When studying brain chemical imbalances associated with addiction, we must discuss dopamine, the hormone that’s linked to the brain’s reward pathway – and that means controlling both the good and the bad. We experience surges of dopamine for our virtues and our vices. In fact, the dopamine pathway is particularly well studied when it comes to addiction.
The same regions that light up when we’re feeling attraction light up when drug addicts take cocaine and when we binge eat sweets. For example, cocaine maintains what is called “dopamine signaling” for much longer than usual, leading to a temporary “high.” In a way, attraction is much like an addiction to another human being.
Similarly, the same brain regions light up when we become addicted to material goods as when we become emotionally dependent on our partners. And addicts going into withdrawal are not unlike love-struck people craving the company of someone they cannot see.
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/love-actually-science-behind-lust-attraction-companionship/
Addiction and the Microbiome:
We know that disturbed neurotransmitters are the underlying cause of all addictions. Yet, Western medicine ignores the fact that the microbiome is where 75% of our neurotransmitter chemicals are made. In other words, our gut is the seat of the neurotransmitter imbalances that lead to addiction.
Because of our modern Western diet and lifestyle, we’re dealing with a universal microbiome disruption. Then, we prescribe drugs to mask these imbalances, drugs that further disrupt the microbiome, creating more brain chemical imbalances and addiction!
Dopamine is one of the brain’s neurotransmitters affected by virtually all drugs of abuse; however, there are many other chemical messengers that can be impacted as well. Some drugs may increase the presence of a particular brain chemical by stimulating its production, while others may block them from being reabsorbed. Neurotransmitters are typically either excitatory or inhibitory, meaning that they either provide stimulation or nervous system depression respectively.
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/chemical-imbalance
How Neurotransmitters Affect Health and Happiness
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood, motivation and drive, desire, satiety and pleasure. This has earned dopamine the distinction of being labeled the feel-good chemical, but other neurotransmitters can also have a pleasure/reward effect.
Endorphins are considered “pleasure chemicals” because a boost in endorphin levels contributes to making us feel better when we exercise, have sex or fall in love, and reduces our perception of pain. Serotonin plays a role in relaxation, sleep and appetite.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, has a calming effect and, thus, also relaxes us. Norepinephrine is another neurotransmitter that is released when we fall in love, and also plays a role in concentration, alertness and energy, particularly related to how we respond to stressful situations. Acetylcholine’s role is to help us remember things and process information.