Think of dopamine as a “pleasure chemical” that makes you feel good. It plays a role in people’s reward system and function, so when you feel rewarded or pleasured, that entails a good amount of dopamine in your brain. The brain often releases this when people engage in sexual intercourse, eat a nice meal, exercise, and any other pleasurable activity.
An average person has a healthy amount of dopamine in their system. However, some people have low levels of dopamine. Why? It can be because of mental illness, drug abuse, insufficient sleep, alcohol use, and many more. Whatever the reason, this page talks about how you can improve your dopamine and “feel good.”
Observe Your Medicine Intake
When you’re trying to increase your dopamine levels, you must be mindful of your medicine intake first. Are you currently taking some medications? If so, you should know that some medications can lower dopamine, e.g., antidepressants and antipsychotic prescriptions. These medications can bind your dopamine receptors and lower the production of dopamine.
As such, you must communicate with your healthcare provider and ask if your medications can lower dopamine levels. Furthermore, it would also be beneficial if you asked about medication and supplements you can take to improve dopamine. Let’s first talk about some supplements that can improve dopamine levels.
In addition to eating healthy and balanced meals, it would help if you took vitamin D, probiotics, fish oil, ginseng, magnesium, and ginkgo to improve dopamine levels, brain function, and mental health. It would help to communicate with your physician before taking these supplements since they can interfere with other prescription medications.
Regarding mental health, medications like Vyvanse increase dopamine levels among children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. This medication can help patients become more focused and alert, thus improving one’s attention span since ADHD patients have trouble focusing.
However, you can only take Vyvanse when a psychiatrist or other physician prescribes the medicine to you. It’s only prescribed to patients with ADHD and binge eating disorder. If you have any of these disorders, you must be careful when storing and disposing Vyvanse. This medicine has to be stored in a closely tight container at a room temperature of 15-30°C.
Be mindful of the expiration date on your Vyvanse medication, supplements, and other medication.
Improve Sleep Health
As mentioned above, sleep health is essential to one’s dopamine levels. Improve your sleep health to get a normal dopamine release and an increase in the light phase.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising can give a jolt to your brain’s reward system and thus improving the brain’s dopamine levels. It encourages your brain to anticipate pleasure and thus creating more available dopamine receptors. So you must exercise regularly!
Spend Time Outdoors
When you’re outside, sucking in the natural scenery of the trees and other green spaces, you can trigger your dopamine and endorphin! The fresh air helps with raising the oxygen levels in your brain, making you feel relaxed and happy.
Final Thoughts
Dopamine is vital for memory, concentration, mood, productivity, motivation, etc. It’s essential for one’s normal functioning and wellness. So, it’s only natural that you take every measure to ensure that you’re getting regular amounts of this hormone.
