Drug Abuse And Obesity Share Brain Link
Compulsion is something that both drug addiction and overeating share. This means that a drug addict and a compulsive eater both have a seemingly irresistible urge to use drugs or eat almost continuously. Even when painful consequences arise, people with these problems often keep going anyway. This link between drug addiction and obesity has been demonstrated in rats through a recent study. Keep reading to find out how this research information could show what’s going on with human behavior.
What Does Obesity Research Say About Drug Addiction
It’s important to know that this research just reflects rat behavior so far. It has not yet been applied to treating human drug addiction or obesity. However, this research certainly shows a good chance that the brain activity connected with compulsive activity could apply for both problems. The brain’s reward system essentially gets kicked into overdrive with few controls. The study states that the rats thresholds for eating kept rising as they more and more.
Sound familiar? It should if you understand how drug addicts and alcoholics develop tolerance over time as they continued to binge drink or use. They need more to give them the same sensations as when they first began using drugs and alcohol. The compulsion grows because the impact of the reward seems to be elusive or less than their original experience. If they just keep eating more or using more, maybe they’ll finally feel satisfied. Of course, the compulsion only reinforces the problematic behavior rather than establishing a sense of true satisfaction.
Research Has Treatment Possibilities For Drug Addiction
This obviously has a lot of potential when considering treatment for obesity. As far as drug and alcohol addiction, it may also confirm the strong tie between biology and psychology. Comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment addresses both physical and mental aspects of drug addiction. Clearly the research illustrates how real this connection is, even if it is only shown in rats in this research study.
Drug and alcohol treatment puts focus on the thoughts and feelings inside each person. The compulsions live in the spaces between irrational thoughts and painful feelings. Compulsions may seem irresistible, but people in addiction are taught how to get through these difficult moments. They are taught how to identify their vulnerabilities, use healthy coping skills, and to reach out to others when they feel these compulsion coming on.
When recovering addicts know they don’t have to go through it alone, many find that they can face their cravings and thoughts without giving in to them. They face these struggles with courage, knowledge, and support from those who surround them at drug treatment.
Compulsion Common Barrier To Obesity And Drug Addiction
Compulsion is just one of many reasons that drug addiction and alcoholism is so difficult to overcome. Anyone trying to get sober without any help may find these compulsions to be huge roadblocks. Thankfully, drug and alcohol Treatment is a very effective way to move through these difficulties with compulsion. Call today to find out more about starting drug and alcohol treatment.
