Why do addictions happen? / Dopamine Ups & Downs, Cravings, Neurobiology & Neuroscience

I prepared a summary to introduce you to this topic:

The crucial brain reward neurotransmitter activated by addictive drugs is dopamine, specifically in the “second-stage” ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens link in the brain’s reward circuitry. This has been learned over many decades of research, and is based upon many congruent findings.

When we crave something, it signals our brain’s demand for a substance or action linked to pleasure or alleviation of discomfort. This demand triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which stimulates the brain’s reward pathways, creating a compelling urge for the craved item or activity.

Animal studies have shown that when cortisol is released with chronic stress, changes in the brain’s response can lead to lower dopamine levels and increased cravings. Stress has also been associated with increased levels of the hormone ghrelin, again causing stronger cravings.

Today, Crystal meth releases more dopamine in the brain compared to any other drug. Dopamine is a brain neurotransmitter that serves a number of functions, including the feeling of pleasure. When crystal meth leads to a powerful surge of dopamine in the brain, people feel motivated to seek it out again and again.

Additionally, the intensified dopamine response in the brain that mood-altering drugs produce does not naturally stop once the behaviour is initiated or completed (as is the case with natural reward behaviours such as eating or having sex); as a result, cravings for the rewards associated with the drug continue to occur.

Dopamine affects movement, emotion, learning, reward, and executive functions. High levels may result in impulsiveness and aggression, while low levels may lead to tiredness and a lack of motivation.

High dopamine symptoms include anxiety, excessive energy, insomnia, and hallucinations. Low dopamine levels are associated with brain fog, mood swings, and muscle spasms.

When we constantly overstimulate ourselves with things like excessive screen time, gaming, and unhealthy eating, it can lead to issues like addiction and poor mental health. During a dopamine detox, you have to avoid activities like social media, gaming, junk food, and even work.

Engage in Natural Dopamine-Boosting Activities: Physical exercise, meditation, exposure to sunlight, engaging in hobbies, and listening to music can naturally increase dopamine levels. These activities not only help in elevating mood but also in reducing cravings.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

1 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the science of addiction, focusing on the role of dopamine to understand why quick rewards make addiction so hard to combat. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

2 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the dopamine-driven cycle of craving and motivation.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

pleasure & pain are co-located in your brain | psychiatry, brain health & wellbeing

dopamine fasting: we want homeostasis to get restored !

*too much pleasure easily accessible is stressing

2 Dec 2021

“DOPAMINE FASTING” – Overcome Addiction & Restore Motivation In this video Dr. Anna Lembke explains how dopamine fasting is the idea that if you avoid dopamine stimulating activities for extended periods of time, you will be able to ‘reset your brain’ and let go of addictive behaviors that negatively impact your life.

Anna Lembke is an American psychiatrist who is Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University.

Lembke appeared in the 2020 Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma.

Homeostasis is any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival. If homeostasis is successful, life continues; if it’s unsuccessful, it results in a disaster or death of the organism.

Allostasis proposes that efficient regulation requires anticipating needs and preparing to satisfy them before they arise, as opposed to homeostasis, in which the goal is a steady state. Allostasis, stability through variation, was proposed by Sterling and Eyer in 1988 as a new model of physiological regulation.

Allostasis vs Homeostasis Allostasis is the process of achieving stability through physiological, behavioral changes during the changing conditions. Homeostasis is simply the maintaining stable internal environment in an organism despite the changes that occur in the external environment.

Homeostasis is a state of equilibrium, of balance within the organism, whereas allostasis is the overall process of adaptive change necessary to maintain survival and well-being.

Celery juice is magic for your body | health & beauty

celery juice

Fresh, crispy celery sticks consist of almost 95% water, yet when it comes to its effects on the body, it can be life-changing.

Celery juice is one of the healthiest drinks out there. So what will happen if you consume it every single day for a week? Can it actually transform your looks and improve your body’s work?

TIMESTAMPS:

It makes your liver happy 0:23

It makes your bones unbreakable (well, sort of) 1:16

It keeps your cholesterol levels at bay 1:54

It protects you from anemia 2:34

It lowers your risk of cancer 3:12

It’s a good cure for insomnia 4:16

It helps to deal with depression 4:56

It makes your hair thick and smooth 5:43

… and helps to get clear skin 6:20

It’s really good for weight loss 7:15

SUMMARY:

– This natural drink is high in a number of vitamins and elements like iron, which makes celery a wonderful natural “tonic” for your liver.

