Read on Twitter
ADDICTION
A thread
OPIATES! COKE! SOCIAL MEDIA! PORN! ALCOHOL!
Dopamine spikes and resulting changes in the brain cause ADDICTIONS.
1/8
A thread
OPIATES! COKE! SOCIAL MEDIA! PORN! ALCOHOL!
Dopamine spikes and resulting changes in the brain cause ADDICTIONS.
1/8
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter,
And dopamine is usually lovely
We experience dopamine spikes when we eat chocolate, touch someone we love, etc....
But when we try coke, percocet, or similar drugs, the dopamine spike turns into a dopamine MOUNTAIN.
2/8
And dopamine is usually lovely
We experience dopamine spikes when we eat chocolate, touch someone we love, etc....
But when we try coke, percocet, or similar drugs, the dopamine spike turns into a dopamine MOUNTAIN.
2/8
Dopamine mega-spikes, or "mountains", eventually cause burn out of dopamine receptors
So it takes more of that sweet, sweet dopamine
& the substance or behavior that triggered it
to make you feel so good.
3/8
So it takes more of that sweet, sweet dopamine
& the substance or behavior that triggered it
to make you feel so good.
3/8
Most dopamine originates in the PRIMITIVE BRAIN.
It comes from the Ventral Tegmental Area (the VTA) that sits on top of the brain stem.
The primal areas of the brain, including the VTA, are what drive our urges for fight, flight, and the other F word.
4/8
It comes from the Ventral Tegmental Area (the VTA) that sits on top of the brain stem.
The primal areas of the brain, including the VTA, are what drive our urges for fight, flight, and the other F word.
4/8
The primal brain's involvement with dopamine is problematic.
The primal brain controls our deepest drives and essential urges.
While the frontal cortex controls higher decision making
And is not where these deep drives originate.
5/8
The primal brain controls our deepest drives and essential urges.
While the frontal cortex controls higher decision making
And is not where these deep drives originate.
5/8
This explains why our drugged out friends or family can turn into proverbial monsters
Leaving destruction in their wake.
They are being driven by their primal self to get heroin, meth, coke, etc.
This drive overrides their common sense & intelligent decision making.
6/8
Leaving destruction in their wake.
They are being driven by their primal self to get heroin, meth, coke, etc.
This drive overrides their common sense & intelligent decision making.
6/8
Different drugs cause different changes in the brain, as well,
In addition to the dopamine dysfunction.
These changes are observable on MRI's and can last from 3 months to years after drug or alcohol cessation.
7/8
In addition to the dopamine dysfunction.
These changes are observable on MRI's and can last from 3 months to years after drug or alcohol cessation.
7/8
These brain changes are partly why some people don't succeed with one month of rehab
And why long-term systems such as AA assist to maintain sobriety.
More threads to come on who is more likely to become addicted & what changes occur in the brain with addiction.
Thanks
8/8
And why long-term systems such as AA assist to maintain sobriety.
More threads to come on who is more likely to become addicted & what changes occur in the brain with addiction.
Thanks
8/8
