I've been thinking lately about evolution, and the human reward centre.
It occurred to me that we have an inbuilt system that chemically rewards us, for doing activities beneficial to survival.
Except, society as it is today, has made instant pleasure and gratification very accessible.
I can see two main areas where this comes in to play: food and sex.
Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter released to promote the consumption of foods dense in calories, and the act of sex.
However, in both these key areas, we have access to things that produce extreme quantities of the chemical, namely fast food and porn, that would no doubt imbalance and numb our reward system.
I wouldn't be surprised if the increase in problems like depression are directly proportional to the rise in fast food and porn consumption.
If you binge on both these things, it's as if nature is constantly rewarding you for finding a doughnut tree or a field with 50 8/10's bent over waiting for you to fuck them.
It is my theory that these levels of dopamine are not meant to be experienced on a regular basis, and desensitises us.
If we can find a way to reset our reward centre, i think it could be very powerful:
- More enthusiasm to approach and fuck women
- Sex will be more enjoyable
- Dopamine levels affect cognition, so more cognitively aware
- They also affect motivation, so more motivated and productive
The list really goes on.
I know this has been widely discussed with regards to NoFap, but I have yet to see a tie in with other things. When porn addiction is discussed, it is usually just porn addiction, and not the other things that skew our reward centre.
So to tie this up, I would propose the following:
- No Pornography
- Avoid sexually suggestive photos as much as possible (sorry LINUX)
- No Masturbation - providing a reward for nothing
- No Smoking - dopamine and nicotine are linked.
- No Drugs - this is an obvious one.
- Eat paleo - basically anything nature intended us to eat - nothing processed
- Avoid artificial sweeteners - these simulate the high obtained from sugar without actually eating it.
- Limit smartphone / recreational internet use - studies have shown that when a notification pops up on your phone, you get a dopamine hit.
What do you guys think ?
If anyone does all these things already, I would be fascinated to hear about your lifestyle, and if/how it's changed.
It occurred to me that we have an inbuilt system that chemically rewards us, for doing activities beneficial to survival.
Except, society as it is today, has made instant pleasure and gratification very accessible.
I can see two main areas where this comes in to play: food and sex.
Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter released to promote the consumption of foods dense in calories, and the act of sex.
However, in both these key areas, we have access to things that produce extreme quantities of the chemical, namely fast food and porn, that would no doubt imbalance and numb our reward system.
I wouldn't be surprised if the increase in problems like depression are directly proportional to the rise in fast food and porn consumption.
If you binge on both these things, it's as if nature is constantly rewarding you for finding a doughnut tree or a field with 50 8/10's bent over waiting for you to fuck them.
It is my theory that these levels of dopamine are not meant to be experienced on a regular basis, and desensitises us.
If we can find a way to reset our reward centre, i think it could be very powerful:
- More enthusiasm to approach and fuck women
- Sex will be more enjoyable
- Dopamine levels affect cognition, so more cognitively aware
- They also affect motivation, so more motivated and productive
The list really goes on.
I know this has been widely discussed with regards to NoFap, but I have yet to see a tie in with other things. When porn addiction is discussed, it is usually just porn addiction, and not the other things that skew our reward centre.
So to tie this up, I would propose the following:
- No Pornography
- Avoid sexually suggestive photos as much as possible (sorry LINUX)
- No Masturbation - providing a reward for nothing
- No Smoking - dopamine and nicotine are linked.
- No Drugs - this is an obvious one.
- Eat paleo - basically anything nature intended us to eat - nothing processed
- Avoid artificial sweeteners - these simulate the high obtained from sugar without actually eating it.
- Limit smartphone / recreational internet use - studies have shown that when a notification pops up on your phone, you get a dopamine hit.
What do you guys think ?
If anyone does all these things already, I would be fascinated to hear about your lifestyle, and if/how it's changed.
Carpe noctem et sic itur ad astra