TJ Power: Addicted: "How Your Phone Is Quietly Destroying Your Relationships, Kids and Sex Life

What if the thing you check 207 times a day is quietly rewiring your brain, disconnecting you from the people you love, and killing your desire for intimacy? In this episode of In Your Skin, we sit down with lead neuroscientist and author of The Dose Effect, TJ Power, for one of the most confronting and eye-opening conversations we've ever had. TJ doesn't just explain what's happening to our brains, he lived it. From spooning brown sugar out of the kitchen cupboard as a toddler to addiction to alcohol, weed and pornography as a teenager, TJ's personal story makes the science feel deeply human. Now, having trained 50,000+ people through Oxford University and beyond, he's on a mission to free us from what he calls the "Dopamine Prison" of modern life. Using his DOSE framework: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins. TJ breaks down exactly how the intensity of life in 2026 is dysregulating our brain, preventing us from finally switching off at night. Whether you're a parent worried about iPad addiction, or someone struggling to focus on a single task, this conversation offers a clear roadmap to taking back control of your mind. Episode Breakdown: 0:00 – Why our phones are more addictive than a "deer in the bushes" 4:56 – Helping kids find "Flow State" and real-world passions outside the screen 10:36 – The "Black and White" phone hack to kill dopaminergic activation 12:26 – What is the DOSE Effect? Motivation, relationships, and energy explained 16:01 – Substituting addictions: Why high-performers often jump from alcohol to health 18:44 – Testing your dopamine: Motivation levels and attention spans 21:11 – How the phone is training the entire population into addiction 23:22 – The relationship between trauma, stress, and the need for a "fix" 32:58 – Hyperactive dopamine systems in children & the "YouTube vs. TV" debate 47:12 – Brainwaves 101: Moving from Beta (stimulated) to Alpha (relaxed) 49:31 – The Nightly Protocol: Phone off, shower, and clean to reset your mind 53:18 – Oxytocin: How listening and asking questions calms the nervous system 57:12 – Dating in 2026: Why you can't get oxytocin from a text message 1:01:05 – How digital dopamine is "taxing" our sex lives and intimacy 1:05:43 – What makes TJ feel confident in his skin Connect with us on Instagram @inyourskin.podcast Connect with Christie Whitehill on Instagram @christiewhitehill Connect with Anna Robards on Instagram @annaheinrich1 Connect with TJ Power @tjpower https://thedoseeffect.co.uk/ The content in this In Your Skin podcast is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. If listeners use the information, it is at their own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, or any other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Every person is unique, and listeners should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such condition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices