Dopamine and New Year's Resolutions

Why is it so hard to change bad habits?

Many of us make New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, and choose healthier foods, but most of us are not able to keep those resolutions in the long term.

And what if the behavior that we are hoping to change is actually a significant addiction: alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex, over or under-eating?

These habits offer us immediate and real gratification, and they can be extremely difficult to kick --- but it isn't just about self-control. Neurotransmitter imbalance could be playing a significant role in our cravings and addictions.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that travel between neurons and communicate information throughout our brain and body. Neurotransmitters influence the way we behave, learn, feel and sleep, and imbalances may contribute to a host of physical and mental-emotional symptoms.

While a variety of neurotransmitters affect our behavior, dopamine is strongly associated with the reward mechanisms in the brain. Drugs like opioids, nicotine, and alcohol directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Risky behaviors like gambling and sex addiction also increase dopamine levels. If it feels good, dopamine neurons are probably involved.

The major behaviors dopamine affects are movement, emotion, cognition, pleasure, and motivation.

Too much dopamine may cause or contribute to:

Increased worry and paranoia
ADHD
Decreased ability to interact socially
The desire for instant gratification

While too little dopamine may cause or contribute to:

Addiction (to food, drugs, gambling, etc.)
Movement disorders (i.e. Parkinson's Disease)
Other pathological states like schizophrenia and autism

As a member of the catecholamine family, dopamine is a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. This means that too much or too little dopamine can also contribute to symptoms associated with norepinephrine and epinephrine imbalance.

identifying neurotransmitter imbalances and correcting them with nutritional therapies creates a foundation for addressing addiction. Rebalancing neurotransmitters when dealing with addictions will help with recovery by encouraging improved sleep, increased energy, lower anxiety, less intense cravings, and an improved sense of well-being.

ZRT Neurotransmitters Profile

See our ZRT Neurotransmitters Profile to check your neurotransmitter levels. Samples are taken from dried urine, with the exception of the saliva steroids add-on option.

Neurotransmitters Test Kit Includes:

Neurotransmitters Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Crtn

Available Neurotransmitter Add-ons:

You will be able to include these add-ons during the ordering process for the Neurotransmitters Panel.

Neurotransmitters + Saliva Steroids Concerned about hormone imbalances? Use the tube in the Neurotransmitter kit to collect a Saliva sample for Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA-S & AM Cortisol.

Neurotransmitters + Diurnal Cortisol (UDH) I Don't want to test Melatonin. Add only Free Cortisol & Free Cortisone x4 to the same samples being collected for Neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters + Diurnal Cortisol & Melatonin UDH II - For concerns about adrenal or sleep issues, add 4-point Cortisol, Cortisone & Melatonin to the same samples being collected for Neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters + Diurnal Cortisol, Melatonin, Norepinephrine & Epinephrine UDH III For concerns about adrenal or sleep, stress issues, add Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Melatonin (MT6s) x 4, NE x 4 & Epi x 4 to the same samples being collected for Neurotransmitters.

add 7 Toxic Heavy Metals Urine Elements – $99 – Add tests for Iodine, Bromine, Selenium, Lithium, Arsenic, Cadmium & Mercury

Additional Resources

Resources:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain

Dopamine and New Year's Resolutions

Why is it so hard to change bad habits?

ZRT Neurotransmitters Profile

Additional Resources

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