The One Molecule That Could Jeopardize The Human Race!!!!
Have you wondered why people become addicted to drugs, sex, success, porn, and social media? It all boils down to one molecule: Dopamine or as my guest, today calls it “the molecule of more.” Dopamine is a double-edged sword because it certainly has many positive benefits like creativity, taking action, falling in love, excitement and ambition. But dopamine, if not managed correctly, can lead you to the depths of divorce, despair, destruction, and even death.
My guest today is Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D. He is professor and vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University. Dr. Lieberman is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a recipient of the Caron Foundation Research Award, and he has published over 50 scientific reports on behavioral science. He has provided insight on psychiatric issues for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Commerce, and the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy, and has discussed mental health in interviews on CNN, C-SPAN, and PBS.
We are going to talk about dopamine, which is the main subject of Daniel’s book called, "The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race."
In this episode, we discuss what dopamine, is and how it’s responsible for things like addiction, cravings, love, sex, pleasure and social media use. He shares why people who end up super successful end up suffering with their mental health and even turn to suicide. We get into how to handle desire and achievement in a healthy way as well what drugs and social media actually do to the brain. So fasten your seatbelt, get out your pen and paper so you can learn to have a healthy relationship with dopamine and let’s get this conversation going with Dr. Daniel Z Lieberman.
Topics discussed:
How do drugs and substances impact the mind
What is dopamine?
Peri-personal space in the brain
Extra-personal space in the brain
Daniel’s thoughts about people who turned to things like drugs, alcohol, suicide, just to deal with their problems after they achieve something so meaningful.
How to handle things such as ambition and achievement properly, and not to focus on wanting more
Why do opioids cause people to really get addicted?
Dopaminergic pleasure
Control dopamine circuit
Desire dopamine circuit
Genetic predisposition
What are the few things that have been successful in helping people rewire their pleasure and desire circuits?
What can people do to help others who are suffering from addiction?
The different kinds of love
The different phases of the human sexual cycle
Daniel’s take on social media
What effect does social media have on the brain?
How to have a healthy relationship with dopamine
The observing ego
Delusions and psychosis
Takeaways:
The single most important thing in this world was the human mind.
In order to get something you don't have, the first step is you've gotta want it so that you're willing to put in the work.
Dopamine is interested in what we don't have, and as soon as what you want becomes what you have, dopamine shuts off.
The kind of people who can most afford a beach house are least able to enjoy it.
The main purpose of the brain is to keep us alive, keep us functioning, keep us reproducing, basically keep us obeying dopamine.
Craving is when you feel that there is nothing that can make you feel good, and nothing can make you feel satisfied unless you use that substance.
What happens with addiction is that we have an imbalance between the desire and the control circuits.
The real key to helping people overcome addiction is going to be in the kinds of new relationships they're able to form.
Love is a dopaminergic phenomenon. It's not so different from getting very, very high on drugs.
Healthy behavior is a habit. You can't jump to the finish line in one leap. You’ve got to start out with doing small things consistently, and that will strengthen your brain and enable you to do big things under extraordinary circumstances.
Always be honest with yourself.
Connect with Daniel:
Website: http://www.danielzlieberman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielzlieberman/
The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race
https://www.amazon.com/Molecule-More-Chemical-Creativity_and-Determine/dp/1946885118
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