NOBODY WAKES UP IN THE MORNING WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY. NEVERTHELESS, COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT CAN LEAD TO ADDICTION. WHAT MAKES DRUG ABUSE SO ATTRACTIVE? SIMILARLY, WHAT CAUSES ADDICTION IN SOME USERS?
DRUG ABUSE STIMULATES THE BRAIN’S REWARD CENTER
What causes addiction to substances that you have to snort, ingest, or inject? Initially, the use of drugs is typically a voluntary activity. A friend offers you some. Maybe you’re curious and want to try a drug you’ve heard about.
Next, you typically have a positive experience. Many drugs create a dopamine glut in the brain. Dopamine is the body’s feel-good substance that the brain usually releases in small quantities. Having a lot in your system can cause euphoric highs. Some people require addiction treatment services in order to stop using.
WHAT CAUSES ADDICTION?
You like the way the drug or alcohol makes you feel. Therefore, you repeat the use. However, in the process, the chemicals change the way that the brain releases dopamine. Similarly, they make changes to the way the brain deals with stress.
The area of the brain that experiences the most impact is the prefrontal cortex. It’s instrumental in making decisions. Besides that, it’s essential for exercising good judgment. As addiction develops, chemicals interrupt these functions.
In some people, there could be a genetic predisposition to make these systemic brain changes. For others, social conditioning contributes to the development of chemical dependency. There’s also the possibility that an underlying mental health disorder leads to addiction. When you have symptoms but no way of managing them, drugs or alcohol become attractive substitutes.
Eventually, there comes a tipping point. You chase the euphoric high, but it’s elusive. At this point, you fear the withdrawal symptoms. You continue using out of compulsion and because you want to feel pain-free and normal.
REHAB CAN RETURN YOU TO SOBRIETY WHEN SUBSTANCES HOOK YOU
Entrust your care to addiction therapy services. Rather than entering a clinical setting, check into a venue that’s more like a getaway. You can relax, feel comfortable in your surroundings, and focus on recovery. Of course, many people will resist this treatment at first as they are in denial of their addiction. If an individual is in denial of their addiction, it might be worth their friends and families trying to persuade them to go to a rehabilitation center. By purchasing a drugs test from somewhere like Countrywide Testing, people can check whether or not this individual has been using any substances. If they have, the individual should really consider getting some help to overcome this addiction. There are many different treatments, so rehab shouldn’t be scary.
Treatments include:
- Residential stay opportunities that allow you to immerse yourself in the therapeutic atmosphere
- Behavioral counseling that focuses on negative patterns in thinking, feeling, and acting
- Dual diagnosis treatment for program participants with underlying mental health conditions such as depression
- Family therapy that encourages a time of reconnecting and committing to support one another
- Holistic therapies such as Qigong, yoga, and meditation for emotional and spiritual healing
THERE’S NEVER A WRONG TIME TO PUT AN END TO ADDICTION
At this point, your substance abuse isn’t a voluntary act any longer. You have to use or suffer withdrawal. Similarly, you can’t make yourself overcome the compulsion. It’s okay.
With professional help, you can break the hold drugs or alcohol have on you. You don’t have to suffer any longer. Now that you know what causes addiction, you can take the next step toward recovery. Contact Pearl of the Sea Retreat at 866-962-1907.