[zooch]

You make good points and it's true, thinking alone may not have the same effect, but problem solving I'm sure releases endorphins as well.

People do attempt to think themselves into happiness with therapy see some benefit.

Just thinking - yes, probably not going to make anyone extremely happy.

But I still believe it's a plausible argument that after any cycle or combination of sex, drugs, fame, family, friends there may be a point where, for some people, thinking/problem solving may have it's place as the most pleasurable option in that moment.

And the winning combination for some people may be family, friends and problem solving, rather than family, friends and drugs. So it's possible they are not lying to themselves. It may maximize pleasure over time.

[deltasevennine]

This isn't problem solving per say. It's success that triggers a dopamine release. Whether that be success in your career or success in solving a problem. Success though is typically fleeting. You need to climb the ladder higher to feel more happy.

You probably found a success niche via problem solving.. and interpreted the source of your happiness as "thinking through problems." If you continuously failed to solve problems while thinking you obviously wouldn't be happy so it isn't "thinking" or "problem solving" that triggers this... it's success. Thus there are other avenues to this version of happiness outside of problem solving, you just need to find something you're successful at. If problem solving is it, so be it.