2:12 Big idea # 1: The Pleasure Pain Balance - In order to maintain homeostasis, every pleasure is countered by pain of equal magnitude. 5:06 Big Idea # 2: Dopamine Overload - Easy access to pleasure is is crippling our ability to enjoy life. 8:12 Big Idea # 3: Dopamine Fasting - Taking a break from dopamine will restore balance. To reset your dopamine brain, first abstain. 9:36 Big Idea # 4: Self Binding - Create boundaries to keep your indulgence under control. 12:05 Big Idea # 5: Pain as a Pathway to Pleasure - We can take advantage of the pleasure pain balance by pressing into pain. Pain is the price to pay for pleasure, BUT pleasure is also the REWARD for pain. Pursuing healthy methods of pain (like exercise) is better than any pill. I hope this video helps you in your daily life. It was an honor to collaborate with Dr. Anna Lembke. If you want to dive deeper into this subject, check out her book, "Dopamine Nation - Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence". And if you liked this video and want to help create more, please consider supporting After Skool on Patreon. Every little bit helps. Thank you www.patreon.com/AfterSkool

Overconsumption is a huge source of depression because get on social media and experience the feeling of missing out. We think that life is in the big moments (the vacations, the material items, the relationships) and we forget that it’s also the sunsets and the stillness and the fulfillment in waking each day.

Starting meditating, journaling, exercising and eating healthy really changed my level of happiness and consciousness within one year. I'm so glad that I started last year. You can do too!

Yoga is amazing for pressing the pain side for pleasure. Breathing to relax while your body is in uncomfortable positions and triggering a stress response, then using your breath to find calm and peace in a place that should be causing discomfort, is a very powerful way to train your mind to remain calm in situations that normally wig you out.

i deleted all social media about 3 years ago. It really did increase my happiness level exponentially, and i found joy in nature and doing things outside the home. I started to enjoy my alone time as well. Its a great idea to take breaks from phone or other screens OR anything that causes instant gratification. We are in the instant gratification nation.

This whole channel has become incredibly profound and impactful in my life. Amongst several factors, these videos exactly highlight why I've left the tech industry making addictive websites and am now in school studying to be a therapist. Watching these videos have helped me feel less alone in my view on technology and modern western culture! I want to help support people in unplugging from their screens and plugging back into physical connection with our planet earth

For the creator and contributer to this magnificent piece, I say a heartfelt thank you. This specific video and it's knowledge, blended with our real-world experience, will be the basis of a conversation with our 15 year old son to guide him through the difficult process of understanding the effects of short term gratification offered by technology, into what we hope is a clear perspective on correct use thereof and a happy life. You folks are doing amazing work, and you're loved and appreciated for it!

Despite its lighthearted presentation, this message is more profound than you might think. The inclusion of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and The Hegelian Dialectic / “Problem - Reaction - Solution” hints at the traps and over reaching narratives that govern of our modern times.

I’m so glad this video exists because I live my life exactly how it recommends but rarely find people talking about this. My friends and family ask me why I’m so happy all the time and now i’ll just send them this video. They think my lifestyle is boring and don’t wanna try it out, but the science is all right here. It’s annoying that the world is increasingly being dominated by pleasure but I believe people are catching on to the side effects of all this. Everything has a cost.

Playing music. Anyone who doesn't play a musical instrument with fullness of heart is really missing out on what reality has to offer. Playing music can be the most profound experience and form of meditation in my experience. I recommend everyone to learn a musical instrument

My respect to Dr.Anna for providing us with such a wonderful presentation.

My brother’s son was addicted to his gaming and computer, back when he was a teenager, he actually spent a few months at a facility that dealt with this kind of addiction. He got so bad that he couldn’t even hold an in person conversation. Today he is a well adjusted young man who rarely is on the internet and his social media. Thank goodness his parents stepped in when needed and got him help.

