Tag Archives: Brain and gambling

over the counter drug abuse

Brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy

August 4, 2016
Brain healing

Brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy is very essential for drug addicts

Brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy: What is in a destabilized mind?

If we could give serious attention to the brain each time it is under threat we could be solving so many problems before they escalate. That is because everything that we ever do, say, think or imagine is first analysed from the brain before it is executed. Meaning that if you want good result from the brain, then it must be kept health at all times. Unfortunately the environmental effects on our life won’t just let us have the comfort we need for a proper functioning brain. Because of the magnitude of this problem, we want to seek the professional opinion of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center over this problem. From her experience doctor Akoury is registering that brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy would be very essential under these disturbing circumstances.

Brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy: The damaging effects of substance abuse

One of the greatest problem why we have serious complications with the functionalities of the brain is the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse. Traders in illicit drugs have quitting drug use very difficult and coupled with the addictiveness of these drugs matters are even made worse. In all this the brain bears the greatest burden. And so it will not matter how you got into drug whether through the peer influence or otherwise is not important now. The most important thing is how to get out of it. And that is why doctor Akoury founded this health facility to primarily transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power.

It therefore means that if you want the best treatment that delivers brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy AWAREmed health cent is the place to be. Besides it will also interest you to note that doctor Akoury’s treatment practices focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. If you or anyone you know is struggling with any kind of addiction AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is always there for you and we are very much available on telephone number 843 213 1480. You can call us at convenience any time to schedule for an appointment and we will professionally handle your case in a more dignified way. The health of your brain will be our priority because we perfectly understand why this is the starting point. Brain healing is very important because it is from the brain that denial is defeated and meaningful progress is made in the treatment process.

Brain healing using cognitive behavioral therapy: What is in a destabilized mind?

http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictioninstitute

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addiction

Behavioral addiction treatment process

July 8, 2016
Behavioral addiction treatment

Behavioral addiction treatment process is just as essentials as that of Alcohol and Drug addiction

Behavioral addiction treatment process: Meeting the problem from its roots

Gambling, compulsive shopping, sex and love addiction are just a few examples among many behavioral addictions that can wreak havoc on people’s lives and relationships. Regardless of the symptoms of the addiction (eating, spending, gambling or sex, for example), in order to recover fully and prevent cross addiction treatment must address co-occurring disorders like substance abuse and other mental health issues. Speaking to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, MD effective behavioral addiction treatments process may include evidence-based medications, individual and group therapy, trauma-focused therapies and alternative approaches like mindfulness.

It will interest you to note that doctor Akoury founded this facility to primarily transform people’s lives through increasing awareness about health and wellness and also by empowering them into finding their own inner healing power which is a perfect way of delivering behavioral addiction treatment process to all the victims. Besides that it is also important to note that in her practice, doctor Akoury focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is actually the best treatment approach that will deliver wellness to all people struggling with such kind of addiction. Therefore if you are suffering in silence, then you now have an opportunity to redeem yourself by calling us on telephone number 843 213 1480 for help and we will certainly help you get better in a record time.

Behavioral addiction treatment process: Evidence-based, experiential and trauma-focused

At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, our goal is to see all patients treated and completely transformed to become useful people in the society. That is why we have purposely chosen to take our clients through their recovery process and help them get to their destination by adopting to several treatment approaches and modalities in order to give each client the much desired comprehensive care they need to address their specific issues.

Behavioral addiction treatment process: Healthier ways of coping with addiction difficulties

In all our treatment approaches, we strongly believe that addictions and compulsive behaviors are maladaptive coping patterns that patients often developed to help them survive in the face of difficulty. We will therefore take it upon ourselves to address the real issues whether the symptoms of this difficulty present as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual addiction, intimacy disorders, eating disorders or other destructive behaviors, they are propelled by underlying trauma, attachment issues, mental health challenges and other difficulties. These issues prevent addiction victims from having meaningful, fulfilling experiences and healthy relationships with themselves and their loved ones. Our goal is to thoroughly assess and treat all the collections of issues and co-occurring disorders addiction victims may be struggling with. This way we are able to professionally help them realize that although destructive behaviors may have served their purpose in the past, they are no longer working for them. We only want to help you regain your life back. You can therefore schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for a one on one deliberations.

