My Story - Dr Prabath

Imagine the very first time you have a cigarette, play a video game, take recreational drugs, etc, in this situation, as it’s the first time there is no habit loop inside your brain. So the Dopamine levels rise only after you finish the activity. The moment the dopamine levels rise after that first smoke, the brain’s memory marks that activity as pleasurable, and chances are you will do it a few times more without getting addicted. But each time you have that smoke, the association between the spike in dopamine level and the action gets stronger, and the habit loop gets stronger.

Now, imagine you have smoked for a few years now and are addicted to cigarettes. In your brain, dopamine levels rise in anticipation BEFORE you smoke! So, dopamine levels rise in anticipation after a while, and the activity merely seeks to increase the association. Imagine you are anticipating a cigarette, a glass of wine after a stressful work day, coming home, and there’s nothing at home. So your mere anticipation gets dopamine levels sky high, and if you can’t complete the habit loop, dopamine levels drop down, making you miserable and grumpy