Status:: #🌱 Tags:: Links:: <% tp.file.cursor(4) %> ___ # Our dopamine system works on a pleasure pain balance This balance seeks to remain in homeostasis like many other biological systems in the body. This means when we tip toward the side of pleasure by doing something that releases dopamine, we must feel a degree of pain afterward to remain in balance. If you have high levels of dopamine for a period, you will have a corresponding drop. This drop is proportional to the previous spike in dopamine but below baseline. After a high amount of dopamine releasee it's inevitable we will less motivated than normal as our dopamine levels drop below baseline. Your dopamine levels in the last few days and even weeks will influence how you feel in the present. [[How does addiction occur]] This is why postpartum depression is a thing and why after having a 10/10 day your next couple of days are usually worse than normal (see: [[The cyclical nature of life]]). [[How to overcome addiction]].