– If you wanna make sure your bones are getting all the crucial vitamins, celery juice is exactly what you need!

– There aren’t that many natural ways to keep cholesterol levels at bay, but drinking celery juice is certainly one of them.

– When it comes to healthy blood, celery juice is one of the top drinks that should be on your menu at all times.

– A study from the Journal of Cancer Protection confirmed celery’s anti-cancer properties, stating that its flavonoids can suppress the progression of prostate cancer and slow down the proliferation of cancer cells.

– Celery juice contains a healthy dose of magnesium, which calms your nerves and relaxes your muscles, putting you in a sleepy state almost instantly.

– Celery contains a number of mineral salts that have a positive effect on your nervous system, making you feel relaxed and lifting your mood.

– There are numerous products that can make your hair look luscious, but none of them can be compared to celery juice.

– Celery juice is perfect for dealing with wrinkles as it’s packed with vitamins A, B, C, and K and other minerals that enhance the production of collagen, making your skin look young and beautiful.

– If you’re looking for an all-natural way to lose weight, celery juice is at your service!

Dead to Me a new TV series on Netflix | trailer

Dead to Me | Season 1 Official Trailer | Netflix

Misery just found company. Dead to Me starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini premieres May 3 2019 only on Netflix.

exercises and tricks to sleep better ~ health and beauty

How to sleep better !

How to get rid of insomnia? Once you don’t get enough sleep, that’s it. People seem terribly annoying, work stalls, and the future seems unattractive.

Lots of stress, hypodynamia, hours spent at the wheel or computer — it all makes our back muscles stiff and prevents us from relaxing before sleep.

That’s why we toss and turn for hours before getting a shallow and troubled sleep. Bright Side collected several simple but effective tricks for back muscle relief which will help you fall asleep faster and get sound sleep. You can do them right on the bed, and they’ll suit people with any level of fitness.

TIMESTAMPS:

Wind-relieving pose 0:48

Feet on the wall 1:40

Wave exercises 2:17

Shavasana 3:26

SUMMARY: – Pawanmuktasana, or wind-relieving pose, relieves the entire spine, especially the lower back and thighs, in a minute. Also, this yoga pose regulates the work of the intestine. Therefore, it’s useful to do it in the morning. –

The feet on the wall position rests the legs and back, opens the chest, and allows the lungs to be satiated with oxygen before going to bed. –

Wave exercises allow you to relax your back even more — they “get” to the deep muscles of the spine, located under the surface layers. – If you do Shavasana properly before bed, it’ll be really easy to fall asleep.

You’ll feel how the world is vanishing, and your whole body is as relaxed as possible. It’s time to cover yourself with a blanket and go to sleep.

 

to get more info about sleeping better, visit:

https://brainperks4u.wordpress.com/2019/06/09/sleep-better-and-quicker-health-beauty/

https://brainperks4u.wordpress.com/2019/06/09/these-herbs-infusions-will-help-you-burn-belly-fat-sleep-better-health-beauty/

 

sleep better and quicker ! ~ health & beauty

Fall asleep quicker & sleep better !

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you toss and turn at night? A good night’s sleep is necessary for optimal health. So if you’re one of the millions of people in the world who suffers from a sleep disorder or you want to fall asleep faster, watch this video to learn a trick straight from the US military.

The amount of sleep a person needs depends greatly on their age. Knowing how much you should be sleeping can help you figure out if your sleep routine works or if it needs tweaking. Babies normally sleep for most of the day (around 16 hours), teenagers require about 9 hours a day, and adults require 7 to 8 hours a day.

TIMESTAMPS:

What insomnia can lead to 1:44

Step 1 2:42

Step 2 3:07

Step 3 3:34

Step 4 3:43

Step 5 4:00

Other tips to fall asleep quickly 6:13

SUMMARY: – According to the American Sleep Association, 50–70 million US adults suffer from sleep disorders. It’s estimated that around 20% of people worldwide suffer from sleep deprivation. –

Insomnia can be common if people are under a great amount of stress, experiencing big life changes, or having emotional difficulties. –

If you suffer from insomnia, a lack of sleep can cause hormonal imbalances, which lead to weight gain, slower reaction times, irritability, memory problems, depression, and headaches. –

Lie face up in bed. Relax your facial muscles, including your tongue, jaw, and the muscles around your eyes. If you realize you have a frown, really focus on releasing the area in the center of your forehead. –

Drop your shoulders as low as possible. This will also help you stretch and release the tension in your neck. Then relax your upper and lower arm on one side, and then try it with the other arm. – Breathe out, and relax your chest. Feel your lungs fill up with air. – Relax your legs.

