Top Story: What is a ‘Dopamine Detox?’ How Taking a Break From Media Could Improve Your Mental Health

For many of us, staring at a screen is a big part of most of our day. Whether that is for work, mindless scrolling, or watching a TV show—this constant exposure to media has many young people concerned for their wellbeing. Some are turning to “dopamine detoxes,” as a possible solution. 

These dopamine detoxes vary from person to person, but most include taking a break from TV and/or social media for a few, consecutive days. Dopamine is the chemical in our brains that motivates people to seek certain pleasurable behaviors, and may play a role in fueling attachment to social media. Kaz Nelson, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School, told Health, “I think it’s a novel and actually a very good idea. In mindfully choosing to ‘detox’ or take a break from stimulating these systems, what you’re doing is you’re helping the systems to regulate and to break away from some of that tolerance behavior.”

Taking a break from these platforms can provide your brain with a bit of a reset. Certain features of social media – likes, comments, follows – can promote negative mental health, so reducing time spent on these platforms can be beneficial. Dr. Nelson suggests planning ahead if you are doing a dopamine detox, as the first few days can be difficult. 

You can read more about “dopamine detoxes,” here.