The Brain on Addiction

Imagine you’re on a rollercoaster and you can’t seem to get off even though you know it's taking you down a dangerous path. That’s what addiction feels like for millions of people and the reason behind it lies deep inside the brain. It’s not about willpower or making bad choices but it’s about how our brains are connected to make us crave more even though we know it’s not good for us.

Meet Dopamine: The Brain's Party Planner!

Dopamine is the chemical messenger that makes you feel good when something pleasurable happens. It causes the life of the party in your brain. Whether it’s eating your favorite food, winning a game, or scrolling through social media dopamine is behind that little rush of joy. It’s like your brain is telling you , "Hey, that was great! Let’s do that again."

Now, when it comes to addiction, whether it's drugs, alcohol or even behaviors like smoking or internet scrolling, dopamine goes into overdrive. The brain gets hit with a flood of dopamine comparatively the way it would ever get naturally. This flow creates an intense pleasure that feels amazing. So, what happens next? Your brain decides it wants more and more and you’re chasing that high, again and again.

Here’s the thing! After a while, your brain gets used to these crazy dopamine levels. It’s like the party is no longer exciting unless it’s bigger and better every time. You need more of whatever it is you’re addicted to, whether it’s alcohol, drugs or even watching Netflix, to get the same feeling of pleasure. And the more you consume, the harder it becomes to feel good without it. What was once fun or relaxing is now something your brain relies on just to feel normal. Addiction! 

You might think "if I know it’s bad for me, why can’t I just quit?" That’s where the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that handles reasoning and decision-making, comes in. Normally, this part of the brain helps you weigh risks and rewards. It’s like the wise elder of the brain that says, "Maybe we should stop now." But with addiction, the prefrontal cortex gets weaker like it's on vacation. So, the part of your brain that would normally stop you from making risky choices is asleep at the wheel and the craving for that next hit, drink, or click on your phone takes over.

Photo from- Northpoint recovery

It’s not that people don’t know the risks but the brain makes it incredibly hard to resist...

Now, here’s something fascinating ! The brain is like a super adaptable sponge. It can change and form new connections and the process is called neuroplasticity. When addiction takes hold, the brain starts to rewire itself creating pathways that make the addictive behavior a habit. The more you repeat the behavior, the stronger those pathways become. Before you know it, the brain is automatically steering you toward that drink, drug or social media scroll without you even thinking about it.

But ! Neuroplasticity also means the brain can heal and change for the better. It’s not easy but with time and effort, new habits can form and those addictive pathways can fade. This is why recovery is possible even for people who’ve struggled with addiction for years.

If addiction was just about dopamine and decision-making, it might be a bit easier to manage. But there’s more to the story. For some people, addiction runs in their family. Isn’t that surprising? Genetics play a role. making them more susceptible to the allure of addictive substances or behaviors.

Then there’s stress. For many people drugs or alcohol become a way to cope. Stress releases its own set of brain chemicals that make the brain crave comfort and substances can provide a quick way to numb the pain. Over time this can turn into a vicious cycle- stress leads to substance use and substance use leads to more stress and makes it even harder to break free.

Can the Brain Heal?

The great thing about the brain is that it's always changing. Even after years of addiction, recovery is possible. Therapy, support groups and even medications can help the brain get back on track. Think of it like retraining the brain to find pleasure in things that are healthy whether that’s exercise, hobbies or connecting with loved ones. It’s about creating new pathways that don’t involve addictive behaviors.

In the end, addiction is a brain disease but it’s also a story of resilience. The brain is complicated but it’s also incredibly powerful. With the right help and support, people can and do recover. It’s a journey which might be tough but definitely worth taking.

So, next time you hear someone say addiction is just about “bad choices,” remember that it’s really about how our brains are wired and how the brain can heal with time.