What Is Dopamine, And How Does It Affect Physical And Mental Health?

Dopamine is a natural neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that impacts pleasure and motivation. However, when dopamine is deficient in the body, it may have links to depression and Parkinson's disease. High dopamine levels are associated with schizophrenia and psychosis. 

Individuals sometimes seek dopamine from external substances, which can impact the body's ability to develop natural levels. Understanding dopamine and how to keep your mind and body healthy can be beneficial if you haven't previously investigated this chemical's impacts.

What is dopamine? A neurotransmitter in the brain affecting pleasure, reward, and motivation

Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter used for communication between brain cells. This chemical is often released to control behavior. It can encourage individuals to move and seek resources like food and water. It can also occur when an individual is happy and motivated or when someone receives a reward like a promotion. Dopamine is also higher during consensual sexual activity. 

This hormone can impact mind and body

However, dopamine may not be released properly in some cases. Because of this, dopamine has positive and negative connotations in science. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to influence dopamine levels, plus natural and unnatural ways of balancing them. Dopamine can significantly impact the mind and body, so if you think you are out of balance, consider investigating the causes with a professional. 

How does dopamine affect the brain?

As a neurotransmitter, dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain before traveling to other brain cells' receptors to relay signals and information. Two separate, small brain areas produce dopamine, including the substantia nigra (SN) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The SN controls movement and speech, whereas the VTA controls reward signals and reinforcement.

What is dopamine’s connection to emotion and reward-seeking?

When your brain produces healthy dopamine levels, and nothing is causing imbalance, dopamine impacts brain processes that control your mood and focus. When you realize that completing a particular task gives you a reward that makes you feel happy, for example, you may feel more motivated to focus on and complete that task.

Positive activities that can increase levels of dopamine

The negative impacts of imbalanced dopamine levels on emotion, learning, and more

Taking care of yourself and living a healthy lifestyle may help you keep your dopamine levels balanced and maintain a happy, motivated mood. However, a healthy lifestyle might not be enough if your dopamine levels are out of balance. Depending on the cause of the imbalance, treatment from a medical or mental health professional might be necessary. Below are a few negative impacts of dopamine when out of balance. 

Dependency and addiction: repeatedly pursuing pleasure or reward

In some situations, dopamine can harm the brain. In the case of dependency on a psychological or physical factor, dopamine can become part of a cycle. As rewarding experiences incite dopamine release, people may feel "programmed" to repeatedly seek pleasurable experiences, even if they're unhealthy. 

According to Harvard Health, studies have shown how illicit substances stimulate a reward circuit in the brain. Taking certain substances may result in significant boosts of dopamine in the brain. The experience of this rush can be attributed to higher levels of dopamine than natural, which might lead to dependency. Despite the risks associated with taking substances, the perceived rewards may outweigh the risks for those living with this challenge. 

Possible effects of low levels of dopamine: Parkinson’s disease, sleep and learning problems

Those with depression may sometimes lose interest in eating, drinking, or caring for themselves. This state may be a result of a lack of dopamine, which can have an impact on a person's reward-seeking behavior. Another name for this depressed state is anhedonia, which describes difficulty feeling pleasure.

Dopamine deficiency can be caused by a problem with the receptors in the brain and may cause depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and difficulty completing tasks. In some cases, this deficiency occurs after one has become dependent on an illicit substance that overproduces dopamine. After growing tolerant to the substance, the brain may no longer produce dopamine at healthy levels, relying on the substance to offer the chemical to the body. 

As brain functions that impact mood, sleep, memory, learning, concentration, and motor control are all motivated by dopamine, a lack of dopamine can cause challenges in all areas. In addition to that, a low level of dopamine may cause Parkinson’s disease.

Possible effects of high levels of dopamine 

Dopamine can also exist in excess. During substance use or due to specific neurological or mental health conditions, dopamine might be produced more than is necessary. Excessive or abnormal dopamine release is associated with schizophrenia and psychosis. It can also cause erratic or unusual behavior.

