Category Archives: addiction

drug abuse

Addiction stinging strains in relationships

July 30, 2016
Addiction stinging strains

Addiction stinging strains in relationships causes more damage along the way

Addiction stinging strains in relationships: The harm affects everyone

I am always very disturbed listening to people surrounding victims of addiction. Many at times drug addicts are seen as criminals and people with lose morals. This is a serious way of defeating any effort being made to kick substance abuse out of the communities. People who are struggling with any kind of addiction does not cease to be members of our families or communities because of their situation. Alcohol and drug abuse are a disease like any other and must not be seen as moral inadequacy on the part of the victim. As a matter of facts the pain that comes with addiction of a member of the family is a serious problem to the whole family unit. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center reiterates that people may ignore but addiction stinging strains in relationship is very costly.

Addiction stinging strains in relationships: Being poor role model

Take for example just to explain how this is a family problem. When you being the head of the family is smoking cigarette, your children who are very good student of observation are learning from you. And to them what daddy does is always the correct thing. If these children were to be told otherwise, they are likely to ignore the voice of truth and stick to the observation they have made from their father who is their most immediate teacher, protector and role model. Look at that are you still considering your position of this being the problem of the direct victim alone and not of the whole unit of family? The problem here is that children brought out in such kind of environment are serious candidates of addiction to all the substances they may have seen being abused by their parents. And when they start using the same substances, their parents may not have the oral authority of stopping them. At this point it leaves the corridors of the family and escalates to the society.

Addiction stinging strains in relationships: Finding lasting solution to all kinds of addictions

Even as we turn our focus to finding solutions, it is important to note that the addiction stinging strains in relationships can impact on your health too. With the family straining and relationships falling apart, people are likely to become anxious, mistrustful and tired. Besides that an overwhelming sense of hopelessness can set in too and because addiction hurts the whole family, it is therefore very essential that solutions are tailored to restoring the whole family which therefore means that even as we seek for professional solutions, recovery process from addiction will greatly depend on the commitment and willingness of the family.

That is true but professionally on our part under the leadership of doctor Akoury who made a passionate decision of creating a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Ours is to stand in the gap with medical solutions for those who are going to come seeking for help. Doctor Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms and we believe that this is all you need to be whole again. You can talk to us on telephone number 843 213 1480 and your problems will be addressed professionally.

Addiction stinging strains in relationships: The harm affects everyon

http://www.awaremednetwork.com/

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drug abuse

Dopamine influence in substance abuse

July 30, 2016
Dopamine influence

Dopamine influence in substance abuse and with good treatment, Specific neurotransmitters affected by drugs can be eliminated for a greater freedom.

Dopamine influence in substance abuse: The brain reward center

Drug seeking and craving to the brain is very interesting more so when we consider how the brain functions. It is true that the brain has evolved over time in a way that ensures human survival. And in fact our brain’s reward system is part of that survival system. In many instances we often experience an urgent need for food whenever we are starving and generally have a powerful desire for sex too. According to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the brain’s reward system rewards food and sex because they ensure our survival. Unfortunately, drugs of abuse operate within these reward systems which leads people to experience an urgent need or powerful desire for drugs or addictive activities.

The brain’s reward system has ensured our species survival. You may have not known but food, water, and sex are some of the elements that activate the reward system. Therefore when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine. Dopamine then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation which then motivates us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. Doctor Akoury recommends that from an evolutionary standpoint of view, it is very helpful to have a reward system that works. Like for instance, imagine that there is very little food and you’re wandering about looking for food. When you finally find something to eat, this triggers your reward system. This pleasing feeling (dopamine “reward”) will become associated with whatever behavior that led you to that food. This causes you to want to repeat that behavior. Moreover, the reward system is closely tied to emotional and subjective memories. If you were successful and found food in a particular place for instance, in the future you will want to look for food in the same location. This reward system increases the likelihood that you will be successful in finding food there the next time. This is because your brain chemicals are rewarding you with a pleasing sensation. It also helps you to remember how and where this pleasant feeling occurred.

