Dopamine Fasting

I read about Dopamine Fasting – the latest fad to hit silicon valley. Experts still are doubtful of this new trend as dopamine, a neurotransmitter – a chemical messenger to lay people like us – is vital for the well being of our gray matter. So why should one try to suppress the production of this very vital chemical? It is said that we are constantly bombarded with external stimuli and our brain as a result always remains on 'alert' mode which can potentially lead to a lot of anxiety. Dopamine is sent around the brain conveying signals related to functions such as motor control, memory, arousal and reward processing. To give an example, our dopamine levels get elevated when we get a 'like' ping on our phones, or are in situations which make us happy. We all crave happiness and one experiences it through good food, a good joke, heady sex, sports, social media etc.. in short our chemical secretions depend on what happens outside of us. This is something to ponder on.

This article deals with an interesting experiment. The author decides to go on a dopamine fast and resolves not to respond to her toddler all through the day. No eye contact, no baby talk and more importantly no laughing. It is her way of 'disconnecting'. It makes very interesting reading as she bursts out laughing as the day ends when her baby makes an amazing joke. She concludes all this struggle to stifle or play with our emotions is not worth it. 

Most of us are hyper-stimulated these days. Family pressures and expectations, financial requirements, social media, office or work related pressures, sports, tv, lurid lives of celebrities... they all fight for attention and our mind fails to really decide upon anything. This explains why we keep wandering in our thoughts every two or three minutes. Sitting in a place, reading or writing anything becomes a task for which we appear unequal. Such high hyper-stimulation brings out the worst in us as we tend to be edgy, quarrelsome and lose our ability to 'listen'. Naval Ravikant encourages meditative practices as he has enormously benefited from them. Meditation, I think, in its purest form would mean complete absence of thought. Most cannot do this. We should be able to deal with our thoughts with equanimity, not being judgmental or angry or fearful. Acceptance of your thoughts is what meditation is, in my opinion. I of course may not be right, but this is my stand.

Several drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine are known to elevate our dopamine levels. Addicts crave for their daily fix to experience the high. This dependence on an external source is an unhealthy way of seeking happiness. Happiness is all around you. Hence the importance of acceptance. Accept situations, people, friends as they are, with open arms, without any prejudice or pre-judgment. Most people are well intentioned, we just need to understand what drives them.

I find this trend of fasting as repugnant as fasting on food!!