Self-Management for Balancing Dopamine: 'How to Free Your Brain from Being Controlled by Stimulation' 1-Day Seminar Held by Mental Management School, Attracts Over 150 Participants

Mental Management School, operated by M&C Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kumiko Nakata), held an online 1-Day seminar titled 'Self-Management for Balancing Dopamine: How to Free Your Brain from Being Controlled by Stimulation' on Saturday, May 23, 2026, and Tuesday, May 26, 2026. With a total of 164 registrations across the two sessions, over 150 participants attended. Certified psychologist Tsutomu Sakonoi explained, from a neuroscience perspective, the root causes and practical behavior-design methods for overcoming common struggles such as 'being unable to stop using smartphones or eating sweets' and 'failing to break bad habits.' Participants responded enthusiastically, with many commenting, 'I realized I don’t need to blame myself' and 'The explanation made perfect sense.' Due to high demand, the next seminar is scheduled for August, with ongoing sessions planned in the future.

Self-Management for Balancing Dopamine: 'How to Free Your Brain from Being Controlled by Stimulation'

About the Dopamine Self-Management 1-Day Seminar

The seminar was held online via Zoom in two sessions: Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30, and Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 19:30 to 21:30. A total of 164 people registered, and over 150 participants attended across both sessions.

More than 60% of participants were women. By age group, those in their 50s made up approximately 40%—the largest group—followed by those in their 40s and 60s, indicating broad participation from working professionals to those in their second life stage.

Seminar Content

The seminar was structured to scientifically explain 'why we can’t stop certain behaviors' and to practically teach 'how to change our actions.' Certified psychologist and clinical psychologist Tsutomu Sakonoi covered the following three themes:

1. Understanding Dopamine Correctly and the Mechanism Behind Bad Habits

Dopamine is not a substance that brings 'happiness,' but rather a neurotransmitter that creates motivation such as 'I want it' or 'I’m interested.' The human brain has not fundamentally changed since the Paleolithic era and is inherently prone to overreact to modern excessive stimuli like smartphones, social media, and sugar. Participants reflected on their own conditions using the metaphor of a 'Paleolithic-era operating system.'

With Paleolithic-era genes, we now live in a world where everything we need is instantly accessible.

2. The Four Conditions and the Mechanism of Negative Cycles

According to Sakonoi, people become more susceptible to stimulation when four specific conditions overlap. When self-loathing and regret are added, stress intensifies, creating a vicious cycle that leads to further bad habits. Understanding this mechanism helped participants gain practical insights into daily life, such as 'Now I understand why I couldn’t stop' and 'I finally get why parents instinctively resist showing videos to children.'

Combining stimulation across multiple senses makes dependency more likely.

3. Self-Management Techniques to Control Dopamine Through Behavioral Design

The core of dopamine self-management lies not in relying on willpower to 'stop,' but in redesigning behavior itself. By incorporating habits such as self-questioning before and after actions, and combining them with positive affirmations like 'Today, I will do this,' participants took the first step toward reclaiming conscious choice from automatic brain responses. The seminar offered concrete starting points for behavioral change by contrasting immediate pleasure with long-term positive outcomes.

Imagine the future you gain when you change your behavior (e.g., feeling refreshed, improved focus) versus the future you face if you don’t change.

Participant Feedback

The event’s survey and live chat received numerous positive comments:

'I no longer have to blame myself for giving in sometimes!' 'Understanding the mechanism helps me stop self-blame.' 'The exercise was surprisingly effective and eye-opening.' 'The exercise was so powerful I was pleasantly overwhelmed.' 'I related to it so much I felt like my head would fall off from nodding so much.'

Overall, it was striking how many participants didn’t just intellectually 'understand' the content, but truly internalized it on a personal level.

Speaker Profile

Tsutomu Sakonoi | Certified Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist

Sakonoi worked for 15 years at a general hospital with a psychiatric focus, serving as head of the psychology department and managing a team of psychological practitioners. He has supported over 10,000 individuals experiencing mental health challenges, work leave, and return-to-work processes. Recognizing the limitations of 'fixing things after breakdowns' in clinical practice, he now champions the philosophy of 'supporting people before they break down.' He independently plans and hosts seminars on sleep and self-care, and is actively promoting preventive healthcare initiatives, including dopamine self-management (as featured in the Nishinippon Shimbun).

After the seminar, Sakonoi commented:

'While preparing, I myself had one discovery after another and enjoyed it more than anyone else. But seeing the participants’ surprised expressions and hearing their feedback, I became even more convinced that this knowledge should reach as many people as possible. I’d be delighted if more people could gradually experience small, positive changes in their daily lives—better sleep, improved eating habits, smarter time management, and more authentic choices—by making dopamine their ally.'

Next Session Announcement

Due to popular demand, the next Dopamine Self-Management Seminar is confirmed for August. Anyone struggling with smartphone dependency, sugar cravings, lack of focus, or other issues related to brain dopamine levels is encouraged to attend.

Details and Registration:

https://mmschool.jp/event-1dayseminar/dopamine/

* Next session dates, capacity, and fees will be updated on the website.

Company Overview

Company Name

M&C Co., Ltd.

CEO

Kumiko Nakata

Address

Room 597, Akasaka Residential Hotel, 9-1-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone Number

03-6450-6555

Business Activities

Operation of Mental Management School; planning and delivery of educational training programs

Official Website

https://mmschool.jp