Addiction
The word “addiction” originates from the Latin word for “enslaved by.” Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction understands why. Addiction is complex. It can manifest in three different ways including loss of control without the object, craving its use, and continued use and involvement despite destructive consequences. Addiction is a brain disorder that is made up by compulsive substance use, ignoring the harmful consequences. People with addiction find it very hard, sometimes even impossible, to turn away from that which they are addicted to. Addiction is a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm. Signs of addiction include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Euphoria
- And more...
If you feel useless without that one thing, you may be suffering from addiction.
Pleasure Principle
The brain registers all pleasures in the same way. Whether that pleasure is registered with a bottle of beer, an appetizing meal, or an act of sexual satisfaction. Pleasure is the distinct release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. The dopamine releases in the nucleus accumbens, which scientists refer to as the Pleasure Center. The likelihood that the use of a substance or participation in a rewarding activity will lead to addiction is directly linked to the speed with which it promotes dopamine release, the intensity of that release, and the reliability of that release. The hippocampus lays down memories of this sense of satisfaction, and the amygdala then creates a conditioned response to certain stimuli.
