Alcoholism is a dopamine addiction and I think it’s important for people to understand that. Initially it boosted dopamine a extrodinary amount and eventually it becomes a chase. But shopping, intimacy, hoarding, stealing,gambling all provide a dopamine boost or rush reward. Different drug addictions boost dopamine especially crack cocaine. It takes a long time to balance dopamine out after quitting drinking or drugs. For some people a anti depressant is really helpful. Some people discover that they suffered from a mental illness that drinking helped but then didn’t. Some people, in fact many, suffer from npd or aspd and the 12 steps and attending meetings are the only thing that helps them to learn to live a better life. It’s rare that in early recovery mental health issues are addressed appropriately or can even be diagnosed. Addictions are often substituted from one less healthy to one more approved by society. Addiction is really multi faceted and usually the entire family is sick. I still smoke cigarettes and get condemned for it plus it’s expensive. Just wondering what other people’s experience is. The longer I’m sober the more I see clearly and the more I need to accept only I can change. I’m currently kinda stepping away from frequent aa meetings just because I don’t want to be judgemental. I’ve been going 3-5 times a week for over 8 years. It’s only temporary and I’m still going 1-3 times a week. I shared on a few posts here. The only thing that has ever helped me though is aa and doing the work. I also started going to a therapist once every other week. But I think the tie to dopamine is really important. We have the science to some degree. Hoping everyone is working on the solution for themselves.
Great post Laurie…. Yes drinking was a huge dopamine boost for me for sooo many years until it wasn’t. AA has helped me tremendously but so has therapy. Im just happy I don’t drink anymore or party for that matter. What a waste of my life!
Yeppers all dopamine. And if we stop one compulsion like drinking alcohol our organism will quickly find another compulsion to subplant it; positive or negative.
It wasn’t a waste. If you are like me you probably had some good times until you didn’t and it became both a mental and physical addiction. Today you have learned how to live without a crutch to make you happy or ease your pain. Not everyone gets that blessing and can do it. Congratulations on your success.
Often it’s what people do but not everyone. Congratulations on your success over addiction and your awareness.