stovebolts
Member
I've been reading a book called: In the realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate, MD.
http://www.amazon.com/Realm-Hungry-Ghosts-Encounters-Addiction/dp/155643880X
One speaker I've heard describes Addiction as a disease in this way, which meets the medical criteria as a disease.
1. It has a cause
2. It manifests itself
3. It has a treatment.
First, addiction isn't just drugs. The Author puts it this way, (and I'm paraphrasing). Passion and addiction are very similar as far as what motivates them. However, Passion builds up, Addiction destroys.
The Jewish author uses Moses and the burning bush as an example. The fire (passion) consumes, but it does not destroy (addiction).
In other chapters, he talks about the physical nature of addiction as it pertains to the various parts of the brain. When it comes to reason, he speaks of "white matter" in the brain that resides in the frontal cortex. Those with lower "white matter" are more prone to drug abuse or addiction. Not because they are "stupid" though. I'll try to address that. Basically, physical feeling and emotional feelings occupy the same brain receptors. The connection of bonding, love and acceptance (peace) is issued by endorphins and the opiod receptors in the brain. If a child has experienced separation as a child, these receptors don't develop normally. The author uses the example of thumb sucking and rocking as examples of separation anxiety in children. (dont' read too much into that). Opiates such as Oxycotin, Morphine and Herion give the feeling of love, acceptance and block painful memories. This is why abused children with emotional pain are more acceptable to opiate addiction.
The feeling of excitement and joy comes from dopamine. Crack, Cocaine and Crystal Meth elevate dopamine by 1500 percent. Do you know that urge and excitement you get right before you get something you want? That sensation comes from dopamine. People who bungee jump have elevated amounts of dopamine for 30 minutes after their jump. Crack and Meth users start the dopamine rush just holding the needle before they inject it. From a smaller scale, you may experience a dopamine rush just before taking a bite of your favorite food etc.
Thing is, when one uses drugs, the mind tries to balance itself out, so it eliminates the receptacles. This is why a tolerance to the drug occurs. The mind is actively trying to balance itself out. These same receptacles are the ones that regulate rational thought, when they are reduced, so it the persons ability to rationalize.
Chronic drug (and nicotine) use shuts down so many receptacles, sometimes the mind never recovers.
I'd like to quote the author here:
For all their complexities, emotions exist for the very basic purpose: to initiate and maintain activities necessary for survival. In a nutshell, they modulate two drives that are absolutely essential to animal life, including human life: attachment and aversion. We always want to move toward something that is positive, inviting and nurturing, and repel or withdraw from something threatening, distasteful, or toxic.
These attachments and aversion emotions are evoked by both physical and psychological stimuli, and when properly developed, our emotional brain is unerring, reliable guide to life. If it facilitates self-interaction and also makes possible love, compassion, and healthy social interaction. When impaired or confused, as it often is in the complex and stressed circumstances prevailing our "civilized" society, the emotional brain leads us to nothing but trouble. Addiction is one of it's chief dysfunctions.
http://www.amazon.com/Realm-Hungry-Ghosts-Encounters-Addiction/dp/155643880X
One speaker I've heard describes Addiction as a disease in this way, which meets the medical criteria as a disease.
1. It has a cause
2. It manifests itself
3. It has a treatment.
First, addiction isn't just drugs. The Author puts it this way, (and I'm paraphrasing). Passion and addiction are very similar as far as what motivates them. However, Passion builds up, Addiction destroys.
The Jewish author uses Moses and the burning bush as an example. The fire (passion) consumes, but it does not destroy (addiction).
In other chapters, he talks about the physical nature of addiction as it pertains to the various parts of the brain. When it comes to reason, he speaks of "white matter" in the brain that resides in the frontal cortex. Those with lower "white matter" are more prone to drug abuse or addiction. Not because they are "stupid" though. I'll try to address that. Basically, physical feeling and emotional feelings occupy the same brain receptors. The connection of bonding, love and acceptance (peace) is issued by endorphins and the opiod receptors in the brain. If a child has experienced separation as a child, these receptors don't develop normally. The author uses the example of thumb sucking and rocking as examples of separation anxiety in children. (dont' read too much into that). Opiates such as Oxycotin, Morphine and Herion give the feeling of love, acceptance and block painful memories. This is why abused children with emotional pain are more acceptable to opiate addiction.
The feeling of excitement and joy comes from dopamine. Crack, Cocaine and Crystal Meth elevate dopamine by 1500 percent. Do you know that urge and excitement you get right before you get something you want? That sensation comes from dopamine. People who bungee jump have elevated amounts of dopamine for 30 minutes after their jump. Crack and Meth users start the dopamine rush just holding the needle before they inject it. From a smaller scale, you may experience a dopamine rush just before taking a bite of your favorite food etc.
Thing is, when one uses drugs, the mind tries to balance itself out, so it eliminates the receptacles. This is why a tolerance to the drug occurs. The mind is actively trying to balance itself out. These same receptacles are the ones that regulate rational thought, when they are reduced, so it the persons ability to rationalize.
Chronic drug (and nicotine) use shuts down so many receptacles, sometimes the mind never recovers.
I'd like to quote the author here:
For all their complexities, emotions exist for the very basic purpose: to initiate and maintain activities necessary for survival. In a nutshell, they modulate two drives that are absolutely essential to animal life, including human life: attachment and aversion. We always want to move toward something that is positive, inviting and nurturing, and repel or withdraw from something threatening, distasteful, or toxic.
These attachments and aversion emotions are evoked by both physical and psychological stimuli, and when properly developed, our emotional brain is unerring, reliable guide to life. If it facilitates self-interaction and also makes possible love, compassion, and healthy social interaction. When impaired or confused, as it often is in the complex and stressed circumstances prevailing our "civilized" society, the emotional brain leads us to nothing but trouble. Addiction is one of it's chief dysfunctions.
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