Development of addiction

From many people who, for example use tobacco, one can often hear “I Have no physical dependence, only psychological”.

In fact, both types of addiction are part of one process. Moreover, the dependence on different substances appears due to the same mechanisms.

For example, nicotine and alcohol have different psychotropic effects. But, like other drugs, are United by one thing – the release of pleasure hormone dopamine in the so-called zone of rewards in the brain.

Awards zone is responsible for the pleasure that a person receives as a result of an action. The result is the formation of the first mental and then physical dependence of the person from drugs.

Psychological dependence

Chain of formation of psychological dependence is very simple: the use of psychoactive substances – excitation zone rewards — the pleasure – the memory about pleasure – the desire to experience it again by the same, already well-known and fairly simple way.

As a result, the mind of the addict generates three features:

1. The source of addiction (cigarette, alcohol) becomes an important or essential value. The need to drink or smoke overshadows other needs.

2. Man considers himself unable to resist his desire (“I can’t refuse another glass”).

3. Man feels controlled from the outside (“not I decide to drink, it is something with me, it’s vodka made the decision for me, so the circumstances”).

What makes us use it

When a person has formed a dependency on a substance, behavior begins to form a pattern of behavior aimed at finding and obtaining the desired substance. Usually, the stereotype of sleeping, but there are many “triggers” that lead it into action.

Among them:

— the beginning of the syndrome (different forces discomfort when stopping),

— use of other psychoactive substances (for example, for drinking – Smoking),

— offer to use of psychoactive substance (even without a real way to do it),

— the lack of positive emotions at any time of life,

— stress,

— memories of previous uses of psychoactive substances

— getting into the environment that accompanied previous use.

If efforts to obtain a new dose was successful, the person experiences positive emotions. If not, he gets an extra dose of negative emotions, which in turn reinforce the stereotype.

Increased tolerance

Over time, the body’s sensitivity to psychoactive substance weakens. The body to achieve the desired effect requires increasing dose. Increases the deadly for the body dose as well, but the dose needed for pleasure, coming ever closer to fatal.

As a result, formed two closed cycles. First, in addition to lower sensitivity with the constant use of psychoactive substances, there is a sharp increase in sensitivity when the secondary reception. In this case, after a period of abstinence the body gets much more pleasure in the new use.

And, secondly, accustomed to the constant stimulation of the area of awards it is further excited the more difficult. As a result, people often are in a state of anhedonia – inability to experience pleasure. The result – the launch of addictive behavior.

Physical dependence

With constant exposure to psychoactive substances is changing the structure of perception of dopamine in the cells of the body. In the result of the discontinuation of these substances, a person experiences discomfort from different forces.

Alcohol is different from nicotine, it acts on all systems of neuroregulatory. Therefore the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is considered the most powerful addiction — it affects all organs and systems of the body.

Or “only” metabolic disorders: hypoxia (insufficient supply of oxygen), abnormal acid-base balance in cells and disruption of water and electrolyte balance in the body. Or, in more severe cases, disorders of the Central nervous system, hallucinations.

Alcohol withdrawal may even cause death.

Remember

Alcohol and nicotine is a narcotic substance. They directly influence the nervous system.

Addiction is a complex physiological process that is very simple to start and it is very difficult to interrupt. And if such a dependence appeared you must try to get rid of it as soon as possible.

More about addiction watch in the video below: