We don't even realize when our little habits that we take for granted suddenly become an important part of our lives. It is a mental and physical condition that makes us completely dependent on a particular habit or addiction.
Then it could be alcohol, tobacco or social media and internet addiction. The form of addiction may vary, but its effect is the same. It gradually eats away at our mental and physical health like termites.
Have you ever felt like a bad habit is taking a toll on your life, but you just can't seem to break it? This is the trap of addiction. It gradually takes over our mind.
In a relationship Today we will know that-
- How does drug addiction hijack the brain?
- What can be the solutions to overcome this?
Are you also a victim of addiction? For all of us, recognizing addiction is not as difficult as accepting it. Often a person is embarrassed to talk about it in society. However, acknowledging the problem is the first step towards overcoming it.
Let's try to identify drug addiction through some questions. Ask yourself this question and if the answer is 'yes' then you need to think seriously about yourself.
If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you need to be careful. You can take the help of an expert without any hesitation.
How does drug addiction work?
Addiction affects the brain's reward system and emotional responses. Four parts of the brain are deeply involved in drug addiction. Let's understand through a graphic how it works.
Let's understand the graphic points in detail and know how drug addiction affects the brain.
Nucleus accumbens
- work- It acts as the center of the brain's reward system. When a person consumes drugs, alcohol or any other intoxicants, they release the hormone dopamine, which gives a feeling of happiness.
- Effect of intoxication- Repeatedly raising the dopamine levels returns these levels to normal for the brain. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to get more drunk to get happiness. This causes drug addiction.
- Example- Like after taking drugs, a person goes to insane lengths to get more drugs.
Amygdala
- work- It specifically controls the emotions of fear, stress and anger
- Effect of intoxication- Intoxication reduces stress or emotional pain. In such a situation, a person starts using it as a means of getting relief
- Example- In stressful situations, people often resort to alcohol, drugs or some other addiction. Gradually it becomes a habit.
the hippocampus
- work- It stores memories and experiences
- Effect of intoxication- The brain remembers pleasant experiences related to intoxication. For this reason one wants to have that experience again and again.
- Example- If a person consumes drugs at a party, he may feel like taking drugs at that party
Cerebral cortex
- work- It helps in decision making and reasoning
- Effect of intoxication- Intoxication weakens this part of the brain, due to which a person becomes unable to judge right from wrong
- Example: An addict becomes unable to realize that his habit is harming his health and life
What is tolerance?
When you consume any drug regularly, the body and mind gradually become addicted to that substance. The low dose that initially gave you relief is no longer as effective.
This is why you need more of the drug to get the same pleasure. It not only changes your habits but also your mental and physical state.
Have you ever felt that a glass of wine or a puff of cigarette used to relax you, but now it feels incomplete? This is the effect of the tolerance that your body has developed. Understanding it and identifying it in time is the most important step.
How do we become slaves to addiction?
Chronic intoxication causes the brain's reward system to stop working. Drunkenness also stops giving happiness. However, the urge to consume the drug persists. Because the brain remembers old experiences. As old memories are revived, the desire to drink again arises.
This craving increases drug addiction. It is so strong that one is drawn back to old habits after many years. If a person is an alcoholic before, they may want to drink again after seeing the bottle.
Conditioned learning helps us to understand that people can go back to the same addiction even after getting rid of drug addiction.
How to get rid of drug addiction?
Senior Psychiatrist Dr. Satyakant Trivedi states that drug addiction is a mental disease. It affects brain function and behavior. It cannot be left by willpower alone. Getting help and counseling from a psychiatrist at the right time is necessary to recover from drug addiction, so that the person suffering from drug addiction can return to a healthy life through proper treatment and a supportive environment.
De-addiction is a long and difficult process. A positive change needs to be brought about with its treatment. We talk about some steps that can help in getting rid of addiction. Let's understand this graphically.
Change happens slowly, but with consistent effort and confidence we can become completely free from addiction. We can live a healthy, happy life. Consistency with patience is important in this process.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
