I used to think of addiction as the experience of people “out there.” Addiction happened in crack houses with people who were far away from me and my middle-class life.
But anybody who’s been paying attention realizes that is just not the case. Addiction is a daily part of life in all zip codes.
This lecture helped me think about the brain science, and the social forces at play in the addiction struggles we face; and how to move forward on a pathway to wholeness and freedom.
It’s an hour, but it’s worth your time. Have a listen.
Doug
So what do you think the practical applications are if one was to accept this person’s opinion? Or put another way, if this is true, then what are the ethical implications?
for me, i am filtering this guy’s lecture through the lens of my love for the addicts in my life.
here are some of the implications for me…
1. brain chemistry
the action of the addict is rooted in the dopamine/reward/motivation circuitry of the brain. consequently, telling them to “do better” w/o working on the brain-rewiring process is an exercise in futility.
2. stress trigger
the link between stress and brain chemistry made me think about not just personal… but social policy. the stuff on cortisol, pregnant mothers, and the brains of their babies 1 or 2 years later, made me think about two things…
a. how much stress i put on my family system when denise was pregnant and my babies were small (i was an idiot)
b. how important it is to tell the pregnant/young-children families i know about what i’ve learned (don’t do what i did)
c. how important it is to dig into the dynamics that cause stress in the first place… and making decisions to mitigate them
3. neuroplasticity
it was very encouraging to me that the brain is a resilient organ, and can be rewired. from what i’ve learned about the 12 step process, when the program is at it’s best, it DOES create the environment of compassion, care, and mutual support that helps us rewire our brain circuitry.
4. a rabid passion to reduce stressors
anxiety and fear are big stressors among the people i love. and if they are factors for addiction, i passionately want to learn the psyco-emotional processes that reduce those factors… for myself… for the people i love.
d.
for me, i am filtering this guy’s lecture through the lens of my love for the addicts in my life.
here are some of the implications for me…
1. brain chemistry
the action of the addict is rooted in the dopamine/reward/motivation circuitry of the brain. consequently, telling them to “do better” w/o working on the brain-rewiring process is an exercise in futility.
2. stress trigger
the link between stress and brain chemistry made me think about not just personal… but social policy. the stuff on cortisol, pregnant mothers, and the brains of their babies 1 or 2 years later, made me think about two things…
a. how much stress i put on my family system when denise was pregnant and my babies were small (i was an idiot)
b. how important it is to tell the pregnant/young-children families i know about what i’ve learned (don’t do what i did)
c. how important it is to dig into the dynamics that cause stress in the first place… and making decisions to mitigate them
3. neuroplasticity
it was very encouraging to me that the brain is a resilient organ, and can be rewired. from what i’ve learned about the 12 step process, when the program is at it’s best, it DOES create the environment of compassion, care, and mutual support that helps us rewire our brain circuitry.
4. a rabid passion to reduce stressors
anxiety and fear are big stressors among the people i love. and if they are factors for addiction, i passionately want to learn the psyco-emotional processes that reduce those factors… for myself… for the people i love.
d.