Sometimes I watch videos about dopamine feeling overwhelmed, but this one was different. Thank you! As a mother I really want to give my children the best life possible and build positive habits in the first 7 years of their lives. I know that I can’t do that unless I am also mindfully living it myself!

o_o that explains why self harm alleviates depression temporarily, and I see a possible correlation with masochism... also why it feels so nice to do one more set even if you know tomorrow your knees will wobble.

The number of people that I see on a daily basis literally addicted to what’s on their phone screen is sad. I’m thankful for my 72 months of incarceration. It taught me that I can live life minimally. I’m at peace, have a successful real estate business and I’m the happiest person that I know. I hope whoever reads this learns to live life more in the real world and less in the world that’s on their phone screen

Balance will soon be considered as a great mind asset in a time where everyone seems to be going from one extreme to the other without even knowing why or how.

Really want to point out that martial arts has been the single greatest dopamine balance I have ever pursued. Capoeira specifically got me moving my body in ways I never thought possible, and the pains, joys, and freedoms granted by the beautiful art pushed my demeanor into the stratosphere. Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu also get my recommendation, but capoeira is where my heart is personally.

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

work,drugs,staying to myself and shopping became my identity wtf!!?? I've numbed myself into existing an invisible life what's wrong with me?? How did it happen and truly no one cares I'm not a bad person but feel less worthy then a dog sticking its spoiled head out of a Mercedes hope Noone feels this way but I bet they are many out there like me,Thanks for your videos I so long for deep human conversations that no one I talk too seems capable of doing,

Human connection is what we need more of nowadays!

My "drug" used to be reading (fantasy & scifi) novels. Once my head was in a book i could not escape and it changed my mood and attitude when i was interrupted for whatever reason. Now, it's definitely my phone. Watching videos on KZfaq is depressing because it's either negative news/content or seeing someone live a more "productive" life than me. I've made the rule at home that once i enter my bedroom, no phone. I even bought an old school alarm. That way i have a room, at least, where i can separate myself from everything and use it for what my body and brain needs (sex and sleep).

That was UNREAL. Chalk full of value… if only everyone could see this, it would change their life. I was praying today and asked God to give me a concise explanation for why I was struggling in an area of my life and this video perfectly explained it!

After a rough breakup I deleted social media at the top of summer 2019 prior to my junior year in college. Super hard at first, but about a month in I realized how much more in the moment I felt. It was amazing. I spent about 2 and half years off it. And since November '21 I've been on and off intermittently as I am now able to control myself and my mind with renewed and disciplined strength!

Came across this video while off grid camping (without phone reception) but I took a day to stay overnight in the nearest town. It's crazy that as I was watching this video I realized I was doing exactly what I was watching, not just that, but realizing I was actually way happier and felt better while I was alone at my camp site. Every thought and emotion was mine, with no outside stimulation. The feeling of connection to your truest self and the truth in general is heightened to a level that can't be described. Usually at this time I'd be watching the sky with my telescope for UFO's and found myself just binge watching videos here.

Joined a gym and I haven't been watching much TV lately and its great. Doing a lot of exercising such as running has been great.

I've noticed that daily prayer has helped.

Thank you. My family and I have been struggling with this. I plan on showing this to my husband so we can come up with healthier lifestyle changes. Thanks again for creating these videos💖

I'm sending this to all my friends.

I actually already implement the “pleasure reward for pain” idea in my life, or at least I think I do, because I still play video games, but I always save them for after I have done all my productive tasks for that day, such as working out, going on walks, reading, or doing school work if I have any, which seems to be working pretty well for me so far.

"pain and pleasure are linked" and "pain can lead to pleasure" are things us masochists have know for years.

Perfect timing, as i have been on a NOFAP journey and am embracing change. Great video🌎

I’ve been trying to quit social media for a while now, and I’ve mostly stuck to this commitment with the exception of youtube [still working on it]. I’m also trying to quit added sugar and processed foods. For the past months I’ve been feeling a rise in anxiety, depression, insomnia, existentialism, etc…. And it makes sense: I’m going through withdrawals. I’m no longer distracted or indulging in constant pleasure, and damn is it hard! I’m really hoping to reach a state of homeostasis soon.