How does dopamine affect the body?

Dopamine positively affects the body in helping individuals form habits. When dopamine works as it is meant to, it encourages you to take action toward your health and wellness. When you complete healthy tasks, dopamine rewards you with a flood of positive emotions. These emotions can motivate you to continue. 

What increases dopamine levels?

A few causes of dopamine occurrence in the body include: 

• Exercising
• Eating healthy foods
• Getting enough sleep
• Drinking water 

How dopamine affects movement and motor control

Dopamine isn't only responsible for behavior and motivation; it can also impact movement or motor control. Since dopamine is a neurotransmitter that sends messages between cells, it can be transmitted to cells that impact your body's movement. Your ability to move purposefully and with control often relies on dopamine.

Negative bodily impacts of dopamine: sleep difficulty, constipation, and more

Excess or deficient dopamine levels can negatively impact the brain, mood, and motivation. However, they can also impact the physical body. Dopamine deficiency can be caused by a drop in the amount of dopamine produced by the body, resulting in symptoms like:

• Muscle stiffness
• Aches and pains
• Low energy
• Loss of balance
• Constipation
• Trouble eating and swallowing
• Pneumonia
• Sleep difficulty

Excessive dopamine levels could lead to more reward-seeking behaviors, including risk-taking with substances and sexual behavior. 

How to address imbalanced dopamine levels

Resolving a dopamine imbalance may depend on the reason for the imbalance. Treatments might include counseling, changes in diet and lifestyle, physical therapy, and medication. However, consult a doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication. 

Eating patterns and lifestyle

Physical and mental health can be significantly impacted by diet and lifestyle. By changing how you live, you might find it easier to cope with minor imbalances in dopamine or prevent long-term imbalances. Certain foods, like those high in tyrosine, can boost dopamine and cognitive function. These foods may include: 

• Dairy 
• Meat
• Almonds
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Sesame seeds
• Beans
• Whole grain foods 

In foods, sugar causes a significant boost in dopamine. It can have a similar effect to some substances causing dependency and might not be healthy in excess. 

Other lifestyle choices that can positively affect dopamine levels include exercise and meditation. Both activities cause neurotransmitter activity in the brain and can increase physical and mental well-being. Increased dopamine levels turn on the reward centers in your brain, helping you potentially form healthy habits. 

Medication

In some cases, counseling, diet, and lifestyle changes may not impact a dopamine imbalance. If you are experiencing an imbalance due to depression, Parkinson's, schizophrenia, or psychosis, your doctor might recommend medication. However, consult your provider before considering your options.

Counseling to improve mental health

It may seem that counseling wouldn't support the dopamine levels in your brain, but counseling focuses on all aspects of mental health, including the physical ones. How you think and experience the world mentally may impact your neural pathways and physical health. By talking to a counselor, you can learn healthy coping mechanisms for reframing your thoughts and beliefs, coping with traumatic events, or finding new ways to live, despite an imbalance. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Counseling might be beneficial if you're struggling with fatigue, lack of energy, motivation loss, and absence of pleasure. You can find a counselor in-person or use an online counseling service like BetterHelp if you're looking for a source of affordable, ongoing guidance. With online therapy, the ability to schedule appointments from a preferred space and a time convenient for your schedule can be beneficial, especially if you're experiencing fatigue from a dopamine deficiency. In such cases, it may take more energy to shower, get dressed, engage with traffic, and navigate a new space. Online therapy eliminates those potential barriers. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapy has also been proven effective in supporting those impacted by substance use, often connected to dopamine spikes or imbalances. Several studies suggest that the internet has a disinhibiting effect on participants and reduces social desirability (the impulse to alter one's responses to appear more socially desirable). This phenomenon can encourage online therapy participants to be more honest about their challenges while attending therapy. In addition, a literature review and online survey of 100 California addiction treatment centers discovered the potential for participants to be more engaged in their treatment due to the convenience of telehealth services.