The negatives of reward sensations

It will come to you as a surprise that the element that motives your survival is unfortunately the very same reward system that ensures your survival also rewards drug use. Doctor Akoury says that all addictive substances and activities will trigger the release of dopamine which rewards us with a pleasant sensation thereby succeeding in motivating us to continuously indulge in these harmful behaviors. It is nowadays common knowledge that peoples with addiction problems will do all it takes to get their drug of choice and in the same way, they continue with their addiction despite the harm it causes to themselves or their loved ones.

It is therefore very important to note that all these characteristic of addictive behaviors arise from the brain’s pleasure and rewards centers. Therefore seeking for lasting solutions becomes a must to do for all victims. This may not be a very popular thing owing to the addictiveness of some of these drugs, but nonetheless it is the best option if you want to have a healthy life that is free from all sorts of addiction. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for the commencement of your journey to recovery.

Dopamine influence in substance abuse: The brain reward center

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Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics

July 30, 2016
Dopamine reward master

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics. The neurotransmission and substance abuse needs immediate treatment

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

While we were looking at the dopamine influence in substance abuse, it became quite clear that when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine which then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation primarily to motivate us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. That in itself is a testimony that dopamine reward master is the fueling the human survival. With that understanding of the purpose and functioning of the brains reward system. It would be important that we interrogate its (dopamine reward master) functions a little bit further.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

The circuit most associated with pleasure and reward is the mesolimbic pathway which is located in the brainstem. The objective of this area of the brain is primarily concerned with basic survival. Within the mesolimbic pathway is an area called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA projects to the nucleus accumbens (thought to be the reward center). The neurotransmitter most commonly linked with the mesolimbic system is dopamine. Many people consider dopamine to be the driving force behind the human pursuit of pleasure. The release of dopamine is a pleasurable sensation. The release of dopamine motivates us to repeat behaviors or activities that prompted this release. This system’s purpose was to promote survival by rewarding life sustaining behaviors such eating and procreation.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Nucleus accumbens

All addictive drugs and activities release varying amounts of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens with stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine releasing the most. However when it comes to drugs like alcohol or heroin, the brain’s own opiate system (endorphins) also gets involved. Doctor Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center reiterates that even though different forms of addictions have different effects in the nucleus accumbens, they share one common denominator, that is, they all activate the reward system which in turn motivates us to repeat those behaviors, even though they may be harmful. Besides what we have discussed about the concepts of reward, pleasure, and craving together, it is however very important to appreciate that there is a distinction between pleasure-seeking and drug seeking. Note that pleasure-seeking is all about the pleasurable, rewarding aspect of addiction while drug-seeking refer to the craving aspect of addiction. Dopamine may be more involved in drug-seeking (craving) component of addiction. The opiate (endorphin), GABA, or glutamatergic systems may be more involved in pleasure-seeking aspect of addiction too.

Finally pleasure-seeking and drug-seeking (cravings) are inter-related, yet distinct. Research has established that natural rewards (food, water, sex) typically lessen their influence on the reward system over time. As a behavior occurs more often, dopamine levels tend to decrease in the process. Psychologists call this habituation. This makes sense. Once you’ve eaten enough food, you don’t need to be rewarded for eating more food. Then you would be eating too much, or too much of one type of food. Therefore everyone needs to take heed of keeping the brain free from all attacks be it from substances or otherwise. Talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury should be your starting point. Call us today to schedule that very important appointment today for the commencement of your journey to full recovery from your addiction.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

http://www.awaremednetwork.com/

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over the counter drug abuse

Cue anticipation role in addiction development

July 30, 2016
Cue anticipation role

Cue anticipation role in addiction development knows no boundary

Cue anticipation role in addiction development: Emotional memory

As we were discussing previously about defeating addictive habits and formation, it became clear that memory is a key factor in addiction. We want to further that discussion by focusing on another important factor in the development of addiction. Essentially we are making reference to the cue anticipation and the role it plays in the development of addiction. Cue anticipation refers to environmental cues that can initiate or elevate craving that often leads to relapse. Because of these functions, they (cues) are often called relapse triggers meaning that, a successful recovery plan will include a strategy for coping with cues (relapse triggers).