A very good message🙏🏿 Let’s find the balance!

Stopped smoking and started working out 2 years ago,. Its true, I feel much better, got physically in shape and am mentally much stronger. I enjoy more the little things and find it easier to adress other behaviours in my life. Not nearly there yet, but I strongly recommend working out.

Absolutely love Dr. Anna Lembke. This one and Huberman was an absolute treat as I’ve been following them for awhile

I’ve been off the Facebook for a month now. I feel great. I feel present.

i love the metaphors in this video, it helps illustrate the concepts very clearly.

I fucking love these videos man. I needed this one. Outstanding visuals to go with calming and easy to follow dialogue.

One of the best books I’ve read, I recommend it to everyone, specially parents!. 🙏🏽

I am a prime example of all the major NCDs you mentioned in this video: sedentary lifestyle, bad eating habits, addiction to television and a daily cannabis user. When I had gainful employment, I could sense a positive shift in my moods and a dip in my depression. As I was preoccupied and sober during those hours at work, my brain had a chance for those "goblins" to go away. However, working in factories, in telemarketing companies, and other soul-crushing industries made my depression worse (I've unfortunately worked in many fields). Not everyone has access to meaningful work, or the means to buy good quality food (as you were kind enough to mention), which leads to a feeling of desperation. That despair is preyed upon by unscrupulous individuals who promise you a different life, and chain you to a contract that essentially makes you their property. THAT is why people are depressed, and we chase any high we can to escape the melancholy lives that we're stuck living. It would take a true humanitarian miracle to get the impoverished masses out from under the greedy thumbs of their bosses, industrial standards, uncaring civil servants, heartless politicians, greedy senates, as well as the ever-increasing ways to get people addicted to these seemingly harmless means of escape. And even with that change, there will be skepticism and abuse of generosity which would only help to further increase the divide between the "HAVES" and the "HAVE NOTS". In short, there are certainly SOME things that the individual can do to improve their own lives, such as: eating healthier, exercising, and stepping away from electronic devices. But this is all mere victim-blaming if industries keep cutting costs by using inferior ingredients (and in disproportionately higher levels in lower-cost foods), withholding proper wages in order to bolster their own bank accounts, and creating addictive products to hook us. It's not prostitutes and junkies that need to be arrested, but the pimps and dealers. So with all due respect. Please use your education and clout to fight FOR the underdog rather than telling us to AVOID the big dogs?

We need more people like you. Thank you 🙏❤

Very good and helpful. As a senior citizen I have spent a few years on this Earth. I have found this information to be true in my life. Thanks.

So beautiful and simple; I couldn’t help but laughing through tears, at the gremlins staring at the empty pleasure side of the scale.

Unbelievably well said. Wonderful message.

Powerful to say the least , thank you 🙏🏼 This needs to be understood by All Of Humanity

Wow! I read her book Dopamine Nation and it was wonderful to see the core points of the book presented with your amazing animations. Honestly one of the most important books and concepts of our times. Thank you for this.

This is gold , this knowledge is necessary for our generation

RIDICULOUSLY helpful! Thank you!

This is absolutely amazing!!! The ideas are expressed so clearly and visually that they can hardly be denied. Well done 👏🏼

Im glad this video was made and I hope theres more awareness to this subject. I myself and so many people are trapped in this horrible cycle of over nourishment & depression in our first world countries. Mental health is always looked over with these factors, as well which makes it all even more scary. I like to think what our first world nations are going through as being equivalent to algal blooms and the production of dead zones in a way. I am optimistic about humanity’s future, but we have a few big walls to get over. Thank you for this awesome video!

This is so eye-opening! We needed this!!!!

What a wonderful, powerful, clear message.

I believe this is the best video on the topic of addiction, dopamine, pain and pleasure that I've seen thus far. Great work, this collaboration was a huge success!

