This subliminal cycle will focus on letting go of the past to become the person I envision myself being.
- discipline
- diet and exercise
- positive habits
- digital detox
I’ll do my first loop of DR: Phoenix tomorrow and check in here daily.
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Digital detox 
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Yep. I should have written ‘dopamine detox’, but because most of my high level dopamine stimulus comes from the digital world (social media, games, porn etc), these words become somewhat interchangeable in my situation. I’ve setup a framework to follow in hope of being able to repair down regulated dopamine receptors.
I was researching dopamine a while back and I had an ah-ha moment when I linked how bad I felt (beyond normal withdrawals) after quitting caffeine, to a type of dopamine dependence. I was probably using excessive amounts of caffeine to compensate for my down regulated dopamine receptors, just so I’d feel normal during the day. I’m likely still doing the same thing but instead of caffeine, I’m using my phone and sugar for the same purpose.
I know from your comment, you would not have expected such a reply, but I wrote it as much for you, as I did for myself and anyone else who may be interested in what I’m doing 
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@Fractal_Explorer wrote a deep truth in my opinion.
Yes, I believe a digital detox is always a good idea. But I experienced, that even when I lived in a silent monastery for a few weeks, without any tech, I still procrastinated. This time reading books on spirituality instead of social media posts.
There’s a deeper cause for this.
But Phoenix seems more than adequate to resolve this issues.
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Yeah I agree, I’ll see how it goes though. I’m pretty sure my brain’s reward circuitry has been hijacked to some degree. I’m expecting some pain on this endeavour.
I did my first loop earlier this morning, so far I’m feeling good. I’ll see how my day goes and report back later.
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That could be an issue even if the underlying cause is healed. So good luck 
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Why’s that?
Let’s say you brake your hand and need some pain killers to deal with the pain and you get hooked on the meds. Now even when the hand has healed, you’re still hooked on the meds.
Day 1
DR: Phoenix - 15 minutes
I didn’t use my phone much today. I have it set to grayscale, and what a downer that is. If you need instant depression then set your phone to grayscale and leave it on.
I had an event this morning (daughter’s graduation ceremony) then worked a few hours. It’s nearly 3.30pm now, and I haven’t eaten yet due to lack of appetite. It’s still hot here but I didn’t sweat much today, so I must be pretty much over that covid I had. Energy is back, I did my workout this morning too.
I’ve noticed subtle perception shifts since the loop. I can better detect my wife’s emotional reactions to the things I say. Normally I don’t pay attention or notice anything. But so far, so good with the Phoenix. It’s not an instant jolt to my perception of reality like New Emperor was, but we’ll let things warm up a bit and see what happens.
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Day 2
Dopamine Detox
- having some withdrawal pangs, wanting to check my phone, wanting the colour screen back.
- feeling angry and frustrated at times, especially towards the wife.
- difficulties concentrating, and mixing up words, like ADHD combined with dyslexia.
- determined to push on because I still think I’m onto something here and good results will come if I push through the difficulties.
Subliminal Effects
I had many dreams last night, in one I caught my dad using a trailer to rent a plate compactor to do a paving job without telling me. I felt hurt and betrayed, and I asked him why he didn’t ask me for help because we could use my truck and equipment. There were heaps of other dreams but I either don’t remember them or they were abstract in nature.
I’m definitely having an up and down day emotionally. I’m keen for another loop tomorrow, I’m curious where this goes as I have not done a SC healing type sub beyond DR:LD.
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I’ve done a couple of dopamine detoxes, from Mild to heavy, and understand what you’re going through. Just remember that the first 2 days are the most difficult, after that it becomes better. I have some tips that may help you on this journey:
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Be very intentional about why you do this. Write down the goals that you have with this detox. Is it to get clarity? Do you want to feel more present? More focus? When you write it down and look at it, you keep remembering when it gets hard, because trust me, it can get very hard.
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Have a Main vocal point en a couple of secular vocal points. What I mean by that, is try to get 1 thing that you want to focus on during this detox. When I was doing my detox, I always chose to work on 1 project for my business or focus on 1 study I was doing. That way it’s easier for you’re brain to know where to focus on. You then have the option to look at a white wall or go study instead of having multiple things to do. With secular vocal points I mean things like going to work, cooking, spending time with the wife etc.
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Have strict rules about the detox. If you are on this forum (That’s digital), how long can you be here? How can you protect yourself from not going to search the web? It’s a slippery slope when you add something in. For instance, my rules were:
- No Phone (Only call back missed calls, people will call if it’s important)
- 30min to check e-mail at 5 PM
- No Music
- No Youtube, Netflix or other services that provide entertainment
- No Drinking/Smoking
- No meeting people just for the sake of meeting
- No scrolling the internet looking for information.
