How Addiction Affects the Brain

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Addiction rewires the brain’s reward system, which can make it harder to say no.

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Here’s how these changes affect the brain and why treatment can help support recovery.

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It starts in the brain’s reward circuit.

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When you engage in a rewarding activity, your brain releases dopamine, often called the feel-good chemical.

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Over time, the brain becomes flooded with dopamine, creating a powerful association between the behavior and an intense sense of pleasure.

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To protect itself from this surge, the brain begins to desensitize.

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You develop a tolerance, needing more of the substance or behavior to achieve the same effect.

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Eventually, the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for decision-making, becomes weakened, making it harder to say no.

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Recovery often includes multiple approaches, such as the TASK model, guided workbooks, group therapy for community support, and a licensed therapist to help address underlying issues such as trauma.

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Recovery is a journey, but you don’t have to do it alone.

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Visit LifeStance Health to schedule an in-person or online appointment today.