I was born a too much individual. Balance is a consistent goal. My abstinence is often based on proximity. Distance is a great tool for me. Intermittent exposure to pain gremlins feels overwhelming, but I feel great in 37* snow melt rivers. Plus the visual concept of pain gremlins is exciting. I find success in the stories/patterns I tell myself. Now I can see PAIN GREMLINS on a see-saw. I can control the characters of my story. Neato stuff. Great tools. Thanks.

THIS is the best video on the internet. Definitely check out her book “Dopamine Nation”

These videos are so useful. Thank you for taking the time to illustrate, produce, and curate this knowledge.

Thank You Anna Lembke! I believe you are one of those people who truly desire to help others. 🥰

This needs to be shown in all high school health classes

Make it a great day everyone! 🙏❤️

Eye opening revelations. Thank you Dr. Lembke.

Great lesson i've ever heard. Thanks Anna Lembke, for your beautiful presentation. I am truly honoured to see you on After Skool.

This is the best youtube channel on the platform for the modern world. This is a service for the children that need this, and I believe that this channel should be most heavily popularized among children, because after being a stressed child with no motivation for 2 years, this gives me the most hope in my future than I felt even before 2 years ago. Thank you so much for being here and making this. I wish everyone at this channel to realize how much they can do globally, because in the middle of the road of media I found this, and everyone else who watches over-pleasuring media and needs this can walk down the same road I was walking a find this as well.

This is an awesome video. I recently quick smoking and it reminded why I am on the path. It helped me and I’m sure it will help many others. Thank you

Super super appreciate this difficulty message! Many people (me included) want to disagree or ignore as this countradicts the lie we are living... but like you said, lets face it head on!! We got ittttt

She's genuinely the sweetest, I loved listening to her!

Always love these! Thank you

This was great, loved her book! I do think that our environment with easily accessible sources of dopamine is not the cause by itself. I think it interacts with our needs for meaning and connection. Combining her book with Johann Hari's 'Lost Connections' gives you a great vision of what changes we need in our society.

This is a vital message for everyone at all ages today. Thank you fornsharong!

Excellent explanation. I’ve practiced tai chi for 20 years now, and that has been the source of balance for me. Your presentation rang true for me. Thank you for all the work you do.

This was really great Dr Anna. And very helpful. Thank you so much.

This is the greatest sex Ed talk I have ever heard, this is the greatest heroine talk I have ever heard, this is the greatest AAA meeting ever, this is how we should be teaching and spreading real change. It didn’t work to tell people what they can do, simply teach people how to find balance in their lives ❤️

Hey Doc. I've listened your book Dopamine Nation...loved it with passion. Absolutely amazing!!!!

Excellent, brilliant 👏 simple, straight to the point; even children can understand it with those images!

I may have studied a year of psychology and learned nothing but I was always very aware around my surroundings and took mental note to my experiences. I am naturally drawn to philosophy and have been on a mission to live the best life I could make, by that I looked up many pieces of advice to be happy. This is just my opinion. Big Idea 1: That to me sounds like the very foundation of the whole process. I believe that its completely true but not accurate, I hypothesize that ounces you are happy that very feeling of good. You take note of it and you also start to take note of the feeling of losing it. For some (like myself) will not have the withdraw of wanting more while others will be craving it. Because once you feel good you want to feel that way again. But you wont ever feel as good as you did the first time because your mind will naturally build tolerance. Big Idea 2: Yup, I find myself going thought every single thing I can do to make myself happy to then just feel like shit and go to sleep and reset. Big Idea 3: I've never done this. I recently thought about wanting to sit and spend an entire day to do absolutely nothing so then I realize how much time is in a day though. Big Idea 4: I cant write anything here without sounding like a complete dick. So, If you think a person can control how much time he wastes he can control how much indulgence he consumes. Trust me I don't think anyone has that type of mental strength. No cap That story I think is a Lie about stopping for a month . But I do see merit, because if you can control your day on what you do, by scheduling everything you become much more productive. Big Idea 5: This is the only one that stood out. I truly believe this is by far the most powerful and easiest one that can provide someone with happiness. So powerful In fact that they wont stop seeking pleasure. My experience of having a live in hell for 15 years on this earth I completely cherished the few days that my family has come together to see me. I have never been more happy than in those times. The feeling of conquering a mountain, (expression of a big mental obstacle) nothing will beat the amount of pleasure you feel when its over. But The only problem is because in my situation is was pain out of my control. But with my knowledge I fixed that issue and brought love into my family. The question is can people who suffer the same way be able to see the light in order to change their chaotic family into a peaceful one. Many people cant change themselves how on earth can they change someone else. If they decide to move away that pain will just be swept under the rug until they meet again. Other than mental pain, Any physical pain has no big or noticeable rewards. The only thing I know that does benefit you is taking a cold shower and exercise. But I don't find it to be very pleasurable I find those things to be very beneficial to my health and well being. I Don't believe any physical pain will in turn give you pleasure only reliving yourself of mental pain is pleasurable. I may not of studied but I always took mental notes of things to find the route to the best life possible. This is my current knowledge. hope it helps someone

