As a whole, your brain functions like a gigantic circuit board, with millions of little neurons interconnecting to form the wiring of your nervous system, both literally and figuratively. Like a supercomputer, your gray matter processes thoughts, memories, desires, and additional sensations that outline who we are and what we want to do. Everything we feel and think is directed by our incredible neuroreceptors. So, as you could imagine, adding addictive substances to this network would be the equivalent of dropping a peanut butter sandwich on a running car engine: something is going to suffer some tremendous damage. Let’s take a closer look at how drugs affect the receptors in the brain.
Send the Message through
Using molecules called neurotransmitters, your brain’s neurons share messages with other neurons along your brain’s vast network. Once one of these little molecules attaches itself to a second one (and so on), a receptor will start to regulate a number of different functions. To understand the simplicity of this process, imagine a person using a key to open the padlock of a shed or opening a safety deposit box. Much like this, the neurons are turning keys to unlock important information in our brain and share that information, keys which only correspond to specific locks.
Frying the Circuits
On the flip side of the equation, these receptors also directly impact problems associated with drug abuse, addiction, tolerance, and dependence. When people continue to consume harmful drugs over a long period of time, their brains must compensate by shaving off the number of receptors that receive these pleasure signals. As a result, the brain loses balance and stops transmitting pleasurable messages due to decreased sensitivity.
Ultimately, this leads to a situation each of us is familiar with: drug addicts need to keep taking drugs to feel the same pleasurable response as before.
Seeking Treatment for Drug Addiction or Alcoholism
Alcoholism and drug addiction are dangerous sicknesses that should never be taken lightly. All it takes to fall off the wagon and become sick is to take that first sniff, snort, injection, or shot before you are rolling downhill into insanity. Still, you can always push the train back up, but it will be a difficult hike. However, with the right mixture of perseverance and determination, you can easily get back on track and be happy once more.
Are you suffering from a severe case of alcoholism or drug addiction? Do you have a friend or a loved one who is coping with the same illness? In both cases, get in touch us at with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of drug withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you are seeking more information about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