Release the tension from your thighs first, and then let the relaxation travel down to your calves. Finally, focus on your feet and ankles. – Now that the muscles in your body are relaxed, it’s time to clear your mind completely. – When the pilots were trained in this exercise, they performed it sitting down on a chair.

In those exercises, they put their feet flat on the floor, placed their hands on their laps, and let them go limp.

these herbs & infusions will help you burn belly fat & sleep better ~ health & beauty

Herbs & Infusions

I have designed a healthy concoction drink that will increase your bodies metabolism to help burn belly fat while sleeping. Our metabolism is at its lowest when we are sleeping.

This combination of these healthy herbs, spices, and fruit will help kick start the fat-burning process.

I hope you get great results! Dr M Not only does L-Theanine help you relax and prepare for sleep, but studies have shown it may also improve the quality of that sleep.

Matcha has the highest levels of L-Theanine.

Remember that everyone’s chemistry is different and as a mentioned if it does affect your sleep, drink this first thing in the morning on empty stomach.

how to feel better using reflexology ~ health & beauty

Reflexoloy & brain stimulation

How to Heal Yourself with Reflexology. In case you’re that type of person who runs to the pharmacy and grabs pills, ointment, syrup, or drops to feel better whenever you feel even slightly sick, there’s an alternative for you.

It’s a known fact that while meds do help get rid of a current health problem, they can also have nasty side effects and do serious damage to your internal organs. If you want to stay healthy without paying much money for medications, try using pressure points on your body for your treatment.

If you haven’t heard of reflexology before, it basically involves applying pressure to certain points on your body to cure different health problems. Reflexology can effectively relieve pain, help with insomnia, and get rid of headaches and even nausea.

TIMESTAMPS

How to get rid of a headache 1:30

How to stop nasal congestion 2:09

How to fight fatigue 3:02

How to cure a backache 4:01

How to relieve stress 5:12

How to cure a toothache 6:15

How to treat nausea 6:58

How to deal with rapid heartbeat 7:49

How to lose excess weight 8:33

How to cure insomnia 9:17

Music: The Morning After. Bad Snacks https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/…

SUMMARY -One of the most effective pressure points to get rid of a headache is the “Third Eye Pressure Point”.

It’s situated right above the bridge of your nose between your eyebrows. -Position your index fingers near the edges of your nostrils so that you can feel your cheekbones. Massage these points for 2 or 3 minutes to get rid of nasal congestion. -Massage the pressure point situated in the little dip between your upper lip and nose for a couple of minutes until you feel that you’re ready to function again. –

There are several pressure points that are effective at getting rid of back pain. One of them can be found on your palm between your thumb and index finger. Use the thumb and index finger of your other hand to massage this spot for 15 seconds. -Sit back in your chair and feel for two small symmetrical indentations where your neck meets your skull. Use the pads of your middle fingers to massage the pressure points clockwise for about 5 minutes to relieve stress. –

Try massaging the place found on the fleshy pad between your index finger and thumb on its highest point. Do this for several minutes until you feel some relief from your toothache. -The main pressure point you should locate to stop feeling nauseous is situated near your wrist on your inner arm. -If you bend your fingers, it’s the place on your pam where the tip of your middle finger ends up. Massage this pressure point in counterclockwise circular motions to slow down a rapid heartbeat. –

You absolutely can apply pressure to particular points on your body to rid yourself of several unwanted pounds. Position your fingers on both sides of your jaw and close and open your mouth several times. You need the point where most of the movement happens. –

To cure insomnia, you can start with the “Spirit Gate” point. It’s located in the hollow space on the crease of your wrist directly below your pinkie.

Are u sabotaging your sleep ? | insomnia & health

Here’s something to keep you up at night; you could be sabotaging your sleep without even knowing it.