I wanted to tell you about another great book that explains addiciton very well. It is called "The Craving Brain" by Ronald A Ruden MD, PhD. Has anyone read it? Anyways part of it tells how addicition begins in adolescence due to the hormone changes with estrogen and testosterone...that these hormones produce the pain of longing. These hormones lower serotonin. Our minds lust and our bodies ache. We are motivated to have sex to remove the pain. Unfortunately, the primal survival system designed to drive sexual desires is not perfect. Having sex should quell the desire, but in our culture, we are discouraged from having sex until we are married, often well after adolescence. What happens when we can't have sex? Other cravings begin. Our brain is under constant internal stress as a result of these hormones. As a consequence, adolescence is the time when many addictive and compulsive disorders begin. Eating disorders, smoking, drinking, experimenting with drugs...anyways this is a tiny portion that I found interesting. It tells how attending 12 step meetings actually increases serotonin in your brain...it sites dozens of studies that you can look up as well. Check it out! CAS.
Hey, have the book right beside me, recommended it to someone a week ago...makes so much sense..it really does.
The other great book someone steered me to is the mood Cure by Julia Ross.
talks about the imbalance in our brain, caused by narcotic use, the replacement by means of amino acids. Am waiting to see a homeopath as several of then have to be bought via a Dr. here in canada.
The craving brain is by two doctors, great chapter also on How to keep stress from saboataging your brains chemistry.
Both great and informative reads.
Better go take my Vitamins and aminos now...
Hugs,
Ali
The other great book someone steered me to is the mood Cure by Julia Ross.
talks about the imbalance in our brain, caused by narcotic use, the replacement by means of amino acids. Am waiting to see a homeopath as several of then have to be bought via a Dr. here in canada.
The craving brain is by two doctors, great chapter also on How to keep stress from saboataging your brains chemistry.
Both great and informative reads.
Better go take my Vitamins and aminos now...
Hugs,
Ali
Went back and found an explanation of the basics re the above books.
April....here you go...as requested on the phone this morning...cut and paste it, then get back to work...lolol
...you would be best to check with your homeopath....buthere goes..
GABA is produced by neurons from the amino acid glutamate, in the presence of vitamin B6
There are 4 neuro transmitters in your brain...serotonin, catecholamines, endorphines and GABA
( theres a big long name for GABA but its commonly referred to just as GABA)
Each of these 4 neuro transmitters have a specific job to do to keep your brain balanced or bio-balanced...and need the use of amino acids to work properly...too much or not enough of any amino acid can causes havoc, and the balance can be upset by the long term use of narcotics, or we can be born with a genetic tendency to have deficiencies...
BASICALLY if your neuro transmitters are fueled by the aminos and are well stocked, your mood will be postive, feel good
If the neuro transmitters are starved for their needed aminos...and are on the low side, you will feel crappy, have "defective" moods..
SEROTONIN:
If your HIGH in serotonin you are postive, happy, easy going
If your LOW in serotonin, you can be obsessive, worried iritable and sleepless
CATECHOLAMINES:
If your high in them....you are energized upbeat and alert
Low in them.....in a huge depressing funk
GABA:
If your high in GABA you are relaxed, peaceful, stress free
if your LOW..you are stressed out and anxious, and overwhelmed.
ENDORPHINS:
If you are high in endorphins...you are full of cozy feelings, feel pleasure, euphoria...
If your LOW in endorphins..you will be crying all the time, even over tissue commercials, feel sad and blue
Hope that helps someone look into
extra supplements extra, we have to learn how to take better care of ourselves and our bodies. Information and knowledge is power and can help.
Hugs,
Ali
I was going to ask if anyone knew any good books. I'll have to read "The Craving Brain". Speaking of sex and how we use sex to cover our pain is interesting to me. I am a 32 year old female and have never had a big sex drive. But since getting addicted to pills and now being off of them, I have basically no sex drive. I know it frustrates my husband my I can't help it. I am on cymbalta, and my Dr. told me that for a lot of people anti-depressants can cause you to have very little sex drive.
p.s.
Yes it does state that an increase in endophins and serotonin happen in ones brain at the meetings..
Quotes from Jonathon Edward, even a list of the 12 steps...also quotes from Buddha and scientists working on brain stem cells...
A well thought out and open minded book. Is not pro-nor against NA meetings.
A great read for all.
thanks for posting it.
hugs,,
Ali
Yes it does state that an increase in endophins and serotonin happen in ones brain at the meetings..
Quotes from Jonathon Edward, even a list of the 12 steps...also quotes from Buddha and scientists working on brain stem cells...
A well thought out and open minded book. Is not pro-nor against NA meetings.
A great read for all.
thanks for posting it.
hugs,,
Ali