- Work on project A is only allowed.
You decide how hard you would want to make it. I see that you have a wife and kids (Blessed!), which means you have more responsibilities then I have at that time. Communicate with them what you’re doing and ask them to help you with it.
- Last but not least, do a very hard dopamine detox for at least 1 day. That day you don’t talk, search, or do anything. The only thing you can do is journal, walk en write. It will be extremely difficult, when I did 2 days of that, I experienced all the emotions a man can have lol. I went from manic, to sad, to extremely happy and back to angry. I could not run from my emotions or my thoughts, I had to deal with them straight on. After those 2 days, I felt a peace and presence I’d never felt before. If that’s possible in your schedule, I would highly recommend it. It’s like a 48-72 fast for people who want to kick their sugar habit.
Anyway, good luck on your journey! Will definitely follow this Journal💪
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Thanks for sharing that, man, and I appreciate it because it gives me hope. As for your points, they’re very good and I copied them to notes for future reference.
I am doing it for one important reason that I have not mentioned online, but I hope to also receive some other benefits. Replacement activities I focus on during the detox are reading, meditation and exercise. I’ve also created a rules framework similar to your own but with added no sugar, no porn, masturbation or sex (for a while).
But I’m allowing myself to watch a movie at night if I’m in the mood, once the kids are asleep or in their rooms. As for this site, it’s the only social media I am using, and I locked it to only once per day on my phone. I’m only on now because I am using a computer that I’m currently setting up with cold turkey blocker, so I can’t cheat. I am stinging out a bit, looking for ways to cheat, so abstaining from these things is not easy.
That was funny man. I can understand how that would be just from the past few days. All the high dopamine activities seem to be emotional coping mechanisms. It’s weird how unstable I feel without them. But I’m happy to hear you say it gets better after a few days. I might consider the HARD detox one day soon if the kids have sleepovers at the same time during the holidays.
I have considered stopping this online journal too and using a regular offline journal instead. If I end up not being around for a while, I will be back to eventually to update. I just worry going too hard, too soon will make me go insane!
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Thanks for this tip. Did it immediately and the dopamine reduced significantly.
My fiancee is trying it as well. Similar experience. The urge for social media decreased in the first minutes.
Thanks again
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Day 3
DR: Phoenix - 15 minutes
Some Dreams
I was at the park playing football with my kids and 2 snakes started fighting each other to the death. I watched on with curiosity, wondering what the heck was going on.
My wife was playing the mechanical arm toy grab machine (I’m sure it has a proper name) and she managed to grab a toy with the mechanical arm. I got excited saying “you got one!”, and my son was happy to receive the toy. Then this lanky long armed man came over and put his whole arm up in the machine and started grabbing toys out and giving one each to his kids. I was angry and I stood there with my first clenched ready to knock him out but I hesitated when a crowd gathered, who were laughing and applauding the man for what he was doing.
Another one, I was at this weird shopping centre or mall, but it was also a nightclub too. I was high on ecstasy and my dad was there but it also wasn’t him because he acted different. I was mostly walking around and hanging out with people I didn’t know, but for some reason, I felt very close to them. It was a long and in-depth dream, but I struggle to remember the specific details.
Real World
I was really tired last night, I crashed at about 9pm and woke at 5.30am. I felt shook up from the dreams, but I did a loop and read a book for a while. I felt a bit embarrassed by my behaviour yesterday, how I was unable to control my emotional outbursts.
Dopamine Detox
As per yesterday’s post, I ended up locking down the computers. I need to have my Microsoft account on the kid’s computers so I can apply parental controls to their accounts. I restricted access on these accounts so that I cannot cheat.
My phone remains in grayscale and I’m using an app called stay focused to lock down apps and websites or create time limits or various other scheduling restrictions for apps and websites. It still hurts a bit on grayscale, I think I’m a bit traumatised 
The Subliminal
I went from feeling weird, to feeling hopeful and alert after listening to the loop this morning. It’s difficult to know what effects the sub is having because the dopamine detox is hitting me hard too. I think they’re the most perfect combination right now.
The dreams are so different and intense that I know the sub is at work. My day today was really good, I barely touched my phone until 2.30pm when I finished work. I feel more clear headed.
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No worries. I think I stole that idea from the NoSurf subreddit. You can feel the difference straight away. I’m glad you both found it useful.
