Neuroscience of Addiction: From Survival Circuits to Hijacked Habits

[@sindhuw1718]

Your content is exceptional. As a practicing psychologist with over 20 yrs of experience, I have found your videos to be brilliant. Coming here gives me an opportunity to do a quick revision of key concepts especially psychopharmacological related subjects . Thanks Doc

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Thanks you so much for your feedback. Much appreciated

[@fairygurl9269]

Here's To Those Helping Us To Make Healthier Choices 🖖

[@IragmanI]

My experience of addictions is limited only to tobacco which I gave up in my mid 20's. I'd attempted earlier in my 20's but relapsed after 2 months much in part to the social setting of university. The first attempt wasn't entirely a loss, it gave me a valuable insight into why it failed. It was simply too soon to reengage in a social setting. The triggers hadn't fully faded but most of all, I hadn't 'disidentified' from being a smoker. Come time for the second attempt, of which I'll add there had been a long pre-programmed time limit for me being a smoker, I knew better what to expect; physical cravings pass in two or three days, but the psychological promptings and triggers can last for months. I gave it 3 months before I reengaged socially again, enough time for a habit to neurologically form or dissipate. Once passed, and most importantly, I dis-identified as a smoker. That's not to say I re-identified as a 'non-smoker', for it's absurd to identify as something you 'don't' do. It's this release of identifying with the substance use that I find missing in many quit protocols. OTOH, AA style programs hold that you are an addict for life, and that I find insidious

[@GritToGrace]

I was hooked on opiates for over a decade. Functional. I ended up on Fentanyl thinking I was taking something else. Now I’m almost 3 years sober and trying to spread awareness through my channel. I’m pursuing my masters and eventually doctorate. It is possible to change. We have the power of neuroplasticity to change. It starts with awareness, and believe me when I say we aren’t aware as we think we are.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Well said

[@GritToGrace]

@ thanks! You said it better for sure. 😁

[@Stormstorm1]

I was an opiate addict for over 15 years. I tried everything to get clean... rehabs to plant medicine (Ayahuasca and Ibogaine), 12 step, acupuncture, you name it. Addiction has absolutely nothing to do with "willpower," believe me. The physical and mental /emotional withdrawal is such hell...that's why so many opiate addicts can't get clean. And long term opiate addiction changes your brain chemistry...I could talk about this subject and mental health for days. Proud to say I've been clean for 5 years and have completely changed my life. TMS (Neurostar) has helped tremendously! Great video, so informative! Thank you, Doctor.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Thank you for sharing. And yes the willpower bit creates stigma as it excludes the neurobiological adaptations that result in the phenomenon of addiction. Well done on your recovery

[@lewisforsythe1403]

Good for you I've done it all as well ibio, ayah , many others. I am not capable of it. It took years to admit it. But it's just too much on my particular brain chemistry. I just take my medicine each day now and I feel just fine. I see no reason to go through the hell especially if it won’t ever leave me feeling right again. I work out eat well and supply my system with what it needs. However good for you sir.

[@supratimsantra5413]

Dr. Rege - with due respect myself supratim santra from india, an ordinary student suffering from ocd with some repetition of particular thoughts and feelings, under supervision of Indian doctor with ssri treatment. Hunting for intuitive biological explanation for manifestation of such addiction process in 🧠. Your educational videos and explanations no doubt CBT therapy indeed...... Very very ward regards and grateful to you....

[@chelseastrmserver2813]

This was very informative. Thank you.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Glad you found it useful

[@BroBromans]

Thank you so much for this video!🙏 I'm exactly 4 months clean from my DOC and this helps understand myself a bit better.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Glad you found it useful and well done!

[@Stormstorm1]

@@BroBromans You should be super proud of yourself! Great work!

[@Li-bn2tw]

Very enlightening!!! Thank you for your wonderful work and research ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ It is very helpful !

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MirroCosmoKenisis]

What magnificent teaching !! &That is for life. ❤😊A good teacher you are . Appreciate your time .

