“We become what we repeatedly do.”
Day 14 Morning Scorecard and Change Self-Reflection:
Addiction: This Is Your Brain on Drugs
This picture shows normal blood flow seen in healthy brain.
(photos courtesy of AMEN clinics)
The same rules apply to any substance you put into your body, it doesn’t matter if it’s alcohol, drugs, or caffeine. Excess intake in any form will always become a problem. Outward physical signs of deterioration are only one sign of an issue. However, anything that gets put into your body has an effect, even if you can't see it. If you do enough of anything the effects on your brain can be quite large. If you don’t believe me, then just check out the images below that depict the end result of alcohol and drug overuse. The SPECT scans below show lack of blood flow to different areas of the brain after repeated use of a substance. Although we might not be fully aware of the damage these substances are causing, alcohol and drugs restrict blood flow to certain parts of the brain. If certain areas like the prefrontal cortex don’t have access to blood then bad decisions will inevitably result. This is due to the fact that blood is “food” for the brain. When this "food" supply is cut off by amygloid plaque buildup, caused by alcohol and drugs, then important areas of your brain will suffer. Although no outward signs to your body will be apparent, the symptoms of that buildup can be identified in a person's ability to function. Some examples of those symptoms may include legal issues, divorces, depression, anxiety, or relationship issues. All of this is very bad news for your brain if you use alcohol or drugs regularly. The good news, however, is that if you stop using substances or cut back dramatically the “pipes” (blood vessels) in your brain that have been clogged will eventually become clear again.
MARIJUANA: SPECT SCAN of a 16 year old with two year history of marijuana daily use. The dark spots show decreased temporal lobe activity, an area most closely associated with motivation.
“Alcohol and drugs are not the problem. Reality is the problem and alcohol drugs seem like the solution.”
This SPECT scans shows a marked decrease in blood flow to prefrontal cortex. Too much or too little activity in this area makes you unpredictable and moody.
FACT: When your brain sees a potential dopamine source, it not only activates the mesolimbic (pleasure) pathway in your brain, it also sends a signal to your amygdala (fear center).
TAKEAWAY: When your brain sees something it wants it not only reminds you of the possible rewards but also throws in some fear to make sure you get both the “carrot and the stick.” The brain puts fear in there to make you believe that without those sources of dopamine you might die, making you all the more likely to pick up that piece of cake, maybe even two pieces.
Euphoric Recall: When the Good isn’t as Good as You Remember
Your brain is guilty of 'euphoric recall' when you can remember all the happy times without taking into account all the crap that went with it. Euphoric recall is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because it helps you forget all the pain and suffering that went into a challenge and motivates you forward to next hurdle. However, it's also a curse for the very same reasons. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that your brain would downplay the dangerous aspects of finding food in order to motivate you out of the cave and into the berry bushes. What doesn't make sense, however, is when we only remember the positive aspects of a drunken Friday night but forget the splitting headache that happened the next morning. When this happens repeatedly our brain's euphoric recall button isn't working properly as the bad starts to outweigh the good. So try to take in the whole picture when analyzing your drinking and drug use, because this survival strategy of our brains may have worked in the jungle but it's killing us today.
FACT: U.S. citizens makes up 6% of the world’s population but consume 65% of the world’s drugs.
TAKEAWAY: Moderation is not part of the U.S. value system.