
Waking up abruptly, the decision was made to make a change. I had heard about this thing called a ādopamine fast,ā where you abstain from all pleasurable activities for a set period of time in order to reset your brainās reward system. I was skeptical, but I figured it couldnāt hurt to give it a try.
Iāve always been a bit of a wild one. I love nothing more than a good drink and a smoke, and I could barely function without my morning cup of coffee. But as I approached my 40th birthday, I started to feel like something was missing. I wasnāt as happy as I used to be, and I couldnāt shake the feeling that I was stuck in a rut.
I set a goal for myself: 30 days of no alcohol, no cigarettes, no coffee, no phones, no television, no sex, no masturbation, and no going to the toilet for pleasure. It was going to be a real challenge, but I was determined to see it through.
The first few days of the dopamine fast were absolute torture! I was practically climbing the walls with irritation and boredom. Every little thing set me off and all I could think about was the things I had given up. But I refused to let those cravings get the best of me. I gritted my teeth and powered through, telling myself that this suffering was all for the greater good. Or at least, thatās what I kept telling myself to get through it.
Dopamine Fast: No Alcohol, No Cigarettes
Giving up cigarettes and alcohol for a whole month on this 30 day dopamine fast is a monumental task. Itās like trying to fly a plane without any fuel ā you just start to sputter and die. The first few days are rough, with withdrawal symptoms that would make even the hardiest of drinkers cry. But as the days go on, something strange starts to happen. Suddenly, Iām feeling more alert and awake. My skin starts to clear up and my breath doesnāt smell like an ashtray. Itās almost like Iām a new man. But then again, maybe itās just the lack of alcohol talking. Either way, Iām sticking with this sobriety thing for the month. Now pass me a bottle of water, Iāve got a feeling itās going to be a long flight.
Dopamine Levels: No Coffee, No phone, No Television
As a pilot, let me tell you, restricting myself to having no coffee, no phone, and no television has been a real challenge. But the biggest surprise of all has been the sudden reappearance of my old friend, the imaginary monkey.
You see, I havenāt seen hide nor hair of that little guy in since I started my 30 day dopamine fast. But as soon as I cut out the caffeine and the screens, he came bouncing back into my life like he never left. At first, I was a little wary of having him around. After all, he can be a bit of a handful at times. But as it turns out, having an imaginary monkey as a companion has its perks. Heās always up for a good game of hide and seek, and he never complains about my terrible singing. In fact, heās starting to become a bit of a fixture in my life. Who knew that giving up coffee and screens could lead to such unexpected friendships?
Dopamine Fast: No Sex, No Masturbation

Iāve found that abstaining from sex and fast masturbation can be a real buzzkill. Suddenly, all those long flights start to feel like an eternity and the only thing I can think about is finding a friendly stewardess to help me reach new heights. My sex drive was getting out of control. But alas, Iāve got to keep my hands to myself and my monkey grounded. Itās a tough job, but somebodyās gotta fly the plane.
As the days went on, I started to notice some unexpected side effects. I was sleeping better than I had in years, and I had more energy during the day. It was also discovered that concentration was easier and mistakes were less likely to be made.
No Going To The Toilet For Pleasure
Let me tell you, thereās nothing quite like the rush of relief that comes from a good bathroom break. But when you stop going to the toilet for pleasure, things can get a little⦠backed up, shall we say. Suddenly, all those long flights start to feel like a marathon and the only thing I can think about is finding a quiet corner to take care of business. Itās a tough balancing act, trying to fly a plane and hold it in at the same time. But hey, at least Iām saving a few trees by not using all that toilet paper.
I was thrilled with these results, and I was even more excited when I started to feel more joyful and content. It was like I had finally broken out of the rut I had been stuck in, and I was starting to see the world in a whole new light.
But the best part came on the last day of the dopamine detox, when I was finally able to enjoy a cold beer again. It tasted better than I remembered, and I savored every last drop. Also, the prospect of being able to spank the monkey again had me practically bouncing off the walls with anticipation!
I knew that I couldnāt stay on the dopamine fast long term, but I also knew that it had been a valuable experience. I have made a promise to myself to incorporate some of the lessons I had learned into my daily routine, and I have vowed to be more mindful of the things that brought me pleasure.
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