Neuroadaptation: Why We Need Both Pain and Pleasure

Too many pleasures reduce the capacity for pain, while too little pain increases the threshold for pleasure.

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that connects feelings of pleasure to behavior to motivate action. It was vital when hunting for food or a mate but now we are overloaded with easy/junk dopamine every day.

Just like an addict who builds up tolerance to their drug and needs more to sustain the same high; Neuroadaption happens when we flood our brains with dopamine consistently and need more to get the same good feeling, otherwise we face withdrawls.

Use pain to balance out pleasure.

Cold/Heat exposure
Exercise
Learn something new
Set a challenge
Don't listen to music/podcasts all of the time, be mindful of thoughts instead
Reduce screen time

The result... A more peaceful brain that delights in the simple things. Is that happiness?

Neuroadaptation is one of the themes that is addressed on our Rēset programs. We include challenging activities such as the ice bath and Temazcal (sweat lodge) as an opportunity to sit with discomfort and put the tools we share for nervous system regulation to the test.

Read more on dopamine here: https://www.reprecisionhealth.com/resources/harnessing-dopamine
The book Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke is a great resource.

At Rē Precision Health we teach tools to regulate the nervous system through education and immersive experiences online and in our bubbles of paradise in Mexico and Portugal. Our programs have positively impacted (and even saved) hundreds of lives. 

Guest stories here: https://www.reprecisionhealth.com/reviews

All information provided in our resources in for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace a medical/mental health professional.