Day 4
95.5kg
Subliminal
I don’t think it’s in my imagination but I’ve found it easier to under eat since beginning the dopamine detox and DR: Phoenix.
It feels like the subliminal is working hard, but it’s difficult to identify exactly what it’s doing. The transitions between different cognitive, emotional and behavioural shifts are very smooth so far. I had another night of dreaming, but I cannot recall any of them. When I woke up, I felt like I could breath deeper into my lungs, as if unrecognised tensions had been released.
Dopamine Detox
Removed Sources
- porn
- masturbation
- social media
- doom scrolling
- unhealthy food
- sugar
- gaming
- music
Added / Maintained Sources
- intermittent fasting
- exercise
- meditation
- reading
- cold showers
- subliminal
- work productivity
At this stage I’m looking at this as more of a lifestyle change and less of a challenge. Eventually, I’ll listen to music and I’m not super strict, like if the kids are playing music or we’re in the family car I won’t make everyone sit in silence But in the work truck, I’ve kept the radio off and it’s kind of nice. Most of the other low return, high dopamine activities on the list can stay out of daily life.
I’m lucky in a way because I already quit caffeine this year, and I don’t drink alcohol or take any other drugs, so it’s only behavioural changes I need to work on. I felt some difference today, being more calm and in control than I had been the first 3 days. I may try a more difficult dopamine fast for a day or two if the opportunity presents itself. But for now, this is enough.
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I tried some different apps to minimalize the apps, but it seems that it doesn’t really work. But this tip worked instantly! Thanks, brother.
I can’t stress this enough. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle I think Alex Becker and Aanghel made some great videos about it. You can look them up for more information/motivation (If that’s possible in your detox). After a while, you get so accustomed to it, that you don’t want to go back.
You are making me think though to start it again. I also don’t drink, or eat sugar or anything. But still, I’m feeling 80% instead of the fully 100% I can focus on my business and faith. I think my “bad habit” nowadays is looking up information. I love reading journals here, being on forums and seeking things to improve my life with self-development and bio-hacking. I know deeply that I should only do that at a certain time. Maybe I’ll start another dopamine detox after the Holidays 
Thanks for the inspiration!
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Day 5
DR: Phoenix - 15 minutes
Dreams, dreams and more dreams. Intense ones at that In one of the dreams, I was picking food out from inbetween my teeth and more and more food kept coming out and each time all this tension releases from my teeth and jaw, it felt so good.
I’ve been having friendly interactions with people the past few days. I feel much more alert and I smile a lot. My words are clear and my speech is fluid. I’m really excited for this journey, I normally never feel this way. Another thing I’ve noticed this week is I’ve had zero psychos tailgating me on the road, compared to almost daily while running New Emperor. It makes me wonder what reality is, is it just a reflection or manifestation of the inner world.
I’ve also decided to switch subliminal schedules, listening to a loop on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and taking Friday off every 4th week for the washout. I like the idea of taking the weekend off to decompress after building subliminal momentum during the week. It’s also easier to follow a set day schedule, no brainpower is involved because it’s as easy as setting a calendar reminder for the Friday on every 4th week.
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Good stuff man. I’m happy to hear I motivated you and I can also relate to the information seeking habit. I too really like this forum but I was on it way too much. Now checking in once a day, the urge to login has gone away. I feel kind of bad like I’m letting people down in some way by not reading all the topics but my real world results are working so well that I’ll have to continue. I read that down regulated dopamine receptors can take 12-18 months to fully repair, so it’s only early days with plenty more to gain.
Anyway, keep us updated when you decide to do another dopamine detox. I’d be interested to read about it.
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Day 6
I slipped up on a few dopamine fasting objectives last night and today. I can feel the difference and the urge to splurge and start again tomorrow is present. I’m doing my best to instead continue on and not dopamine binge.
I had this urge to play my phone excessively but instead I started to read a book. I want to continue eating junk food but instead I’ll fast until dinner and eat a healthy meal. I’ve always had this mentality to completely give up and try again another day when things don’t go to plan. I’m trying to grow out of that and I think DR: Phoenix is helping because I normally don’t have this clarity of mind in moments of ‘failure’. I normally allow my negative emotions to dictate my actions.
But I’m not all that great right now, I feel kind of irritated, itchy and scared. There’s a lot going on, but I simply need to make good decisions at important moments and continue with the plan. I need to embrace the dopamine detox withdrawals, because every time I’m having those, my brain is adapting and healing, and every time I take an instant gratification reward to alleviate those withdrawals, then I take a step back. Just because I take one step back, doesn’t mean I need to take another five before I can ‘start again’. There is no beginning and there is no end.
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