Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K)

See, once we're anxious, our dopaminergic circuitry gets disabled.

OK, so if I'm like being hunted by a tiger, I can't like play D&D at the same time.

So our amygdala goes and suppresses our dopaminergic circuitry.

So we have to disable our amygdala and then something cool will happen.

Once we are in a situation that we're no longer distressed in, then our capacity for enjoyment increases.

So as our capacity for enjoyment increases, I enjoy being at this lecture or whatever.

Now I get a little bit of dopamine.

So now I feel pleasure.

Then I will also induce some craving and behavioral reinforcement.

So then once I go home at the end of the day, there's a part of my brain will start to want to do that again.

Now I have a positive association with putting myself out there.

So a week later, I go out and I do it again.

And the same sequence will happen.

My distress will actually rise again.

But I have to learn how to tolerate that distress.

Distress goes down.

Now the door opens for pleasure.

Now I will engage with the people around me.

Now I will experience some kind of pleasure.

And then this gets reinforced.