue them. Then reward yourself for reaching them. This is the way.

There's a wonderful world out there. Please get help if you need it. And good luck on the adventure.