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Thank you for your feedback 🙏🏻

[@MonsoondelitewithDrSinsila]

Awesome…thanks from Kerala

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Glad you found it useful

[@drsandhyathumsikumar4479]

Very insightful video that clarifies our understanding on addiction mechanism so our solutions to this huge problem becomes more effective ..much grattitude Dr 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

@@drsandhyathumsikumar4479 thank you for your feedback 🙏🏻

[@tims9434]

I'm glad i subscribed to your channel. Very well structured information. I wonder if addiction affects neurotypical people differently to neurodiverse people

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Welcome and thanks for your support. There is the reward deficiency hypothesis ( umbrella term) that includes a genetic vulnerability DRD2 gene which can predispose to ADHD, addiction and other psychiatric vulnerabilities. Covered in this article psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/neuroscience-of-addiction/

[@Qurlir]

Great video once again. Thank you so much for giving such detailed information. As you explain, one who suffers any sort of addiction, can relate almost word for word with what you explain. I really do appreciate the knowledge sharing here.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

So glad it was helpful! And appreciate the feedback 🙏🏻

[@Qurlir]

@@PsychiatrySimplified Please DR, can you make a video about dynorphins and its relation to dopamine? I was reading about the nucleus acumbens and I came across how dynorphins counteracts the over secretion of dopamine and it just seemed to much to take. So it got me thinking if dynorphins are like the cortisol of the brain. But i just got confused and stopped. So please, if you can, i'd appreciate.

[@BrookeElaine-rv9zx]

I love your video you nailed it!

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Glad you liked it! I appreciate the feedback 🙏🏼

[@fairygurl9269]

🔨

[@BrookeElaine-rv9zx]

@fairygurl9269 hahaha good one

[@Booster85]

Your a brillant man, really enjoyed watching this, your details and knowledge is amazing

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Thank you for that feedback. I’m glad you found it useful. 🙏🏻

[@antonyloc]

Great video!

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Thanks for the feedback

[@Mel-os3ld]

Scrolling social is a big addiction

[@Qurlir]

A great and overlooked one. As much as is overthinking.

[@Mel-os3ld]

@Qurlir a lot of ppl overthink without realising what it's all about

[@916familyfun2]

🥴😎🥴

[@IlllllIIIQ]

Thanks.

[@Bonny_Ferz]

Thank you a lot for this video! Could you please tell us do Psychedelics (Psilocybin, Mescaline, DMT, LSD, Ibogaine) help in some way with overcoming addictions? If yes, how does it work and why? I can find some science articles about it, but I would love to hear what you say about it because you always explain everything so simple and clearly without water. Thank you

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

The next video is on paychdedelics. There is some evidence in addiction

[@jessicahue5676]

Thank you for the video! Ive been trying to leaen more about about addiction and psychology and neuroscience for a couole of years now. Ive been in active addiction for the past twenty years. Several different DOCs. I dont even know what to do anymore. I dont want to use. But i cant seem to stop. Lack if nefative consequences. Im what many call a functioning addict. But im not functioning as well as i know i could. I think there should bve another phase if addiction fir when you no longer want the drug ... you absolutely hate it but you still do it. Cognitive dissonance at its finest.....

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

The latter stages are as I mention in the video not for pleasure but to avoid the negative effects. Treatment can help however an overlooked aspect is the emotional part. These include the underlying psychological / emotional needs that substances fulfil. Often individuals talk about substances helping with avoidance of intense emotions or the predictability that comes with it or the ability to regulate. If the substance fulfills a need it becomes important for us to understand what that need is - often these are core needs of security, validation, being valued etc. even these aspects are addressed along wit biological aspects the outcomes are better

[@s.davidson1783]

Thanks for an almost classroom like lecture about Addiction. I suffer from behavioural coupled with cannabis use disorder, albeit the latter part I've managed to overcome although with sufficient brain damage like lower vocabulary recall, heightened anxiety, poor concentration and attention deficit. But the behavioural addiction is still strong and I can understand why from your video , perhaps it has shifted to my Dorsal stratium part and hence is more rewarding. I've come up with my own strategy to help strengthen my behaviour through willpower and purposeful avoidance. But I want it to be less rewarding - like I want it to move out of my DS part. Also I guess I also suffer from OCD or some mild form of Autism because I find Social interaction very irritating (without a substance). Anyway coming to the point , I've read many journals that NAC might be useful to manage these conditions and hence have ordered myself 800mg pills.(N-Acetlcystine) So my question is what would your advice on an effective strategy if at all NAC is an effective agent in dosage "treating" my developed damage and to replenish my Glutamate pathways ?