After I exercise, I like to say "I'm swimming with the endolphins." :)

I abuse Marijuana, I used to smoke everyday every hour unless I was sleeping & I even went far enough to get liquid marijuana (cartridges) I thought the smell goes away more people care less, but in really those cartridges are more potent so I was hurting myself even more, Thank God my friend told me I need to find a balance, he saw I was doing too much, I thank God he send me a friend like him. I still smoke but not everyday & I wake up with a clear mindset, I started taking cold showers & it makes my brain focus on what really matters. Thank you for these videos I hope they help people that don’t have those friendships that can push you up

This was phenomenally explained! Thank you!

Amazing video, it really put many things in perspective in a way I've never really scene. Especially the concept of pain and how it can be just as important as pleasure and we can help ourselves restore the balances we lose from overstimulation and indulgence. I look forward to applying this immediately and hopefully sustaining it to the best of my abilities. One day at a time I guess, like anything else... 🤷‍♂️

Ive learnt more stuff from this acccount than I have from 2 decades of formal and life education. Kudos to the creator , you are doing an amazing work!

I love how after skool videos all fit together, like Alan watts says that when we are able to have luxury and everything we think we want it also leads to the solving of problems that are not actually problems and that comfort power and understanding of the physical world by dissecting every part just to find something new to try and understand only lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety

This is excellent!! Thank you for a short..but very whole..video! I can only hope that most people hear/watch/understand this simple works of informative how to live..reset our attentions to what really matters.

Very informative, thank you ❤️

Overstimulation, lack of focus, lack of ambitions, lack of a proper philosophy, lack of principles, pick your poison.

This was simply fantastic.

Great video.

Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.

This has been helpful.Thank you🤞♥️

This is amazing, I really love how you emphasize on everything. This really is an eye opener

Absolutely mind opening

To the person reading this: THANK YOU for being here and adding value to our world 💖 Hope you have a blessed day filled with joy, happiness, health and love! 💖

This was very helpful thank you so much

This laid it out for me to really understand me! and i will watch this over and over with my child, thankyou and god bless you

Wonderful. Especially the closing bit. Thank you 💞💞

Long Term Pleasure is waaaayyy beyond chasing highs. Started doing Bonsai

Loved Anna's message of finding balance and of course all the highly entertaining illustration work. She put things in terms almost anyone could understand and hopefully many could accept. I know I do. Thank you for the insightful, meaningful, colorful and engaging content.

This was amazing, perspective-changing and empowering! Thank you for this

you guys are awesome and you're not getting nearly enough credit for what you're doing. thank you very much

The higher rates of anxiety and depression may be due to increase awareness and diagnosis. Richer countries have more mental health services. Poorer countries may not have advanced assessments and treatment so we don’t see the statistics. There are many factors to consider other than socioeconomic status. Great video though 👏🏼

Such a great animation and truly amazing concepts… Thank you, Dr Anna!

I've read this book and this video is brilliant, so much truth and all of this information needs to be taken seriously by governments world wide. Mental illness is the silent epidemic.