For the sake of your mental health, it is important to know the distinction between pleasure and happiness. They are, factually, two completely different functions in the brain doing two completely different things. Pleasure is dopamine and happiness is serotonin. Dopamine, as I'm sure you're aware, is the risk-reward system in your brain. It is temporary and you feel it in your body. It is the chemical that says "I like this, and now I want more." Although it is responsible for all addictions, it is still an extremely important chemical. Without it, you wouldn't even get up in the morning. Serotonin on the other hand, works much differently. While dopamine is a stimulator, serotonin is an inhibitor. Serotonin makes you feel like you are pleased and you don't want or need anything more. It is contentment, satisfaction, happiness. You can't get it from substances, because it's not something you feel in your body, it's something you feel above your head. It's an etherial feeling that you get from spending time with friends and family, or from working on something you're passionate about, or enjoying a beautiful sunset. It's the little things, but it's also being proud and content with who you are in your own actions and responses to the world around you.
If you are stuck feeling constantly unhappy and unsatisfied even though you're doing what you may think is making you happy. It could just be pleasure, and what you really need is the things in your life that make you feel like you don't need anything more, like you are content just living in the moment.
.... so anyways uuuh yeah read my comic pls
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(It's a suspenseful space adventure that wears its themes on its sleeve (especially in the pilot episode) so if you're in the mood for something gripping and imaginative, then this is the comic series for you!)