Behavioral addiction treatment process: Meeting the problem from its roots

http://www.awaremednetwork.com/

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How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication

July 17, 2015

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication: Why it is necessary to protect the brain

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication is one fact that cannot be ignored if any meaningful treatment is to be offered

Communication is very important in human life and it is the key to proper management of human systems whether the system is a group of family members, colleagues at work or in any other set up including as an individual. The body is actually no different and in fact in the absent of good communication our bodies will not function well. It will interest you to note that the brain is responsible for proper communication. Therefore if we want to understand addiction’s effect on the brain chemistry, it will be very important that we first appreciate how communication works. That is why we want to focus on the discussion of how addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication. We are going to rely on the expert opinion from doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. According to the experts at this facility, all the five senses e.g. sight, smell, taste, sound and touch will collect and transmit information about our environment. On receipt the brain will process and analyze this information. It must be noted that even though the brain performs this huge task of processing and analyzing information, it does so by relying on simple electrochemical process for communication.

The brain’s communication system permits specific areas of the brain to rapidly interact with other brain regions. The brain achieves this communication through a vast, interconnected, network of specialized cells called neurons. Our brains have billions of these neuronal connections. These neuronal connections form the foundation for an electro-chemical communication system.

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication: Addiction Changes the Brain’s Chemistry

The composition of the brain is such that it has several sections or regions with each performing a distinctive role. All these sections communicate to each other for proper functionality of their specific roles. And besides the sections, the brain also must communicate to the rest of the body to coordinates the body’s systems like the digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory system among others. This can be illustrated well by taking the example of sports men and women. They must communicate to one another and coordinate as a team. That’s why the brain communication system is crucial for our health, well-being and the overall functioning. It is no wonder that when this communication system is altered, we are affected greatly. Doctor Akoury says that we are able to cope because the brain communication system is changing periodically and adapting to the new environments well. This way we are able to learn, remember and make adjustments to our changing circumstances. Drugs can easily alters this communication systems and therefore it is only fair that we appreciate how this communication system works so that we can understand some of the defining characteristics of addiction which may include cravings, withdrawals, compulsions, and the continued use of addictive substances and activities despite harmful consequences.

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication: The neurons

The neuron is the primary unit of communication within the brain. A single neuron is extremely tiny. Experts are estimating that there are over 100 billion neurons in the human brain. With that you can imagine just how complex and distinct your brain is from the person next to you. And because good communication is of two ways where we both listen (receive information) and at the same time we also speak (send information). The same is applicable to the brain’s communication system with the neurons having the ability to both send and receive communication signals. The dendrite is the portion of a neuron that typically receives information (listens) while the axon is portion of the neuron that sends out information (speaks).

Therefore when humans communicate with each other, we typically use words and gestures. The different parts of the brain communicate with each other using electrical signals. Neurons use electrical pulses to send their communication signals. These electrical impulses are called action potentials. When a neuron fires, the action potential travels down the neuron’s axon where it ends. At the end of the axon is the axon terminal or pre-synapse. In this area, special chemical messengers called neurotransmitters and neuromodulators lay in wait. These are stored in specialized capsules called vesicles. The action potential causes the release of these chemical messengers into an open space between one neuron’s axon and the next neurons’ dendrites. This open space is the synaptic cleft. At the other side of the synaptic cleft is the post synapse that is formed by the dendrites of connecting neurons. In the post synapse, there are special receptors that receive the neurotransmitters.

