In the modern-day world, we often look for a spark of happiness which is provided by dopamine. Dopamine is a “pleasure chemical” that is mainly associated with addiction. But what happens when the pleasure receptors of our brain known as dopamine receptors wear out? How long does it take for dopamine receptors to recover? Well, to answer these questions, let’s delve into the world of dopamine and its receptor recovery.
Dopamine – A Pleasure Chemical
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is naturally produced in the brain. It is a pleasure chemical that acts on the areas of the brain and gives feelings of satisfaction, pleasure, and motivation.
It also plays a role in controlling mood, memory, sleep, concentration, learning, movement, and other functions.
Nowadays, dopamine rush is associated with the disease of addiction that activates neurochemicals during activities that bring pleasure and happiness.
- Euphoria
- Elevated Senses
- Adrenaline
- Increased Sociability
- Increased Sex Drive
- Hypervigilance
What are Dopamine Receptors?
The Impact of Overstimulation of Dopamine Receptors
Have you ever thought about what happens when you overindulge in activities that flood the brain with dopamine?
Activities that give you pleasure and excitement, including watching favorite TV shows, scrolling social media, and using drugs can cause desensitization.
When dopamine receptors are overflooded with extreme stimulation, they become less responsive. This results in hard for us to feel pleasure every day.
When it comes to drug usage, excessive dopamine is released in the body which the conscious brain recognizes as contentment and euphoria. This euphoria drives repeated drug use behavior.
After some time, repeated substance usage can intensify dopamine surges. This can cause people to lose interest in activities.
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How Do Drugs Impact Natural Dopamine Production?
As per the American Addiction Centers, regular drug usage causes the brain to produce, absorb, and transmit less dopamine which leads to chemical imbalances in the brain.
Moreover, when drugs are not active in the brain, dopamine levels can be reduced which causes powerful cravings and severe withdrawal symptoms.
Substance abuse is adopted by people and then they feel compelled to keep consuming drugs to avoid negative physical or emotional symptoms.
Healing from drug overuse and recovering dopamine receptors takes time and often depends on the time and frequency of drug usage.
Using drugs and substances can increase dopamine levels in the brain. Science has shown that the production of dopamine can motivate people to continue activities that promote wellness and health.
On the other hand, studies also suggest harmful activities, including alcohol consumption, etc which can also have a dopamine response.
Read Also: Harmful Effects of Drug Use and Abuse
How Long Does It Take for Dopamine Receptors to Recover?
Now, let’s discuss the burning question: How long does it take for dopamine receptors to recover?
Well, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for dopamine receptors recovery.
The dopamine receptor recovery process is mainly influenced by a number of factors. These factors can vary from person to person. Normally, it takes approximately 90 days to notice a difference in experiencing dopamine levels.
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Some of these are as follows:
- Severity of Overstimulation:
The more long and intense the overstimulation, the longer it takes for the dopamine receptors to normalize. If someone has been doing substance abuse for years, it might take a longer road for dopamine receptors to revert back.
- Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle choices and daily habits can impact the recovery process of dopamine. Engaging in healthy activities that enhance brain health, including regular exercise, yoga, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet enriched with nutrients can support faster healing.
- Individual Differences
Genetics plays an important in how quickly dopamine receptors recover. Some people naturally have more tough receptors, while others may take longer to revert back.
By answering the following questions, you can better understand and identify where you stand with the severity of the substance use.
- How long have you been using drugs?
- What drugs did you use?
- Were you using multiple drugs at a time?
- What is your frequency of using the drug?
- Did your drug tolerance significantly increase with your drug usage?
- What is your age?
- Did you have dopamine deficiencies before you started using substances?
- Do you suffer from any other mental conditions or illnesses?
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Timeline of Dopamine Receptor Recovery
There is no specific timeline for dopamine receptor recovery.
Research shows that significant improvements and recovery can be observed within a few weeks to months for most people.
However, full recovery of dopamine may take longer, especially for those people with more intense cases of desensitization.
Things You Can Do to Recover Brain’s Dopamine Level
Firstly, it is important to understand that recovering the brain’s dopamine levels takes time.
Next, you have to understand that there is nothing that you can do to revert the dopamine levels overnight.
However, you can increase dopamine levels in healthy and sober ways.
Here are some tips for recovering the brain’s dopamine level:
1. Limit Overstimulation
Firstly, you should cut back on activities that overflow the brain with excessive dopamine, including consistent social media scrolling, too much gaming, substance abuse, etc.
You can replace such activities with fun and interactive activities. These things can motivate you in the recovery process, specifically on the days when you feel loneliness or numbness.
2. Stay Active
It has been observed that regular exercise can increase dopamine levels and promote overall brain health. You should aim for approximately 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. The brain naturally releases dopamine when you practice exercise.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Moving forward, you should engage in activities that promote present-moment awareness, peace, and mindfulness, including deep breathing exercises, yoga, etc. These mindful practices can help regulate normal dopamine levels and also reduce stress & anxiety.
4. Get Adequate and Quality Sleep
Sleep is important for the body and brain as it promotes the repairing and resetting the body. One should prioritize getting adequate sleep every night to recover dopamine receptors. You should aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night to recover the brain’s dopamine level.
5. Eat a Healthy and Balanced Diet
Some foods can increase the dopamine levels, while some foods can decrease them. Therefore, you should incorporate foods that support dopamine production, including vegetables, protein-rich foods, healthy fats, etc. Moreover, foods rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins can also improve dopamine levels.
On the other hand, you should avoid processed foods and excessive sugar intake as it can disrupt the normal dopamine balance.
Treatments for Irregular Dopamine Levels
Dopamine can be recovered in the brain in different ways. However, some other chemicals can also regulate dopamine to healthy levels. These types of chemicals are known as dopamine antagonists. Antagonists can block dopamine receptors and can treat addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Some common dopamine antagonists as prescription drugs are as follows:
- Clozaril
- Seroquel
- Risperdal
Some other medicines can increase dopamine levels in the brain known as dopamine agonists. Many banned drugs are also dopamine agonists as they elevate dopamine drastically. Some of the common dopamine agonists are as follows:
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamines
- Cocaine
- LSD
- MDMA
Antagonists and Agonists can help to treat the addiction to alcohol and drugs. Some research has found that it is not easy to recover dopamine levels after excessive use dopamine dopamine-heavy drugs.
Thus, how long for dopamine receptors to heal? On average it can take almost 14 months to recover normal levels of dopamine in the brain with proper rehabilitation and treatment.
You can also watch this video by Ms. Sofia Sohail in which she talks about dopamine in detail. She comprehensively explains what is dopamine, what it does to the brain and body, and what dopamine deficiency can cause?
Final Words
The road to dopamine receptor recovery is not always straightforward or smooth. It is essential to remember that healing is possible with patience and time.
By prioritizing self-care and making positive lifestyle changes, you can support the brain’s natural ability to have normal dopamine receptor levels.
Therefore, step back, breathe, and trust the process.
If you are struggling to recover from any kind of substance/drug abuse, then you can get help and guidance from the best drug abuse doctors in Pakistan via Marham. If you don’t want to visit them in person, then you can also book a video consultation with any of the drug abuse doctors in Pakistan through Marham.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can dopamine receptors repair themselves?
2. Does your dopamine levels go back to normal after quitting?
Yes. The dopamine levels can go back to normal after quitting smoking or substance abuse. However, the timeline of reverting can depend on various factors and the nature of addiction.
3. What destroys dopamine receptors?
The traditional antiemetic and antipsychotic drugs which are also known as neuroleptics can block dopamine receptors. They are also sometimes used to treat many hyperkinetic movement disorders.