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

@@s.davidson1783 yes there is evidence for NAC - Applications of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) - From Addiction to Autism By Prof Berk kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWqXZq2oa7WSqNU

[@s.davidson1783]

@@PsychiatrySimplified Oh appreciate the prompt response ! I've actually checked this video out quite recently (and hence my motivation to engage in the treatment) but I just wanted to ask what would be a suggested dosage and for how long could one continue to take NAC ?

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

@ unable to answer this as this would be my individual advice. Doses vary. It’s best to discuss this with the doctor . “In the studies reviewed here, the range of NAC doses used was between 600 and 3600 mg/day. Studies from the substance-use disorder literature have demonstrated that NAC may have effectiveness at 3600 mg/day” . The duration is difficult to say for addiction it’s best to combine with psychotherapeutic / behavioural approaches - one can decide on the duration of biological treatments based on the responses overall. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10868722/#:~:text=In%20the%20studies%20reviewed%20here,•%2C%2065%2C%2066%5D.

[@s.davidson1783]

@@PsychiatrySimplified Yes thats what crossed my mind ! Seriously appreciate the input. Since I live in Europe , navigating both the linguistic and bureaucratic hurdles to avail a tailored approach to some issues like I've described earlier can be very challenging, so your insights and your channel has been are more than helpful and educative ! Thanks !

[@stevo5000]

This is excellent. Thank you. ID like to see a video discussing if anti depressant treatment is helpful for the dysphoric withdrawal period, PAWs. That is not often discussed much.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

It can be useful but within the appropriate content. This article on neuroscience will provide a broader perspective depending on phases. E.g buprenorphine has antidepressant properties due to kappa antagonism psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/neuroscience-of-addiction/

[@stevo5000]

Thanks, yes although buprenorphine is another opiod of course, so it's always going to really help. I meant really the standard anti depressants. SSRIs etc

[@Fatbum11]

Cortisol, thyroid, pituitary, insulin, hormone receptors, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and whatever other endocrine dysfunctions lead us to cravings, habits and addictions. Be more aware of these in children because of family diseases.

[@futures2247]

its amazing to me that Psychiatry has continued on as long as it has after causing ever increasing amounts of harm with each ignorant iteration and contributing less than nothing to our understanding of human suffering and what helps. Useful to power, maintaining the status quo and obfuscating a range of cultural disorders with its book of nonsense the DSM.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Shouldn’t that make you revise the statement? If it has added nothing but continued to expand with more doctors taking up psychiatry ; shouldn’t that be a sign to revise one’s opinion? It certainly can’t be put down to power as that would be short lived

[@futures2247]

​@@PsychiatrySimplified I didn't say its continued to expand, just continued on. Its from one more harmful iteration to the next even more harmful version. The iteration from DSM 3 onwards and its desperate attempts to be taken seriously makes its shocking brutal history look like child's play why? past iterations harmed and killed a few hundred thousands but this latest one in conjunction with the confluence of influence of drug companies marketing the ill to sell the pill, corrupting peer review, the journals, regulation and embedding advertised claptrap in the minds of potential customers with psychiatry happy to go along with the majority of DSM task force members have conflicts of interest -all contained within the era of capitalist neoliberalism has super charged the narrative turning ever more people with problems into patients labelled and on pills - an unmitigated disaster for human heath and marine life as these neurotoxins (medications) find their way into out waterways and seas. We are literally losing the ability to describe our suffering outside of the DSM mindset - talk about a mind virus, highly profitable nonsense.

