Many researchers believe that addiction is a behavior that
can be controlled to some extent and also a brain disease. And since some
testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) found that all
addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside the brain, there
could be one type of control model for addiction health-related issues.
Others express the opinion that some of us
have an addictive personality and therefore are more likely to have problems
than others.
In other words, just as there is one
disorder or disease labeled asthma, there would be one for addiction,
covering all addictions; gambling, smoking, overeating, drugs, etc. Then one
main treatment strategy or plan could be used to treat all addictions.
How addiction works in a nutshell is like
this. The brain, the center of the body’s nervous system, handles addiction
by increasing dopamine levels in response to increased reactions from
behaviors, also referred to as compulsions, like gambling or over eating,
and / or in response to increased repeated episodes of substance abuse, like
from cocaine or alcohol.
And this addiction affects the three functioning processes
of the nervous system; sensing, perceiving and reacting. How? Let’s take a
quick peak…
Dopamine, the chemical transmitter to the “pleasure center,”
the place where survival instincts like eating and reproduction focus in the
brain, activates cells individually or energizes them. Each energized cell
in turn energizes another cell, and so on down the line, resulting in a
spontaneous process of ecstasy or feelings of elation.
The problem is the brain doesn’t realize what it is that is
causing the ecstasy reaction. So when this flutter of activity increases the
creation of dopamine for the negative behaviors and substances like drugs,
alcohol, gambling, etc., it neglects the natural survival instinct reaction
mechanisms, replacing them with the ecstasy instead.
Depending upon the addiction, nervous system functions are
altered. So sensing, perceiving and reacting functions of individuals are
impeded. For example, alcohol is a depressant and slows down all of these
functions. So a drunk driver facing an immediate collision will in all
likelihood react slower than a healthy, alert driver.
And whether or not the addictive substances are inhaled,
going into the lung system; or injected, traveling via the blood system; or
swallowed, entering the digestive system, also affects different bodily
reactions, responses and overall health.
One long-term effect is an increased tolerance level with
dopamine reaching out into other brain areas that cloud judgment and
behavioral considerations and choices. And ultimately depression results,
even amidst opposing or negative stimuli, like the negative effects of
narcotics on behaviors and on the body / mind and like trying to withdrawal
or discontinue use.
Other long-term effects can include changing of the brain’s
shape and possible permanent brain damage, depending upon the addiction and
length of compulsive activity. And other health problems like cancer from
cigarette smoking can result.
Addiction summed up is: compulsive behavior despite negative
consequences.
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