Dopamine Trap: Why We Are Never Truly Satisfied.

Do you know that rush you feel when you post and you just know (how much validation you are going to get when so) many people will like your story or like your post?

That’s dopamine in action—the brain’s pleasure chemical. But here is the kicker: dopamine isn’t about satisfaction—it’s about anticipation.

Think of dopamine like the gas pedal of your brain's reward system. It pushes you to chase, to pursue, to want more. But once you get the thing you were craving? The hit doesn’t last.

THE "ALMOST THERE" FEELING

Dopamine is not the chemical of happiness—it’s the chemical of wanting.

It is the drive that pushes you to keep searching for the next big thing, but it never actually lets you rest in the reward. Imagine the feeling of scrolling through Instagram: you are not enjoying each post, you are just waiting for something to really grab you.

It’s why after a binge session on TikTok, you don’t feel satisfied—you feel kind of empty. You were chasing that next hit of novelty, but it never quite delivered what you hoped. Dopamine keeps you in a state of constant pursuit, always seeking, never settling.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA "CASINO"

Social media is like a slot machine for your brain. You pull the lever (scroll) hoping for a reward (a funny meme, a viral post, a heartwarming story).

The dopamine release comes from the anticipation of finding something good. It’s variable, unpredictable—sometimes you win, most times you don’t—but that uncertainty is what makes it addictive.

Each scroll, each refresh is like placing a bet. Maybe the next one will be a winner. But even when it is, the satisfaction is fleeting, and you’re back to chasing that next reward.

It's engineered this way—platforms know that keeping you in this loop boosts engagement and keeps you hooked.

OH, DOPAMINE ... thank you but ... YOU CAN BE A B****

Dopamine isn’t your enemy—it is the reason you are motivated to achieve, learn, and explore. But in today’s digital world, it’s also what keeps us addicted to the endless cycle of mindless consumption.

Here’s the irony: dopamine doesn’t care if the reward is meaningful or fulfilling. It responds

the same way whether you are chasing a career milestone or refreshing your IG feed for the 20th time in an hour looking for a new video on your celeb crush.

Well...The result? We are already NEVER happy of what we already have... imagine how negative this is for our greedy human mind!!!

This is why mindlessly consuming content or obsessing over notifications can leave us feeling drained instead of happy. Our brains are wired to seek out stimulation, but in the end, the dopamine-driven chase leaves us with a gnawing sense that something is still missing.

So...

Dopamine is like a friend who promises you’ll have the best night of your life if you just come to one more party. You go, it’s fun for a bit, but the thrill doesn’t last. Then, your friend says, “Wait, the next party will be even better”. And there you go...

In our world of infinite choices—endless content, endless products, endless distractions, we’re never staying in the moment to enjoy what’s in front of us.

To me, that's so miserable... let's all agree to do something about it, please, for our own sake.