By Dr Anisha Patel – GP with a specialist interest in Women’s Health
I’ll be honest: I’ve always been a dopamine-chaser. But this was further exacerbated by my diagnosis of bowel cancer at 39. Needless to say, I hit an all-time low. And through the cycles of chemo, surgery, and rehabilitation, on the “good” days, I would chase the dopamine. Whether that be dopamine fuelled shopping and clothes in bright colours and sequins), to dopamine eating all the colours of the rainbow to dopamine fuelled spontaneous trips, this is what got me through my cancer treatment.
For a long time, I relied on those little bursts of dopamine to keep me going. To a certain point now, I still do. But I learned (the hard way) that constantly needing that next hit is debilitating and exhausting. It leaves you restless, unfulfilled, and oddly flat when the excitement wears off.
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We live in a world that tells us to keep striving, to do more. The next job promotion, the “perfect” body, visiting that “Instagrammable” place, new skincare product that promises radiance – we are wired to chase rewards. At the heart of this lies dopamine, the brain’s “motivation molecule” and early neuroscience framed dopamine as the “pleasure chemical”. But research (notably by Wolfram Schultz and Kent Berridge) shows it’s more about “wanting” than “liking”. So, while dopamine helps us pursue meaningful goals, it can also trap us in compulsive, short-term reward-seeking.
Dopamine drives us to seek out rewards e.g. food, sex, novelty, achievements, but it doesn’t guarantee satisfaction once we get them. This explains why people can crave things (scrolling, shopping, substances) without necessarily enjoying them.
The line between healthy drive and unhealthy compulsion is finer than we think – and for women, hormonal cycles add another layer of complexity.
We also know that novelty and unpredictability boost dopamine. Studies using brain imaging show dopamine spikes most when rewards are uncertain or novel, e.g. slot machines, social media likes, or that “refresh” swipe. This intermittent reinforcement makes behaviours addictive, because the brain learns to keep chasing the next unpredictable “hit.” This in turn leads to desensitisation as the same “hit” doesn’t have the same effect, therefore seeking out more; similar to that seen with drug addiction.
How the menstrual cycle influences dopamine
Hormones don’t just affect mood swings and cramps, they directly shape dopamine. For women, research suggests oestrogen enhances dopamine signalling, which partly explains why motivation and risk-taking can shift across the menstrual cycle.
- Follicular phase (first half, after your period): Rising oestrogen boosts dopamine activity. You might notice increased motivation, sharper focus, and a greater appetite for novelty and reward. This is often when goals feel most achievable.
- Ovulation: Oestrogen peaks, and so does dopamine. Many women report feeling more sociable, energetic, and creative.
- Luteal phase (second half, before your period): Progesterone rises, which can blunt dopamine’s effects. This is the phase where reward-seeking might shift towards comfort behaviours (yes, that extra chocolate or endless Netflix scroll can feel irresistible).
- During menstruation: Lower hormone levels can flatten dopamine function, leaving you less motivated and more prone to fatigue.
Recognising this ebb and flow helps reframe self-criticism, and sometimes what feels like “laziness” or lack of willpower is biology at work.
Long-term effects of chronic dopamine-seeking
Studies show that when dopamine pathways are overstimulated, whether by substances, screens, or compulsive habits, the brain adapts. Constantly chasing the next hit of novelty – scrolling endlessly, bingeing, shopping for a temporary buzz, time over time can lead to:
- Desensitisation: Needing more stimulation for the same “hit”.
- Impaired motivation: Everyday pleasures feel dull or flat.
- Anxiety and low mood: Dysregulated dopamine links closely with depression, burnout, and even addictive patterns.
- Weakened focus and memory: Constant novelty-chasing erodes the brain’s ability to sustain attention.
- Struggling to find satisfaction: Even after achieving a goal, because the brain immediately craves the next one.
- Feeling restless, exhausted, irritable, or “empty” without that hit.
In short: chronic dopamine overload leaves us underwhelmed with life, trying to fill void that never really closes. And this for me personally, was where I would feel incredible highs but also incredible lows and nothing in between, leaving me feeling on top of the world or completely burnt out and a failure.
Supporting healthy dopamine function (without pills)
The good news? Dopamine is highly responsive to lifestyle. Small, intentional changes can make a huge difference:
- Exercise: Movement is one of the most powerful natural dopamine boosters. Even a brisk 20-minute walk can reset motivation pathways.
- Sleep: Chronic sleep debt lowers dopamine receptor sensitivity. Prioritising sleep hygiene is foundational.
- Nutrition: Stable blood sugar (protein with meals, fewer ultra-processed snacks) prevents dopamine rollercoasters. Omega-3s, found in oily fish, also support dopamine signalling.
- Mindful novelty: Instead of mindless scrolling, choose enriching challenges – a new recipe, a language, a puzzle, kitting, reading a book.
- Connection: Social bonds are dopamine’s natural fuel. Regular, meaningful interactions counterbalance compulsive digital dopamine.
- Cycle awareness: Track your cycle and plan around it – high-dopamine phases for goal-setting and creative projects, low-dopamine phases for rest and self-compassion.
- Establishing a healthy pursuit of goals can help promote growth and fulfillment:Anchored in meaning or long-term value (e.g. training for a 10K because it improves your health and gives you a sense of achievement).Flexible – if life throws a curveball, you can adapt without spiralling into guilt.Balanced with rest, relationships, and pleasure beyond achievement.
The takeaway
Dopamine isn’t the enemy, it’s essential for growth, joy, and resilience. However, like all good things, it thrives in balance. By understanding the difference between healthy striving and compulsive seeking, noticing how our cycles shape motivation, and making intentional lifestyle shifts, we can harness dopamine as an ally rather than a master. And that’s certainly something that is a work in progress for me too.
Dr Anisha (Patel) aka @doctorsgetcancertoo is a general practitioner with aspecialist interest in women’s health and a bowel cancer survivor since 2018.
Since diagnosis, she has channelled her energy into campaigning to raise public awareness of bowel cancer, other cancers, women’s health and health conditions filled with taboo, stigma and embarrassment.
She is now a speaker, health educator, writer and media doctor and her book “Everything you’d hoped you’d never need to know about bowel cancer” was released in 2023 globally.
She has taken part in a variety of health and cancer related campaigns, for the NHS, charities and ITV and works hard within a variety of media outlets to push a range of health education agendas and break down stigmas and taboos, as well as health inequalities within patient groups and health professionals.
Instagram: @doctorsgetcancertoo, Website: www.dranisha.co.uk
Featured image: kiattisaklamchan, Canva
