Social media and related technology have given us unprecedented access to information in
every field imaginable. Knowledge that was once reserved for the select few who spent years
studying is now available to anyone with access to a phone or computer. The fields of
psychology, therapy, and neuroscience have benefitted from this.
Unfortunately, increased access to helpful information has also led to misinformation. One way
this has happened is by the way we use language. Some mental health diagnoses such as
Bipolar Disorder and PTSD have become colloquial, meaning, we use them in everyday
language. Everyday sadness or fear that doesn’t cause lasting trauma may prompt someone to
casually say, “I’m sad again I must be Bipolar” or “that movie was literally so scary I now have
PTSD”. Sadly, the casual way we use these terms often misrepresents the clinical definition,
which can hurt those who actually have these diagnoses. Additionally, words like “trigger” which
refer to events that cause the body to activate as a trauma response have become so
normalized that the original use becomes forgotten.
Knowledge and understanding of chemicals in our body have also been positively and
negatively affected by increased information. For over 50 years we’ve had access to medication
such as SSRIs that have helped many people live a more balanced life. However, complex
molecular and chemical science has been diluted for the average consumer, leaving us with an
incomplete understanding of brain chemistry. Dopamine is at the center of this misinformation.
Dopamine is a buzz word that is used all the time to either justify a little treat or an hour of
TikTok scrolling. A quick Google search describes dopamine as the “feel good” or “reward”
chemical. The implication here is when dopamine is released, our minds, mood, and body feel
positive. Pleasurable activities such as entertainment, eating and drinking, sex, and other
temporary highs have been masked as dopamine highs which cause dopamine addictions. The
problem is we are hedonists who are addicted to feeling good, right?
It is not that simple.
Dopamine is a chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter. It helps relay information to our brain.
It’s a communicator. Dopamine is active both before and after an activity or experience. A
common misconception is that: pleasure activity = increased dopamine = feeling good.
The term “dopamine hit” has been used to describe an activity that boosts our mood, ranging
from going on a walk to watching a show or using drugs. Dopamine later gets blamed when the
pleasure seeking person wants “too much” of the thing that feels good.
Dopamine has a distinct role to play in rewarding experiences. However, it is not inherently the
source of “feeling good”. Dopamine release plays a role in memory, motivation, and rewards.
Have you ever eaten a new food for the first time and thought, “This is the best thing I’ve ever
tasted!”. Then, the next time you eat it you’re not as impressed? It’s not that your taste buds
changed, it’s that your body wanted to reinforce that food was delicious to make sure you came
back to it.
The misconception is that dopamine is the cause for liking something, that dopamine is the
source of pleasure. However, scientists have found that it is more accurate that dopamine’s role
is to make you want something. This is a critical difference.
For example: Eating a new food that tastes good has a lot of components to it. You may smell it.
You’ll taste it. You may be in a restaurant with nice art and good lighting. You may be with your
friends. The food then sits in your stomach. All of these sensations affect how you feel. To say
that new food was simply a dopamine hit is akin to saying the only thing needed to make a car
move is to hit the accelerator. It’s not technically wrong, but it’s wildly incomplete. You also need
to turn it on, give it fuel or a charge, have air in the tires, etc.
Although dopamine has won the popularity contest, there are many other brain chemicals that
are involved in “feeling good”. Serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin are just a few that all have
an interwoven relationship to make up our emotional state. Going on a run releases chemicals
that make your body feel good in a different way than enjoying a snack, getting a hug, or
finishing your to do list. All those are very different activities. Dopamine is present in all of those
activities, but so are a handful of other chemicals.
By hailing dopamine the queen of all positive feelings, we miss out on the art of listening to our
body. Sometimes relaxing and enjoying a show is exactly what would make our body feel good.
But maybe we would feel better by finally putting our laundry away. Or maybe it’s time to tell
your therapist about the shame you’re been feeling.
The brain is an infinitely complex system that we are only beginning to understand. So while it’s
true that dopamine release is involved in making us feel good, it is also true that it is not the
source of feeling good. It is important to approach neuroscience with humility. We don’t know
everything yet. Understanding dopamine is helpful, yet, it is not everything. Next time you’re
tempted to blame your behavior on wanting a dopamine hit, pause for a minute and be curious.
Notice your body. Notice your breath. What do you actually need? You are a beautifully complex
person with a story. Dopamine is part of that story, but it is not all of it.
References
Anbar, R. D., MD. (2024, March 23). How one chemical can influence your mood, memory, and
motivation. Psychology Today.
Camero, K. (2025, February 4). Dopamine doesn’t actually make you feel good—here’s the
science behind the “happy hormone.” Science.
Ley, D. J., PhD. (2017, January 6). Please stop calling dopamine an addictive rewarding
neurochemical. Psychology Today.
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