- The human brain is
hardwired to seek pleasure.
That's one of its jobs.
Our brains are pretty much a
gigantic network of neurons
that try to school us into learning
which behaviors are worthwhile,
and which ones aren't, on a daily basis.
And today, as countless
people get hooked on things
like drugs, technology or social media,
companies have actually hacked the system.
From junk food to fast
cars, businesses know
how to promote products
that are built for pleasure,
even if they can harm you.
Even doctors with good intentions
sometimes prescribe certain painkillers
that can send brains over the edge
in a pleasure-driven loop
of destructive behavior.
But what actually happens to the brain
of a person with addiction?
It can start with the limbic system,
also known as the reward center,
unleashing the pleasurable
chemical dopamine
when the brain fulfills its craving.
Over time, the recurring shot of dopamine
can turn a compulsion into an addiction.
The brain starts thinking
it must have more of the drug or behavior.
As the addictive behavior takes hold,
the brain will rewire itself,
making it harder to stop
the destructive behavior.
And if you're battling
addiction, you are not alone.
There are ways to get
off this runaway train.
One first step may be
understanding how you got here,
how your brain learned
to reward this behavior.
But the most important step is realizing
there are ways out.
Anyone who is suffering from an addiction
should call your area's addiction hotline
or contact the national help line
from the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services (SAMHS)
at 1-800-662-HELP.
And get control of your
addiction and your brain.
