Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
. . . . . . . .
Years and years of unconsciously reaching into your pocket for a cigarette, taking out your favorite lighter, and taking that first deep drag, holding it just an extra second, then slowly letting it out... The psych guys call that the 'sighing breath response.' Try it without the cigarette. It still works just as well, and is a wonderful tool to use during your first couple of weeks. And remember, someone is always HERE if you need to scream... We'll listen. We've been there and done the screaming ourselves.
Stitchawl
|
I've read it's triggered by dopamine in the brain. The first drag, the first swig, first hit, the first bet even the first purchase triggers the dopamine which is perceived as pleasure. You can picture it in your mind right now. Rats and mice will press buttons that trigger it in their brains until they drop dead.
The lower your dopamine levels the harder it is to give up whatever it is that you have become addicted to because it triggers the dopamine pleasure centre.
An amino acid call tyrosine is necessary to make dopamine. The naturopaths and doctors where I work have had good success with addictions with a supplement of tyrosine. It has to be taken without any other competing amino acids or it doesn't work. It's not a cure but a head start for any addiction, including sugar which seems to be harder to give up than all the above.