PhoenixRed -> RE: Dominatrix Accused of Stealing $300k from Slave (11/17/2007 12:31:12 AM)
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ORIGINAL: velvetears Thanks chellekitty for giving me that piece of info. This has been explained to me by some professionals but they never mentioned the actual name of the brain chemical. Please see my previous post regarding that brain chemical. LafayetteLady i would be interested to know how these others, who sway from the disease theory classify addictions - what are they? Why do they say they occur? How do they propose stopping drug and alcohol abuse? Who exactly are "they"? I'll try to keep this as short as possible, but would like to respond. There are 2 main component states to an addiction to a substance - physical dependence and psychological dependence. There are many people that are physically dependent on drugs in order to have a satisfactory level of "normal daily function". Case in point...most people on opiates for chronic pain are physically dependent upon them to function somewhat normally in daily life. They show tolerance to the drug...the hallmark of physical dependence - over time, your body accomodates to the drug and you need more for the same effect. However, those taking meds for chronic pain typically don't get high off of them and would gladly give them up if there were any other way to live with the pain and function. Addicts also start by developing physical dependence. However, some take drugs past the point they are needed by the body to ameliorate pain, etc, and some take them recreationally to achieve the "high" or altered states they produce. Long-term drug use does change the brain chemically and physically over time. Psychological dependence - when the person grows to believe that they need a drug, etc. to function normally despite the body's lack of need for the drugs to restore a chemical imbalance in the brain, etc. Under this heading is much of the use of recreational drugs "to escape or alter reality". Also encompassed are behaivors commonly associated with addiction - changing friends or social group to be with those more apt to provide the drugs they seek, stealing money, lying to friends and family about their drug use, etc. When psychological dependence is coupled with physical dependence for long enough, in simplest terms, a "switch" is thrown in the brain that results in addiction. We are still investigating how to flip this "switch" back to OFF mode! Here's an analogy I used to describe the difference regarding degrees of alcohol use: It's Sunday and a football game is on. You want to get some beer (or some more beer). There is a difference between saying "honey, I'm taking $20 from your wallet to get some beer" and sneaking the $20 out of your SO's wallet, hoping they won't find out because it will just cause another argument about your drinking. Not the most perfect example, I know, but I hope you get my point. Good health to all!
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