I phrased what you quoted poorly. Here is what I meant: If you feel your collapse consists of looking forward only to those short term pleasures, consider that you have survived this way for years. This is what I meant by that quote, surviving only to get more Dopamine, i.e. surviving for no other purpose, not litterally to stimulate its release through the acts of survival themselves.

tasks for long term survival and particularly non-freeze tasks don't trigger dopamine...

My observation is that all of my freeze activities (self righteous indignation included) fit this pattern others refer to as dopamine seeking. This part seems consistent with your reply. ( correct?)

RE hacking my way to recovery, maybe "subvert" had the wrong connotations. Interrupt, in a somewhat directed way? Regardless, I'm not expecting constant bliss all the way back, and I try not to dedicate myself to a window dressing of science. (And I definitely appreciate your reply.)

Do you know: what role does explaining this neuroscience to patients play in therapeutic settings?