Cue anticipation role in addiction development: Environmental cues

These environmental cues (relapse triggers) can be anything that is associated with the addiction. It could be a certain time of day, a place, a person, or an activity. For instance, suppose a man is addicted to pornography use and because of that he usually gets online after his wife goes to bed to satisfy his addiction. The mere act of his wife getting ready to go to bed serves as a cue that prompts powerful cravings. Later, even his own anticipation of his wife going to bed will serve as a powerful cue. The amygdala’s role in emotional memory is responsible for these cues taking root. The brain forms an association between pleasant memories of drug use or addictive activities, and the cues. The more a person repeats this cycle, the more it strengthens the emotional memory circuits associated with these cues (cue anticipation). Eventually, this leads to a complete pre-occupation with the addiction.

Finally, so far our discussion has been focusing on the role of amygdala and positive emotional memories. Nonetheless the brain may also form an association between unpleasant emotions and a memory thereby forming a “bad” memory. For your information, these negative emotional memories play an important role in withdrawal. The negative emotional memory of anxiety becomes associated with the physical signs of withdrawal. And as withdrawal begins, the symptoms trigger an unpleasant emotional memory. This increases the negative experience of withdrawal.

Withdrawal avoidance (via returning to the addiction) often becomes the cornerstone of the addiction in the later stages. Thus, in the earlier stages of addiction the pleasurable experience of the drug motivates a repetition of that behavior. In the later stages, relief of withdrawal symptoms (physical and/or emotional discomfort) achieves pleasure. This pleasurable relief from withdrawal symptoms continues to motivate the repetition of that behavior. I strongly believe that this is a very interesting topic that needs further consultation with the experts. What we have discussed here may not be conclusive and therefore you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for more health insight about addiction and the brain.

Cue anticipation role in addiction development: Emotional memory

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drug abuse

Addiction chemical alteration to the brains functions

July 30, 2016
Addiction chemical alteration

Addiction chemical alteration to the brains functions a great danger for health

Addiction chemical alteration to the brains functions: The brains communication system

New neural pathways are formed as addiction develops. This is because addiction chemical alteration to the brain’s communication system takes effect with such intoxications. In other words when you take drugs away, the brain will revert again to form new neural pathways. Neuroplasticity explains why the initial period of recovery is difficult and uncomfortable. But the good news is that, this difficulty is only temporal. Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about addiction chemical alteration, doctor Akoury MD registers that this piece of information is very helpful to especially when attempting recovery. From our previous illustration where a tree fell on the usual path way and so you needed to navigate to get through, some difficulties could be experience. In the same way when undertaking the recovery journey in addiction treatment, it can be difficult and uncomfortable while these new neural pathways are forming. As long as the recovering person does not give up during this initial period of discomfort, new neural pathways will form that support recovery. These new pathways will become more established and better developed over time. As they do, recovery becomes easier and more comfortable thereby defeating any addiction chemical alteration to the functions of the brain.

Addiction chemical alteration to the brains functions: Effects of addictive substances on the brain

Going by the facts mentioned above about the adaptive and the dynamic qualities of our brains to ensure our survival, I want to be persuaded that you are now somewhere as far as keeping your brain healthy. The next point I want to raise on how addiction changes the brains communication pathways may be quite unfortunate. Why do I say so, it is because the brain’s ability to be so adaptive is also at the root of addiction. Doctor Akoury says that the brain has the ability to adapt not only to the harmless substances and activities but also to the strong effects of addictive drugs and activities. And when it does, there will be damaging changes happening in the brain regions which are associated with reward including the memory and emotion, decision-making and stress regulations. These changes to our brain make the repeated use of addictive substances or activities very compelling. The good news is that our brains’ neuroplasticity allows us to correct these changes! Therefore, although addiction chemical alteration leads to structural changes in the brain, we are capable of learning new coping skills. The brain’s plasticity allows these new coping skills to be imprinted.

Finally we will be discussing these structural changes in the next series of articles and we want to urge you not to go away but to stay with us on the link and where possible invite a friend too. In the meantime having such powerful information about the most sensitive organ in your body the brain is very helpful in keeping you healthy. I am saying so because when you know, you will not do things that will cause harm to your health, and if you have already caused an injury, then you can take measures to remedy the situation by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury to professionally take your through the recovery treatment process today.

Addiction chemical alteration to the brains functions: The brains communication system

http://www.integrativeaddictionconference.com/wp-admin

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