to feed the body what is needed.) The metabolism of sugars also consumes huge amounts of magnesium and lowers magnesium stores, which cause the release of more stress hormones, and the cycle continues to worsen.
Eventually all this leads the body to crash into depression because the metabolism gets shot. When the brain doesn't receive enough energy, it craves stimulants like nicotine to fire-up. Does the addiction get worse as the person chases more dopamine hits because the dopamine hits give a temporary “lights-on” energy burst for the brain because metabolism is failing? Or more caffeine drinks, more adrenaline rush from gambling, risky sex, etc. But these highs precede a crash to extreme lows and the body keeps losing equilibrium. Too much sugar and stimulants have to go somewhere, have to be dealt with by the liver, etc. eventually leading to more overload and toxicity, acidity, inflammation, pain and eventually cell death if there is not enough magnesium and antioxidant counterbalance.
· Opioids (painkillers like Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, morphine and the street version heroin) impact endorphins and other naturally occurring opioids in our system, modulating our reactions to pain and altering functions like mood control, hunger and thirst.
· Amphetamines (Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine) are often used to combat fatigue, impact dopamine and some glutamate receptors, resulting in increased energy and feelings of excitability.
· Cocaine boosts dopamine levels, producing cravings and dependency on the drug. It also affects serotonin, leading to feelings of confidence, and norepinephrine, increasing energy.
· Ecstasy/Molly (MDMA) is a psychostimulant that simultaneously works as a stimulant and a hallucinogen. It affects norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, leading to a combined effect of increased energy, euphoria and lowered inhibitions in relating to other people.
· Marijuana (cannabis) affects both dopamine and the neurotransmitter anandamide, which is involved in regulating mood, memory, appetite, pain, cognition and emotions.The resulting sensations include mild euphoria, relaxation and amplified auditory and visual perceptions.”
PTSD and Addiction:
According to dualdiagnosis.org, 52 percent of males and 28 percent of females with PTSD meet the lifetime criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, according to findings on posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey, published in 1995 in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Kessler et al.). When it comes to drug abuse, statistics from the same study show that 35 percent of men and 27 percent of women with PTSD meet the criteria.
When an individual experiences a traumatic event, his or her brain produces endorphins — neurotransmitters that reduce pain and create a sense of well-being — as a way of coping with the stress of the moment. When the event is over, the body experiences an endorphin withdrawal, which has some of the same symptoms as withdrawal from drugs or alcohol:
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Emotional distress
· Physical pain
· Increased cravings for alcohol or drugs
According to Alcohol Research & Health, many of those with PTSD will turn to alcohol as a means of replacing the feelings brought on by the brain’s naturally produced endorphins. But the positive effects of alcohol are only temporary.
With increased use of alcohol, the individual can become chemically dependent on the drug. He or she will need more alcohol or drugs to produce those numbing effects. Eventually, dependence can turn into addiction, which is characterized by compulsive use of the substance, tolerance to the drug and an insistence on abusing the drug in spite of its devastating effects.