Receptors and neurotransmitters function in a way that is similar to a keyhole and key. Receptors are like keyholes and neurotransmitters are like the keys. When neurotransmitters fit into the receptors it is called binding. Once a neurotransmitter is bound to a receptor, the key turns the lock. Once the lock opens, it communicates with the receiving neuron’s dendrites. In the post synapse, there may be many different receptors (many different shaped keyholes). However, a particular neurotransmitter may be able to fit into (bind to) several different receptors types. This is similar to the way a single key can open several different locks. The particular receptor type determines the type of signal that is transmitted. Thus, the receptor type is often more critical to the communication than the particular neurotransmitter.

It may be easiest to visualize this communication as a single chain of events: First, a neuron sends an electrical impulse (action potential) down the axon. Next, the electrical impulse causes chemicals (neurotransmitters and neuromodulators) to be released into the space between two neurons. Then these chemicals can signal the next neuron to send an electrical impulse and so on. This electro-chemical process forms the brain’s communication system. In conclusion, it is evident that the functions of the brain in communication are very sensitive and any alteration caused by drugs addiction can have far reaching effects. Therefore before we get there, we must do all it takes to prevent or correct as soon as it is necessary. For this reason it will be prudent for you to schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your addiction recovery process. This is very important more so if the most sensitive organ of the body is involved. So waste no time and make that call now.

How addiction affects the brains chemistry on communication: Why it is necessary to protect the brain

 

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How does substance abuse affect the brain

July 17, 2015

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The most dynamic and complex organ of the body

How does substance abuse affect the brain

The question everybody is asking is “How does substance abuse affect the brain?” This organ must be protected by all means from all kinds of addictions.

The brain is the engine that drives the human body. If the brain is healthy, then it will process all the information given to in in a healthy manner, in the same way if it is struggling with an impurity, the processing of information will also deliver impure result. Therefore we need to understand the brain well if we want to get full optimum from it. We must also care for it well and keep it safe from all substances which are likely to bring damage to it and that is why we want to focus our discussion on how does substance abuse affect the brain. This is a very wide topic and for a couple of times we will be running a series of articles touching on the effects of addiction to the brain. Remember that the brain is the most dynamic and complex organ in our bodies. I believe that you are interested in finding out how to care for this most vital organ of your body. Therefore it will do you good to keep on the link to find out more from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. According to these experts, the proper functionality of the brain delivers quality assurance of our very survival. Doctor Akoury says that when our brains (the human brain) functions well, we are constantly adopting or adjusting to our environment (our surroundings) changes well. What many may not know is that this smooth adaptation is the work of our brain. And ironically, it is the brain’s ability to be so adaptive that contributes to the formation of all manner of addictions. From the various studies conducted by researchers across the globe, it has been established that addiction has direct effect to the brain and that it causes changes to the brain in at least four fundamental ways:

  1. Addiction causes changes to the brain’s natural balance (homeostasis).
  2. Addiction alters brain chemistry.
  3. Addiction changes the brain’s communication patterns.
  4. Addiction causes changes to brain structures and their functioning.

With the help of the professionals we have on board from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to discuss each of these fundamental changes that come with the effects of addiction to the brain progressively.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: Addiction changes the brain’s natural balance homeostasis?

One of the fundamentals in our response to the question of discussion “how does substance abuse affect the brain” is that addiction will always change the brain natural balance which is scientifically known as homeostasis. The truth is that addiction interferes with an important biological process called homeostasis. Scientifically the human body is considered as a biological system. All biological systems attempt to maintain a “normal” balance, known as homeostasis. Doctor Akoury says that the brain actually functions as the administrator of this balance by making various adjustments where is necessary to maintain a balanced, well-functioning, biological system. Each person’s “normal” balance is individually determined. Drugs of abuse and activity addictions lead to changes in this normal balance.

