Ananda (Dharma Meditation Initiative), Dhr. Seven, Jen B., Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
New York Times bestselling author of Fat Chance reveals corporate scheme to sell PLEASURE, driving the international epidemic of addiction, depression, and chronic disease.
New York Times bestselling author of Fat Chance reveals corporate scheme to sell PLEASURE, driving the international epidemic of addiction, depression, and chronic disease.
“If you’re told by every TV commercial and everybody you know that you’re unhappy, to ‘buy this and you’ll be happy,’ you start to believe them. But it doesn’t make you happy; it actually makes you unhappy. It works for industry because it gets you to buy more, but it doesn’t work for us.”
Dopamine is the “reward” neurotransmitter that tells our brains we want more. But every substance/behavior that releases dopamine in the extreme leads to addiction.
Serotonin is the “contentment” neurotransmitter that tells our brains we don’t need any more. But its deficiency leads to depression.
Ideally, both are in optimal supply. But dopamine evolved to overwhelm serotonin -- because our ancestors were more likely to survive if they were constantly motivated -- with the result that constant desire can chemically destroy our ability to feel happiness, while sending us down the slippery slope to addiction.
In the last 40 years government legislation and subsidies have promoted ever-available temptation (sugar, illegal and pharmaceutical drugs, addictive social media, pornography, cell phones, screens) combined with constant stress (work, home, money, Internet).
The end result is an unprecedented epidemic of addiction, anxiety, depression, and chronic disease. And with the advent of neuromarketing, corporate America has successfully imprisoned us in an endless loop of desire and consumption from which there is no obvious escape.
Serotonin is the “contentment” neurotransmitter that tells our brains we don’t need any more. But its deficiency leads to depression.
Ideally, both are in optimal supply. But dopamine evolved to overwhelm serotonin -- because our ancestors were more likely to survive if they were constantly motivated -- with the result that constant desire can chemically destroy our ability to feel happiness, while sending us down the slippery slope to addiction.
In the last 40 years government legislation and subsidies have promoted ever-available temptation (sugar, illegal and pharmaceutical drugs, addictive social media, pornography, cell phones, screens) combined with constant stress (work, home, money, Internet).
The end result is an unprecedented epidemic of addiction, anxiety, depression, and chronic disease. And with the advent of neuromarketing, corporate America has successfully imprisoned us in an endless loop of desire and consumption from which there is no obvious escape.
With wit and incisiveness, Dr. Lustig reveals the science that drives these states of mind. He also points directly at the corporations that helped create this mess and the government actors who facilitated it. And he offers solutions we can all use in the pursuit of happiness. Fearless and provocative, Dr. Lustig marshals a call to action. More
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