Pleasure Principle- Addictions

Written by Conception Johnson

Editorials - Did You Know

If you feel uneasy or irritable because you can’t have that sip of wine, that shot of cognac, some of that good ol’ lovin’ … I hate to say this, but you may be suffering from an addiction.

A sign of addiction is when an individual grows irritable when they can’t indulge in their habitual actions. Anyone can be addicted to anything, not just the obvious. Some people are addicted to food, video games, gambling, shopping, the internet, pornography and online social websites.

Addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior. While it is true that an individual initially has the choice of partaking in an addictive behavior, over time brain rewiring occurs and the reprogramming of the mind causes the addictive neurological pathways to take over the brain.

The culprit that mediates addiction is dopamine. All addictions target the “brain's reward system” by flooding the circuit with dopamine.

Dopamine is a chemical in the brain, a neurotransmitter, which carries information from one neuron, nerve cell, to another. Dopamine acts in the brain to influence feelings and behaviors, including paying attention, planning, and moving the body. Dopamine also plays a key role in motivation, pleasure, and addiction.

The brain is neurologically wired to repeat life-sustaining activities by associating those activities with the reward of pleasurable satisfaction. Whenever this reward circuit in the brain is activated, the brain notes that something important is happening, and that it needs to be remembered. This reward system teaches the individual to do the action over and over again without thinking about it.

There are two types of addictions: physiological and psychological. Most people are familiar with physiological addictions that are caused by an external chemical, like cocaine, nicotine or caffeine. Other less commonly know psychological addictions are caused by “internal chemicals” produced by one’s own body when they think specific thoughts in associated with a set action, over and over and over again … thus creating a permanent neurological pathway in their brain that must be continuously feed by their specific thoughts.

So why do people develop addictions:

• to feel good
• to feel better
• to do better
• curiosity and "because others are doing it"

It is important to understand all of your actions and to be knowledge about the personal development of addictions. There are many medical, social, economic and judiciary implications. In other words, there are many diseases, stigmas, work-related issues and criminal activity due to addictions. If a person thinks their life is stressful enough without addictions, imagine life with an addiction. It’s no wonder why many people with addictive personalities commit self-harm and have suicidal thoughts.

Be in control of your actions and DO NOT let your actions control you!

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