DeAnn Knighton
DeAnn Knighton
Recovery Discovery | Dopamine and SUD Recovery (remastered and rereleased)
Recovery Discovery | Dopamine and SUD Recovery (remastered and rereleased)
Recovery Discovery | Dopamine and SUD Recovery (remastered and rereleased)
Tuesday 19th August 2025
Explore dopamine's impact on addiction and recovery with DeAnn and Craig Knighton, discussing key insights from leading experts and literature.
Explicit
42 minutes
informative
challenging
hopeful
reflective
About this podcast
Author:
DeAnn Knighton
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Links:
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Episodes:
70 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Dopamine's Dual Role in Addiction & Recovery
Episode Overview
- Dopamine is key in both addiction and recovery.
- Understanding dopamine helps explain human behavior.
- Migratory tendencies link to higher dopamine levels.
- Homeostasis restoration is crucial in recovery.
- Healthy pleasures can replace artificial highs.
Dopamine's not always mean. In fact, often it's dopa-nice.
In the latest episode of Recovery Discovery, hosts DeAnn and Craig Knighton delve into the complex role of dopamine in substance use disorder (SUD) and the recovery process. This remastered episode revisits a popular discussion from their previous podcast, Show Up and Stay, and remains highly relevant to current topics on the show. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter often associated with pleasure and reward, is both a driver of addiction and a potential path to recovery.
The Knightons draw on insights from "The Molecule of More" by Dr. Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long, and "Dopamine Nation" by Dr. Anna Lembke, to explore this dual nature. Lieberman and Long's work highlights dopamine's significant influence on human behavior, affecting everything from creativity to madness. A key point discussed is the phenomenon of "dopaminergic excitement," which is the thrill of anticipation rather than the actual consumption of substances.
This anticipation can lead individuals to continuously chase past highs, highlighting dopamine's role in the cycle of addiction. Understanding this behavior is crucial for those seeking recovery, as it emphasizes the need to restore homeostasis and balance dopamine levels in the body. The episode also touches on the migratory tendencies of humans, linking them to higher dopamine levels that drive the desire for change and new experiences.
This aspect of human behavior was critical in historical migrations and continues to influence personal life choices today. DeAnn and Craig discuss the importance of willpower and the concept of "showing up and staying" in recovery. Replacing artificially induced dopamine highs with natural sources of pleasure, such as exercise and social connections, is a vital step in the recovery journey. These activities help normalize dopamine levels and enable individuals to find satisfaction in everyday experiences.
The conversation is both informative and hopeful, providing listeners with a better understanding of the science behind addiction and recovery. The podcast concludes with a reminder that while the journey to recovery is challenging, it is also rewarding and transformative.