A wave of new research has reignited scientific and public debate on “dopamine deficits”—a phenomenon whereby modern lifestyles, shaped by omnipresent digital media and high-reward environments, dampen our capacity for pleasure and motivation. Experts now warn that this subtle neurological imbalance is widespread, with significant consequences for mental health, productivity, and daily happiness—even in thriving societies such as Thailand.
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter made in the brain, is central to how humans pursue pleasure and rewards. While it’s essential for motivation and goal-seeking, new studies suggest that an abundance of high-stimulation activities—ranging from social media scrolling to ultra-processed foods—hijacks this system, leading to a flatlining of mood and satisfaction. The result is a chronic state where familiar joys fade and ordinary accomplishments lose their spark, pushing individuals toward ever-greater stimulation just to feel “normal” CNN Health.
For Thai readers, these findings offer an urgent lens through which to interpret rising trends of digital addiction, academic burnout, and even spikes in youth anxiety and depression. “We now live in a world of frictionless access to highly reinforcing substances and behaviors—digital media, ultra-tasty foods, addictive online games,” explains a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, who was recently interviewed about her research on dopamine addiction. According to the expert, it’s not dopamine itself that is the villain, but rather the engineered intensity and frequency of contemporary rewards that throw the brain out of balance.
Recent neuroscience underscores how dopamine regulates both pleasure and anticipation. Rather than being the so-called “pleasure molecule”, dopamine serves as the neurological engine for “wanting”—the urge that propels us toward rewards. As a psychologist and neuroscience researcher put it, “Dopamine spikes most during the pursuit phase, not at achievement. When you get used to constant digital feedback, your brain’s baseline for reward rises—and everything else feels less meaningful” (Psychology Today). This scientific insight matches everyday Thai experiences: The excitement of a new phone fades rapidly, academic trophies quickly feel hollow, and afternoons vanish into social feeds that never seem as satisfying as advertised.
The health consequences are real and measurable. A new study from Mount Sinai Hospital’s neuroscientists, published in Nature, discovered that dopamine receptors in an overlooked brain region—the ventral hippocampus—play a key role in regulating decisions under stress and uncertainty. These findings expand the understanding of how dopamine dysregulation is not limited to addiction, but also linked to anxiety and depressive disorders—conditions on the rise in Thailand and globally (MedicalXpress).
So, how can individuals and societies counteract the dopamine deficit? Specialists recommend intentional breaks—popularly known as “dopamine fasts.” Rather than eliminating all rewarding activities, a dopamine fast urges a 30-day pause from the most problematic sources, such as mobile gaming or binge-watching, to allow the brain’s reward sensitivity to reset. Although the abstinence period can be challenging—users often feel worse before improving—most report a gradual return of joy in simple pleasures after two weeks. This technique is backed by both clinical evidence and common sense: Thai wellness traditions, such as Buddhist meditation retreats, similarly encourage conscious detachment from stimulus overload as a path to tranquility and contentment.
Another approach is “self-binding”—creating practical barriers between oneself and sources of excessive stimulation. Experts advocate simple strategies: Remove ultra-processed snacks from the home, set fixed times for social media use, and replace some digital interactions with in-person socializing or nature activities. These tactics echo the advice in mindfulness-based Thai health campaigns, which urge citizens to practice moderation for emotional stability.
Thailand’s context highlights additional challenges and opportunities. The country has seen rapid digitalization, with youth and adults alike spending increasing hours on social platforms, gaming, and e-commerce apps (wearesocial.com). National health surveys show rising rates of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and “burnout” among young people, often linked to online behaviors. “We’re seeing more adolescents who report feeling numb or constantly bored, despite having access to so much entertainment,” notes a psychiatrist at a major hospital in Bangkok. “It fits what we know about the brain—novelty loses its impact, so they keep searching for the next big thing and rarely find satisfaction.”
Historical and cultural insights provide useful context. For centuries, Thai Buddhist teachings have identified the dangers of unchecked craving (“tanha”) and encouraged individuals to cultivate mindfulness, gratitude, and contentment with modest pleasures—tools that may buffer against modern dopamine imbalances. Village rituals, temple fairs, and simple family gatherings offer “low-potency” rewards that foster wellbeing without overwhelming the brain’s circuitry. The risk, say public health experts, is that these traditional coping mechanisms are being eroded as fast-paced urban lifestyles and imported digital culture reshape expectations and behaviors.
Meanwhile, biomedical research has produced promising advances for those with severe dopamine deficiencies. At the AD/PD2025 international conference, scientists announced that a new drug, golexanolone, was found to reverse dopamine loss and improve both motor and emotional symptoms in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease—a disorder characterized by dopamine depletion and impacting over 10 million people globally (Umecrine Cognition). While not a general treatment for dopamine deficit due to lifestyle, such breakthroughs underscore the complexity and importance of maintaining healthy dopamine systems.
Looking ahead, Thailand faces both opportunity and peril. If current trends persist, more citizens—especially youth—may struggle with mood disorders, addiction-like behaviors, and a blunted sense of joy. But the country is also well-placed to pioneer balanced, culturally-rooted responses. Public health campaigns could draw on both the latest neuroscience and traditional wisdom, promoting digital hygiene, mindful eating, and social connection as pillars of mental wellbeing. Policymakers might encourage “dopamine-light” public spaces, revive slow activities such as gardening or traditional sports, and support media literacy training in schools to counteract algorithm-driven compulsions.
For readers seeking practical steps, the recommendations are clear:
- Identify your main sources of high-potency dopamine (digital media, junk food, gambling, etc.) and experiment with a measured break.
- Replace passive digital activities with active, in-person experiences: sports, gardening, volunteering, or participation in Thai cultural rituals.
- Create physical or social barriers to impulsive behaviors—such as scheduled device-free times with family or friends.
- Break long-term goals into meaningful, bite-sized achievements to harness dopamine’s motivational effect without overwhelming the system.
- Practice gratitude and mindfulness as antidotes to boredom and craving—time-tested strategies in Thai spiritual tradition.
- Should signs of clinical depression, chronic fatigue, or loss of motivation persist, seek support from mental health professionals, who may use both Western and traditional Thai approaches in therapy.
Dopamine deficits may not be as visible as other health threats, but their effects ripple through families, schools, and workplaces. By resetting expectations, intentionally moderating stimulation, and leaning on the wisdom of both science and tradition, Thais have every reason to reclaim genuine joy and contentment in a fast-changing world.
Sources:
- CNN Health: “How to tell if you have a ‘dopamine deficit’ and what you can do to reset”
- MedicalXpress: Discovery of dopamine receptors in overlooked brain region sheds light on complex circuitry for anxiety and depression
- Psychology Today: The Dopamine Deficit: Why Success May Feel Empty
- Umecrine Cognition: Golexanolone reverses dopamine loss and sustains improvements of Parkinsonian symptoms
- We Are Social: Digital 2024: Thailand