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I hear the word dopamine thrown around but never hear about the other neurotransmitters. So I wanted to explain a few things I learned from a book on the subject.

Dopamine is not the chemical of pleasure. It is the chemical of wanting and seeking. The role of dopamine is to get us to behave in a manner that would have us seek out resources to secure survival. It is like a carrot on a stick. The “happiness” we associate it to is a future construct.

Examples:
Scrolling through social media. You scroll and scroll thinking you ‘re going to find something but you don’t. Eventually, you grow tired of the bullshit and the dopaminergic effects diminish. Gay.

Dopamine will keep us working: chizzling away at a constructive project. That’s great. When the project is completed, you will feel accomplished.

For those susceptible to alcohol addiction, it is worth noting that blood alcohol rising is highly dopaminergic. Being intoxicated gives absolutely no dopamine or pleasure neurotransmitters. That’s why sobering up sucks.

Dreams are purely dopaminergic. Ever realize you’re always working toward something or on some sort of adventure while in a dream? We tend to always wake up before finishing the task.

Here and Now Neurotransmitters are the pleasure chemicals of the brain. These include serotonin, endorphins, and endocannibinoids. These chemicals are NOT dopaminergic. You don’t need to chase shit. You’re just happy.

If you struggle with drugs and alcohol, just the thought of going to the store to buy booze or pick up from your dealer is dopaminergic. So arguably, you could very well just appreciate that sense of appreciation.

Examples:
That good feeling when you’re with loving and supporting family.

Holding your pet.

While playing a video game is a dopaminergic process, you experience the H&N chemicals when playing alongside friends - which is why a game you’ve played several times and have grown bored of can be enjoyed alongside a friend.

Some drugs such as heroin can trigger both dopamine and H&N neurotransmitters. This is not an extensive list of what I’ve learned as I don’t want to make this post too long. Fuck, too late. Gay.