Do you feel very low, down and don’t have enough fuel to get through the day? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Have you felt that you have lost the zeal for life? Then you may have a deficiency of dopamine and you should boost its levels.

What Is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter/chemical messenger in the human brain that has many significant functions. It is the main brain chemical messenger that is responsible for making you feel motivated and highly ambitious. While it also renders a sense of accomplishment after completing a task. Dopamine levels are triggered when you are involved in any sports, learning new concepts, completing a project or getting a promotion at work. It is famed as a “motivation molecule” which offers us the urge and attention all of us need to be competent at work.

When dopamine is secreted in large amounts it uplifts the feeling of pleasure and reward, which motivates you to repeat the specific behaviour. While low levels of dopamine are associated with lack of drive, motivation and enthusiasm for things that most people would be excited. The deficiency of dopamine can result in an imbalance in physical and mental health. A lack of dopamine is linked to the following symptoms which include fatigue, apathy, forgetfulness, dull, poor concentration, insomnia, cravings for sugary foods and lack of interest in doing tasks. Though dopamine levels are regulated by the nervous system, there are certain ways that can naturally increase the dopamine levels.

Also Read: Top 10 Foods For A Jolly Mood

Imbalance in dopamine levels can lead to the following neuro related disorders:

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly hampers dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. While it is generally not serious, complications of the disease can be severe. Treatment options of Parkinson’s include medications and surgery.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A neurodevelopmental brain disorder that can occur primarily in children, people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have inability to focus, poor organizational skills and impulsive behavior. Although ADHD cannot be cured, it can be managed, and symptoms are likely to improve with time.

Schizophrenia  

A chronic mental disorder, schizophrenia is broadly a gamut of disorders that involves distortion from reality, disorganized or catatonic behavior and cognitive impairment that affect thoughts and behavior patterns of a human mind. Symptoms include delusions, hallucination, disorganized speech, troubled thinking and lack of motivation. Diagnosing schizophrenia at an early stage is not easy, however once diagnosed, it improves a person’s chances of managing this illness, reducing psychotic episodes and aiding early recovery.

Checkout this infographic to get an insight about the top 5 ways to boosts dopamine levels.