Addiction. Why the Personality Changes?
Alcoholism is a disease. It may start out as overindulgence. But it does qualify as a disease.
About 100 years ago, doctors gave up on calling addiction a disease. So our prisons have filled with addicts who don't get the needed help, and our society just ignores the problem.
I will explain in part and continue in future article.There are two parts of the brain that we will be concerned with here. The brain is divided into many sections. If you wish to become more specific, type in "parts of the brain, alcoholism'. But in this article we will call the basic division the "Frontal Lobe" and the "Mid Brain or Parietal Lobe".
Briefly. The Frontal Cortex or Lobe characteristically is the "conscience center". It is the "morality", "judgment", "decision and consequences" location. It is where one "evaluates" and where 'personality" resides. It is the place where logic resides.
The mid brain is where the instinctive needs reside. It gets us from day to day. It tells us to defend ourselves, to eat, have sex, and is the "pleasure" circuit. Babies and children operate out of this area. Teenagers do as well until the frontal lobe becomes mature.
Alcoholism does not begin in the Frontal section. The Frontal Cortex or Lobe in fact, keeps the "mid-brain" in check. The frontal lobe is the boss.
Until Addiction.
The drug (alcohol, marijuana, etc) hijacks the Mid-Brain. It TAKES OVER this area.
The frontal lobe releases Dopamine and Seratonin (neotransmitters) and these are feel good compounds. But as the stimulants and drugs overstimulate this area, soon the brain becomes depleted and cannot keep up.
Guess what happens?
The frontal lobe stops producing the Dopamine and Seratonin. Oh Oh.
The result is a state of CHRONIC DEPRESSION. The USER becomes chronically depressed.
The mid brain takes the lead. It says, "LET ME TAKE OVER".
The Frontal Lobe shuts down its influence. Now our alcoholic or drug addicted friend operates out of the mid brain only. What do we have now?
Our end product is a person who has no conscience, has no ambition, has no reasoning beyond what the mid brain provides (eat, sex, drink,sleep,maintain pleasure)
It is vital to understand that shaming the addict, telling him,"How can you do this to your kids? wife? mother?" and saying "You are going to die if you continue this behavior?" or "Why don't you just quit?"
is of no affect. NONE.
The frontal lobe (logic, conscience, awareness of others,reasoning ) is at a minimum operation.
In fact, alcohol literally washes away the Dopamine in the brain. The result is that the newly sober alcoholic will have difficulty feeling any pleasure.The term for this is "Anhedonia".
When the addict does go through withdrawl, he feels a strong depression and/or anxiety.(It's a copy of depression because of the lack of Dopamine. So he drinks again.
Addiction is pleasure un-woven. Drink and lose Dopamine, Get depressed and drink.
BUT, (and listen to me here) RECOVERY is even MORE powerful!
1. Recognize and understand why the addict in your life doesn't seem to care.(read above)
2. Recognize the signs, and keep working toward long term healing. Next article will say more.
About 100 years ago, doctors gave up on calling addiction a disease. So our prisons have filled with addicts who don't get the needed help, and our society just ignores the problem.
I will explain in part and continue in future article.There are two parts of the brain that we will be concerned with here. The brain is divided into many sections. If you wish to become more specific, type in "parts of the brain, alcoholism'. But in this article we will call the basic division the "Frontal Lobe" and the "Mid Brain or Parietal Lobe".
Briefly. The Frontal Cortex or Lobe characteristically is the "conscience center". It is the "morality", "judgment", "decision and consequences" location. It is where one "evaluates" and where 'personality" resides. It is the place where logic resides.
The mid brain is where the instinctive needs reside. It gets us from day to day. It tells us to defend ourselves, to eat, have sex, and is the "pleasure" circuit. Babies and children operate out of this area. Teenagers do as well until the frontal lobe becomes mature.
Alcoholism does not begin in the Frontal section. The Frontal Cortex or Lobe in fact, keeps the "mid-brain" in check. The frontal lobe is the boss.
Until Addiction.
The drug (alcohol, marijuana, etc) hijacks the Mid-Brain. It TAKES OVER this area.
The frontal lobe releases Dopamine and Seratonin (neotransmitters) and these are feel good compounds. But as the stimulants and drugs overstimulate this area, soon the brain becomes depleted and cannot keep up.
Guess what happens?
The frontal lobe stops producing the Dopamine and Seratonin. Oh Oh.
The result is a state of CHRONIC DEPRESSION. The USER becomes chronically depressed.
The mid brain takes the lead. It says, "LET ME TAKE OVER".
The Frontal Lobe shuts down its influence. Now our alcoholic or drug addicted friend operates out of the mid brain only. What do we have now?
Our end product is a person who has no conscience, has no ambition, has no reasoning beyond what the mid brain provides (eat, sex, drink,sleep,maintain pleasure)
It is vital to understand that shaming the addict, telling him,"How can you do this to your kids? wife? mother?" and saying "You are going to die if you continue this behavior?" or "Why don't you just quit?"
is of no affect. NONE.
The frontal lobe (logic, conscience, awareness of others,reasoning ) is at a minimum operation.
In fact, alcohol literally washes away the Dopamine in the brain. The result is that the newly sober alcoholic will have difficulty feeling any pleasure.The term for this is "Anhedonia".
When the addict does go through withdrawl, he feels a strong depression and/or anxiety.(It's a copy of depression because of the lack of Dopamine. So he drinks again.
Addiction is pleasure un-woven. Drink and lose Dopamine, Get depressed and drink.
BUT, (and listen to me here) RECOVERY is even MORE powerful!
1. Recognize and understand why the addict in your life doesn't seem to care.(read above)
2. Recognize the signs, and keep working toward long term healing. Next article will say more.
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