The Dopamine Brain
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  • Published: 3 September 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761346378
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $36.99

The Dopamine Brain

Your Science-Backed Guide to Balancing Pleasure and Purpose

Formats & editions
Tr. Paperback
3 Sep 2024
EBook
3 Sep 2024
Audiobook
3 Sep 2024
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Clinical psychologist and founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness Dr Anastasia Hronis lifts the lid on dopamine to help us live by intention, not impulse.

Have you ever felt like you're lacking control over certain habits?

Are you curious about the neuroscience behind addictive behaviours?

What if you could understand how the brain works, and use that knowledge to regain control over your habits and lead a more fulfilling life?

Sex, shopping, eating, social media, drugs and gambling are just some of the things that can trigger a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that is involved in the brain’s reward system. The overindulgence of certain pursuits can disrupt the level of dopamine in our brain, which can steer us towards habits that do not align with our core values.

Fortunately, The Dopamine Brain offers a clear and practical way to help people find balance and harmony in their lives. The book is divided into three parts that weaves in the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, case studies and reflective questions.

The first part delves into the inner workings of the brain, helping you understand how dopamine works and identify activities that dopamine might have you hooked on. This next part encourages you to explore and reflect on your core values and building a life that is meaningful, enduring and satisfying. The last part will help you to make the change with the help of sound psychological techniques.

By the end of this guide, Dr Hronis will help you feel empowered to make both pleasurable and purposeful choices, leading to a full, rich and meaningful life.
  • Published: 3 September 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761346378
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $36.99
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About the author

Anastasia Hronis

Dr Anastasia Hronis is a clinical psychologist, working across both clinical practice and academia in Sydney. She is also the founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness.

Dr Hronis sees clients for therapy who present with a broad range of mental health concerns but has special interest in working with those suffering from addictions. Her main area of research is also in addictions, with a specific focus on gambling. Over the last few years, she has been contacted by media and news outlets to discuss the topic of dopamine and addictions.

Anastasia also provides individual psychological therapy, group therapy programs, coaching courses and workshops. She has wide range of experience working in both the public and private sectors. She has presented at a number of national and international conferences and has published research in top rated journals. She lectures and researches at the University of Technology Sydney and has published in a number of prestigious academic journals.

She has also presented on her research at national and international conferences, including the World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies in Berlin and the International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology in London.

portrait photo of Anastasia Hronis

Praise for The Dopamine Brain

I know Dr Anastasia Hronis as an active researcher and clinical psychologist. This book reflects all of these: as a researcher, Anastasia discusses scientific studies on dopamine, and as a clinical psychologist, she offers in the book tips on how we can improve our lives. Upon reading this book, I found out Anastasia has also great storytelling skills, making The Dopamine Brain a fun read. In this book, Anastasia mixes science, clinical stories, and even history in an intriguing story-like format about how dopamine is related to many things we do in every life, including gambling, drug abuse, excessive social media use and binge-watching TV. This book will help find the balance between pleasure and purpose, using scientific theories of how the brain works.

Professor Ahmed Moustafa, Head of School of Psychology and Head of Discipline (Criminology and Counselling) at Bond University

The Dopamine Brain was a fascinating and engaging read. Not only did it provide me with a wealth of information on how this neurotransmitter is produced in the brain and affects thought processes, but it also gave me the means to put this knowledge to practical use in my own life to more successfully live out my own values.

Ted Hartwell, Executive Director at the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling

The Dopamine Brain masterfully bridges the gap between complex neuroscientific concepts and everyday life, offering readers a clear and engaging exploration of how dopamine influences our behaviour. Dr Hronis provides knowledge, practical tools and techniques, to empower readers to take control of their habits. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to recalibrate their life's choices and live more deliberately.

Dr Rachel Menzies, The University of Sydney

A fabulously entertaining read that explains the science that exists between impulsive pleasure seeking and the power of delayed gratification. Dr Hronis’s book on The Dopamine Brain guides your understanding of self, as you ponder over this daily tug of war. I loved it!

Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM, Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne

Dr Hronis brilliantly distills the complex science behind our dopamine-driven behaviours into an engaging, practical guide for balancing short-term rewards with long-term fulfillment - a must-read for anyone seeking to optimise their habits and productivity.

Dr Amantha Imber, bestselling author of The Health Habit and Time Wise
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