Reward System

Hijacks our reward system, the mechanism our brain uses to motivate us to enjoy behaviors necessary for survival like eating, socializing, sex, etc.  

• Lessens the positive emotions and sensations we feel in response to natural rewards and alternative activities. 

• Increases desire for rewards that have unnaturally rapid and intense.  

• Directs attention towards unnatural rewards. 

• Increased desire for reward especially during states of stress or excitement. 

• Desire becomes detached from pleasure. We can want something we don’t like. 

• Elevates cue reactivity. “Cues” are people, places, or things that remind us consciously or subconsciously of this reward.  

• This desire will increase in intensity until it is satiated, in the same way our desire to breathe increases when we are holding our breath.