Episode 37: Hack Your Brain Chemistry and Beat Fatigue and Anhedonia with Andy West
05/17/25 • 35 min
Andy West, author of "Dopamine Mountain," shares powerful insights about rewiring our brains through intentional dopamine management to overcome fatigue, depression, and low motivation.
• Dopamine functions as our energy system, controlling motivation and linking directly to mood
• Challenge yourself first, then get rewarded - this counterintuitive approach creates sustainable dopamine regulation
• Our ancestors followed effort-reward-rest cycles naturally, but modern life provides too much instant gratification
• Depression and fatigue often result from dopamine depletion, requiring baby steps and small rewards to rebuild
• Frame challenges as growth opportunities to activate dopamine instead of stress chemicals
• Morning is optimal for hard tasks because we wake with slightly elevated dopamine
• Discipline isn't inherent - it's simply choosing action over quick dopamine, practiced one step at a time
• Rewards feel better when moderated and earned through effort
• Write down difficult emotions through journaling to process them and engage dopamine pathways
• Never settle for being stuck - even small movements like leg planks in bed can start rebuilding motivation
Find Andy West at DopamineMountain.com and on social media platforms as Dopamine Mountain. You can also find her on Amazon.
Go to BrandonHeld.com/Podcast and subscribe to the Podcast
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Andy West, author of "Dopamine Mountain," shares powerful insights about rewiring our brains through intentional dopamine management to overcome fatigue, depression, and low motivation.
• Dopamine functions as our energy system, controlling motivation and linking directly to mood
• Challenge yourself first, then get rewarded - this counterintuitive approach creates sustainable dopamine regulation
• Our ancestors followed effort-reward-rest cycles naturally, but modern life provides too much instant gratification
• Depression and fatigue often result from dopamine depletion, requiring baby steps and small rewards to rebuild
• Frame challenges as growth opportunities to activate dopamine instead of stress chemicals
• Morning is optimal for hard tasks because we wake with slightly elevated dopamine
• Discipline isn't inherent - it's simply choosing action over quick dopamine, practiced one step at a time
• Rewards feel better when moderated and earned through effort
• Write down difficult emotions through journaling to process them and engage dopamine pathways
• Never settle for being stuck - even small movements like leg planks in bed can start rebuilding motivation
Find Andy West at DopamineMountain.com and on social media platforms as Dopamine Mountain. You can also find her on Amazon.
Go to BrandonHeld.com/Podcast and subscribe to the Podcast
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Previous Episode
Episode 36: The Other Side of the Gun - Susan Snow
Susan Snow shares her journey from witnessing her police detective father's murder at age 17 to becoming a trauma resiliency coach helping others heal from their own painful experiences. Through finding the right therapist and developing effective coping tools, she transformed her PTSD into purpose and wrote "The Other Side of the Gun" to offer hope to fellow trauma survivors.
• Living with unaddressed childhood trauma for 14 years behind an "emotional mask"
• How the Columbine shooting triggered flashbacks that forced her to confront her PTSD
• The importance of finding a trauma-competent therapist who understands your specific needs
• Simple but powerful healing techniques like journaling, breathing exercises, and tapping
• Why vulnerability is essential for authentic healing and personal growth
• Overcoming fear to share her story and help others find their own path to resilience
• The difference between simply surviving trauma and learning to thrive afterward
Find Susan's book "The Other Side of the Gun: My Journey from Trauma to Resiliency" on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats, with an audiobook coming soon. Connect with Susan at her (and me) on Instagram and TikTok.
SusanSnowSpeaks.com
BrandonHeld.com
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Next Episode
Episode 38: Lannette West from MILF MANOR 2 Breaking Generational Curses and Surviving Childhood Trauma!
Lynette West shares her powerful journey of recognizing and healing from childhood sexual abuse by her grandfather while growing up in a violent home. Through isolated flashbacks that eventually converged into a coherent narrative, she discovered how trauma shaped her self-hatred, addiction struggles, and relationship patterns with abusive partners.
• Childhood trauma memories often appear as disconnected flashbacks without context
• Trauma survivors frequently gravitate toward familiar but harmful situations that mirror their childhood experiences
• Repressed memories can surface when the brain recognizes you're emotionally ready to handle them
• Hypervigilance and dissociation (like counting lamp tassels) are common coping mechanisms during abuse
• Depression and suicidal ideation are frequent companions of unaddressed childhood trauma
• Children with parents who commit suicide are 70% more likely to commit suicide themselves
• Breaking generational curses requires commitment to healing despite ongoing struggles
• Recovery isn't linear – healing is an ongoing journey that requires persistent effort
• Speaking openly about trauma can bring freedom and help others who are suffering silently
• Finding purpose through pain by helping others can transform traumatic experiences into something meaningful
Follow Lynette on Instagram @Lynette.West to connect and continue the conversation.
Follow me on Instagram @bh_life_is_crazy
Go to my website brandonheld.com. Select Podcast page and Subscribe!
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Brandon Held - Life is Crazy - Episode 37: Hack Your Brain Chemistry and Beat Fatigue and Anhedonia with Andy West
Transcript
Hi , welcome back to Brandon Held . Life is Crazy . Today's another special day because I have a guest that I'm really excited to talk to , all the way from Australia ,
Speaker 1and she has some great information that I think you will find really helpful and really beneficial . And her name is Andy West and she's the author of her book called
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