Little About Dopamine Detox and "Urge Surfing"

Bismillah.

 

Nukil Buku "Master Your Dopamine - Nick Trenton, NickTrenton.com"

 

Lanjutan aliran rasa dan catetan setelah baca 32/143 dari halaman pdf buku tentang dopamin. Nukil bukunya dalam bahasa inggris yaa.. 

 

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I'm only on 32/143 of the PDF pages.

I'm on the 2nd chapter learning about dopamine detox/dopamine fasting.

It is a technique to manage addictive behaviour. While restricting ourselves doing activity that gives instant dopamine, we hope to gain more natural dopamine cycle and also have control upon our behaviour and not becoming too impulsive towards the "cue" or urge towards dopamine loop.

Dopamine fasting emphasize in the importance of accepting challenging emotion like boredom or loneliness, rather than turning to quick solution/activities that could become addictive.

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There's also a new term I learn, CBT. Which tell us to incorporates mindfulness practice while trying to break a bad habit/behaviour.

It is called as "urge surfing"

Just like surfing the waves on sea. We try to surf our waves of emotion (psychological craving).

 

Step to do "urge surfing":

1. Acknowledge the craving (e.g having the thought of want to smoke cigarettes) while remembering that it will eventually subside

2. Label their emotion (frustration, anxiety upon not having it)

3. Noting any physical sensations that accompany the emotions (sweating, rapid heartbeat, elevated temperature)

4. Use mindfulness practice to not be defeated by the urge and let it subside

 

But... It is also said in the book, that "urge surfing" does not mean that individuals have to fight the urge and make it go away.

Instead, we learn how to completely experience the urge in different way, which is to experience the urge for what it is: brief, nonlethal, with a generally predictable path, and most importantly, defeatable.

I know it's already long, but last.. quote that I want to share.
 

"He (Sepah) believes that by avoiding the instant gratification that these items (compulsive behaviour) provide, people can again more rewarding long-term goals/gratification and liberate themselves from painful or time-consuming compulsions that provide only instant dopamine hits." 

 

 

Wallahua'lam.