Dopamine Dungeon

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure. Dopamine plays a big role in porn addiction. When consuming porn, the brain gets an overwhelming rush of dopamine. While this may feel good at the moment, afterward, it leads to a dopamine deficit. This leaves feelings of

Depression
Lack of motivation
Anxiety
Brain fog

The brain will start to yearn for dopamine again and will return to the screen to get it. This makes porn highly addictive and damaging to the brain.

What is a Dopamine Dungeon?

When binging on porn for longer periods of time, the brain will continue to get that rush of dopamine rush during the binge. However, after it ends, the brain leads into a dopamine deluge. This dopamine deluge, which traps you in a state of no motivation, is difficult and seemingly impossible to get out of. This makes staying in that constant feeling of dopamine highly tempting. It makes the brain want to continue to stay in the “dopamine dungeon.”

How To Stay Out of the Dopamine Dungeon

Preventing getting into a dopamine deficit will help keep you out of the dungeon. Feeling the urge to go back to the screen means the brain needs dopamine. Instead of getting an unhealthy amount from porn, get the normal amount in which the brain will thrive. Normal amounts of dopamine can come from:

Calling a friend
Going on a walk
Drawing or painting
Playing an instrument
Going for a swim
Dancing

Finding hobbies, activities, or exercises that you enjoy doing whenever you feel the urge to watch porn or masturbate can help stay out of the screen.