Chronic over-stimulation of the brain (like that which occurs in addiction) interferes with the maintenance of this balance (homeostasis). When the brain has difficulty maintaining homeostatic balance, the wonderfully adaptive brain makes adjustments. It does this by creating a new balanced set-point. The creation of a new balance is called allostasis. This may not be very clear to many, but let me make it simpler by using a daily life illustration. Take for instance if you add more weight by 20 units, you will try fitting into your clothing’s despite the discomfort. But with time this will not be bearable and so you will have to adapt to the new body size by buying new clothes that will fit you well. Once this is done you will be more comfortable and at this point you will get used to the fact that your cloths are now large size and not medium or small sizes as it used to be and in the process your homeostasis balance changes from medium to large. And with this adjustment you become comfortable again. Nonetheless the reverse can also take place in the future where the added 20 units may be lost to keep healthy and when that happens you will be compelled to make further readjustment to your clothing size by buying smaller sizes. Therefore even though at this moment you will be healthy due to the loss, you will still need to make an unpleasant and costly adjustment by buying smaller clothes. This is very similar to the unpleasant adjustment the brain must go through when people try to give up their addiction. Although this is a positive change, we will be uncomfortable while the brain makes readjustments to suits the present circumstances.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The brains ability to cope?

I hope that the concept is coming out clearly from the above illustration. But nonetheless even with the brain’s wonderful ability to make the readjustments, these changes are still causing significant changes to the brain’s functioning. And in fact it is these changes that account for many behaviors associated with addiction such as:

  • The powerful and lustful need to obtain drugs or continue with the indulgence of harmful activities despite the harm to self or loved ones
  • The difficulty of quitting an addictive drug or activity, and
  • The obsessive, all-consuming nature of addictions such that little else in life matters

This is because addiction caused the brain’s balance to change to accommodate the addiction. Once changed, the brain requires the addictive substance or activity in order to maintain this new homeostatic balance. Finally we all have a duty to keep our health above board and the brain is playing a key role in ensuring that this dream is realized. Therefore anything that makes the brain to function improperly must be the biggest enemy to us. I am talking about substance of abuse. Drugs and alcohol are not helping us in anyway. All we get from them is poor health and social discrimination. I want to offer you a solution if you or anyone you know is struggling with any form of addiction. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a one on one sharing of what you are going through and she will in the most professional way offer you lasting solutions to all your concerns.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The most dynamic and complex organ of the body

 

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Dopamine and Addiction

April 1, 2014

Dopamine and Addiction-Their roles

Brain

The brain is affected by both genes and environmental factors

Dopamine is neurotransmitter in the brain that plays vital roles in a variety of different behaviors. The major behaviors dopamine affects are movement, cognition, pleasure, and motivation. Dopamine is an essential component of the basal ganglia motor loop, as well as the neurotransmitter responsible for controlling the exchange of information from one brain area to another. However, it is the role that dopamine plays in pleasure and motivation that attracts the most neurobiologists attention.

In certain areas of the brain when dopamine is released it gives one the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction. These feelings of satisfaction become desired, and the person will grow a desire for the satisfaction. To satisfy that desire the person will repeat behaviors that cause the release of dopamine. For example food and sex release dopamine. That is why people want food even though their body does not need it and why people sometimes need sex. These two behaviors scientifically make sense since the body needs food to survive, and humans need to have sex to allow the race to survive. However, other, less natural behaviors have the same effect on one’s dopamine levels, and at times can even be more powerful. Often these behaviors can result in addiction due their effect on dopamine, and that addiction can have negative effects on a person’s well-being. Two of such behaviors are

Dopamine and Addiction-Cocaine

Cocaine is by far the more severe of the two in terms of addiction. Cocaine chemically inhibits the natural dopamine cycle. Normally, after dopamine is released, it is recycled back into a dopamine transmitting neuron. However, cocaine binds to the dopamine, and does not allow it to be recycled. Thus there is a buildup of dopamine, and it floods certain neural areas. The flood ends after about 30 minutes, and the person is left yearning to feel as he or she once did. That is how the addiction begins. With time adaptation builds up due to the fact that the person is consistently behaving in the same way that he or she had the first time. However, the individual cannot, because dopamine is also released when something pleasurable yet unexpected occurs. During the first time, the person expects the effect, thus less dopamine is released, and the experience is less satisfying. This cause explains why gambling releases dopamine.