[@starboiklem8381]

I was using kratom daily for 3.5 years, i quit because i was depressed ( never had depression in my life) but it's been 6 months since i quit and i still have anhedhonia and stress sensitivity, it was way worse first 2 months but is it usual to still have problems half a year after quitting? Also i thought kratom is a weak drug so i didn't expect such a long time of withdrawal.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Yes it’s possible. It’s best to consider an assessment .

[@starboiklem8381]

@PsychiatrySimplified i don't have good psychiatrists like yourself where I'm from, I'll still try to get checked nevertheless, i just doubt they'll have your knowledge on these issues.

[@NoName-lq7kt]

Didnt watch the video, but its comfort + environment change both and addiction is gone

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Perhaps in some that is sufficient, for others more complex

[@NoName-lq7kt]

@PsychiatrySimplified i was being cheap, comfort can be an umbrella for anything tbh

[@DennisBolanos]

Dr. Rege-is it true that opioid addiction is genetic whereas stimulant addiction is not?

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

No that's not the case as such. Vulnerabilities may be present for both- for some yes ; for others not. All of us are vulnerable to ‘addiction’ if the right circumstances occur. “Across ancestries, PDE4B was significant (among other genes), suggesting dopamine regulation as a cross-substance vulnerability.”www.nature.com/articles/s44220-023-00034-y

[@DennisBolanos]

@@PsychiatrySimplified OK, thank you!

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

@@DennisBolanos Pleasure

[@tims9434]

A lot of its about attitude. Definitely more nurture than nature

[@JanekDolder]

​​@@DennisBolanos people with ADHD are for example particularly vulnerable to Stimulant addiction. But only when abused so taking more than the Therapeutic Dose. Therefore they are vulnerable by genetics.

[@Sam-m7b3f]

Real way to quit addiction

[@jamoR72]

You can only confront it if the environment your in is conducive to actual reintegrating you into a sense of community. No form of therapy helps as they are getting paid and incentivized monetarily to keep clientele. Modern societies are horrifically ill equipped to combat addiction as technological progress spreads which incentivizes addiction. As your only valuable during the allotment insurance pays, there is no true desire to solve addiction, rather addiction is profitable. As a result, humankind will degenerate do to such. I write this as an addict to dextromethorphan for over 12 years of active daily abuse. There is no sense of genuine emotional care or availability in the ones who are supposed to help so to hell with it...I rather befriend a drug than another human.

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Understand . These are valid points. We however need to raise awareness of the multidimensional nature of the condition

[@svetlanathomas2341]

I am sorry to say but this is a victim mentality and the idea that everyone owes you that most substance addicted people adopt. Therapy works as a source of information that we are supposed to apply in our lives, which requires work on our part. The idea is with the help of this information to acquire internal skills that will allow you to self regulate your brain including the emotional part without being dependent on outside influence. Then you integrate into the community as a healthy and contributing member. As far as rehabs, one needs to go their with an understanding that it is just a place that buys you time for your brain to chemically sober up and be in the position to receive information and do the work after.

[@douglasman100]

Isn't the dopaminergic model of addiction an old model that doesn't line up with the current understandings of glutamate and so on?

[@douglasman100]

www.uniad.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/images_nrn3939.pdf

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

No it’s not an old model at all. It’s being refined - as one understands more about the relationships with other neurotransmitters. 80% of the catecholamine content in the brain is dopamine and the circuits have evolved with dopamine pathways highly conserved. The understanding keeps changing , we cannot dismiss the role of dopamine ; we simply get to know it differently as science evolves

[@MitchKing-x1s]

addiction=control :(Uncle Sam

[@nuyggdrasill3935]

All because of vitamin D, isn't it, Sanil?

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

Vitamin D deficiency wouldn’t be considered as causal to the entire of addiction. Vitamin D deficiency may be present in individuals with a range of substance addiction or other addictions. However this does not mean that it is the sole cause.

[@nuyggdrasill3935]

No no it's the ingrained circuit . The joke is about Dr berg And some others...

[@PsychiatrySimplified]

@ ah I get it