Dopamine, male pelvic pain, and why “it ain’t what you do – it’s the way that you do it.”

Описание: Dopamine, male pelvic pain, and why “it ain’t what you do – it’s the way that you do it.”

In this Friday Takeaway episode, I explore the darker side of dopamine and how certain reward-driven habits, behaviours, and coping strategies can quietly fuel symptoms, flare-ups, fear cycles and overwhelm.

I’m Karl Monahan – founder of Pelvic Pain Matters, clinical director of The Pelvic Pain Clinic, and a former pelvic pain sufferer myself. My mission is simple: help men look beyond the pelvic floor and understand the full-body, whole-system factors that influence pelvic pain.

This episode dives into:
🔹 Why pelvic pain is not “all in your head” – but why the brain matters
🔹 How dopamine drives anticipation, distraction, avoidance and addiction
🔹 Unhelpful vs helpful dopamine habits (exercise, porn, phones, alcohol, drugs, social media, research spirals)
🔹 Why perfectly “healthy” behaviours can turn unhealthy at the wrong dose
🔹 How to start spotting the patterns that keep your symptoms stuck
🔹 A practical reflection exercise to prepare you for Part 2: Healthy Dopamine & Recovery

If you're stuck in flare-ups, doom cycles, or endless searching for answers, this episode is for you. You're not alone — and you’re not broken. There are ways through this.

👇 Tell me in the comments:

What dopamine-driven habits do you notice in yourself? How do they show up when your symptoms spike?

✨ JOIN THE PELVIC PAIN MATTERS CIRCLE — OUR PRIVATE ONLINE COMMUNITY
If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community...

If you’re tired of going through pelvic pain alone, endlessly researching, or trying to piece everything together yourself, the Circle is where your recovery gets supported properly.

This is a private, off-social-media community for men who want:

✔ Real guidance (not random forum advice)
✔ A place to ask questions without embarrassment
✔ Consistent support during flare-ups and setbacks
✔ A structured way to learn, grow, and actually move forward
✔ Connection with men who get it — because they’re living it too

Inside the Circle, you’ll get:

🔹 Monthly success stories
🔹 Movement + mobility videos
🔹 Breathwork sessions
🔹 Pain understanding & recovery education
🔹 Tools to help you regulate your system, reduce uncertainty, and find steadier recovery

It’s the space I wish I had when I was in the darkest parts of pelvic pain.

If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community...

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