Many studies have been done which targeted neural response to rewards. The findings were in agreement that when one performed an action repeatedly, and is given a reward randomly, the dopamine levels rises. If the reward is administered for example every four times the action was performed, the dopamine levels remained constant. Whereas when no reward is given dopamine levels dropped. These random rewards can be seen in gambling and since the outcome is based on chance, one does may not know prior if he or she will win. Therefore, if he or she wins, dopamine levels increases. However, unlike cocaine, gambling causes addiction in relatively low levels of participants. This is because Cocaine’s chemical input is much more influential on dopamine levels than gambling’s behavioral input meaning only people whose dopamine levels are low, become addicted to gambling.

Dopamine and Addiction-Variance in dopamine levels

This is may be due to genetics, environment related or a combination of factors. A study concluded that pathological gamblers most often experienced traumatizing experiences when they were younger. Since most people who became addicted to gambling have low dopamine levels, and also that same group usually has endured a traumatic experience, it was concluded the overall dopamine levels can change due to environmental factors. This supports the opinion that both the mind and the brain can change due to environmental factors.

However, another study has discovered that a gene related to dopamine is sported twice as often in pathological gamblers than non-gamblers. This view supports the observation that dopamine levels are genetic. We can therefore come up with two possible observations. Either both genetics and environmental factors effect ones brain anatomy and mind simultaneously, or that environmental factors can affect genes which in turn affect ones brain and mind.

Dopamine and Addiction-Why is risk and reward a trigger for the release of dopamine?
It’s scientifically logical that sex and food release dopamine, because they are essential for life the life of human beings. Risk and reward are not.  It is believed that everything happens for a reason; meaning, there must be a scientific explanation for the increase of dopamine levels as a result of risk and reward. Let us look at it this way, that the human race is different from other species on this planet not only by its ability to reason, but also its ability to create and be innovative. Therefore nature dictates that humans be creative and innovative, and for this to happen a person should have some level of satisfaction when one accomplishes an innovation.

To accomplish an innovation one has to take risks. It is risky to try to do something that no other being on earth has ever accomplished. Therefore, there must be a reward other than material that one gets when he or she accomplishes the innovation, otherwise that person would not take the risk. The reward here is the release of dopamine and the feeling of satisfaction. The problem with this process is that not only can one be satisfied after a major risk and accomplishment, but that one can also be satisfied through constant minute risks and accomplishments. Gambling is an example of this.

The feeling of satisfaction that dopamine exhibits are so strong that one can often lose his or her ability to reason in order to achieve satisfaction. It is then the unconscious that takes over and begins to make certain decisions. The brain develops neural circuits that unconsciously assess reward. Since dopamine plays an active role in these circuits, people will act in what they think is in their best interest, when in fact the only interest it satisfies is the release of dopamine. This can be exemplified in gambling where one insists on gambling even though he or she knows that the odds are against them.

This is the case in all casino games, where the games are structured for the house to win. Probability and reason no longer are the most important factors in decision making. The unconscious need for the release of dopamine becomes most important. This supports the observation that the unconscious plays a vital role in decision making.

From this article of dopamine and addiction we can make some fair general observations about the brain that:

  • Both a chemical (cocaine) and a behavior (gambling) can have the same effect on the brain.
  • The brain is affected by both genes and environmental factors, and that most likely the environmental factors affect genes which affect the brain.
  • Dopamine makes humans take risks so that they may achieve greater innovations.
  • Through gambling the unconscious is constantly making important decisions.

Dopamine and Addiction-Their roles

 

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