Using substances interacts with the entire body, primarily influencing the brain and associated functioning in the body. Depending on the substance, how it is taken and the amount consumed, the body and the brain will react accordingly. The brain already creates and digests many of the chemicals that are found in a variety of drugs that are abused, but the increased concentration of chemicals in the drugs causes users to experience extreme highs and lows during and after use. The normal range of human functioning does not include these extreme highs and are sub-sequentially become addictive for the person. Later, as these chemicals are created and digested, the body naturally will rely on them for normal functioning. Because the primary way that the body responds to the excess of chemicals is to stop or limit the natural production of the chemicals the user is driven to compulsively reuse substances for normal functioning. This process is called the reward, tolerance and dependence cycle.
The reward pathway in the brain drives continual behavior in daily functioning. But as drugs influence the reward experience, the brain can become rewired to only experience pleasure and reward from the drug, ultimately driving dependence and compulsive use to escalate. As use escalates, so does one’s compulsivity to use. This is why the threshold for addictive behaviors is if someone uses the substance or behavior in spite of punishment. Examples of this include: drinking alcohol and driving, despite previous DUI/DWI’s, or having sex (or masturbating) in public places despite the risk of being exposed or spending money despite the risk of bankruptcy or other legal problems.
Tolerance and dependence go hand in hand. As tolerance increases, so does dependence. As time while using a substance increases, the amount of the substance/behavior needed to recreate the highly desired and needed. For example, no longer is spending $1000 in a day enough- even though spending $1500 or $2000 worth of merchandise or clothing will all be returned anyway. The addictive behavior of drinking, having sexual experiences or excessive purchasing will all become normal or numbing at some point. As one spends more time in the addictive behavior or with the addictive substance, the more thoroughly integrated the problem becomes in someone’s life.
Like last week with pornography, the addictive substance or behavior is serving a purpose in the user’s life. Whether that is because of pain, a need or a dream- all forms of addiction serve a purpose where the use "meets" a need in the user's life. Now, what's next? The easier said than done work of identifying pain's, needs and wants in life while limiting relapse no matter how painful or difficult it may be. Again, easier said than done- but counseling or other recovery programs can facilitate hope for whatever problem(s) you find yourself with today.
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