The mesolimbocortical dopamine system’s reward function
Please address fellow students by name when starting your response. • Responses – Responses to the students are well organized, includes classmate’s name, addresses topic, and demonstrates critical thinking • Cited Source – In Text and Reference – Not required, but must cite any work used Make sure it matches my discussion post FIRST POST BY EMILY: There are many addictions aside from drugs or alcohol. Some other addictions could potentially be shopping, eating, sex, technology and lying. Shopping could very well be potentially more damaging than drugs because spending money excessively and opening credit cards can lead to someone creating more debt than they can afford to pay. Shopping can also lead to someone having a hoarding issue, which is a mental condition and that can ruin their family, marriage and can even harm their health. Another potentially life damaging addiction is sex. People with sex addictions often look outside their relationship or marriage to fulfill their need and have affairs which can ruin a marriage, family and not only destroy their lives but their children too if there is any involved. Lying can also be life damaging, too because one who habitually lies could wind up getting caught in a lie that might cause them to lose a job which is something necessary for everyone to have. If something gives one pleasure every single time they do it, it can lead to an addiction. Prime examples of that are sex, eating and shopping. “The mesolimbocortical dopamine system’s reward function is not limited to drugs; microdialysis studies show that food, water, and sexual stimulation also increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens of rats” (Garret, 2015, p. 143). [unique_solution]Studies prove that behavioral addictions can produce dopamine, just like drugs do and can be just as addicting because they are not illegal to do and are much easier to do. In order to break behavioral addictions, one needs to start by admitting they have a problem and accepting that they need help. Behavioral addictions, just like drug and alcohol addictions require therapy in order to break. Behavioral addictions also require family support because they will need their family in order to help them “stay clean” from this addiction or even help them get back on their feet. For someone who is addicted to shopping, the easiest thing to do is for them to cut all their credit cards up and put their finances into someone else’s hands until they feel like they can trust themselves to not shop excessively. For all the examples of behavioral addictions that I gave, therapy would be the initial route so that they can come to terms as to why they are doing that behavior. SECOND POST BY: This week we discuss addictions; specifically behavioral and experiential addictions. These addictions are different from the typical drug addictions, though still harmful to a person′s wellbeing. Like any other drug, too much of a good thing, is not a good thing. Caffeine, for example, though not a drug like heroine or the prescribed xanax, can still be very addictive. it blocks receptors for the neuromodulator adenosine, increasing the release of dopamine and acetylcholine. Because adenosine has sedative and depressive effects, blocking its receptors contributes to arousal. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, fatigue, anxiety, shakiness, and cravings, which last about a week (Garrett, 2015, p.138). Over exercising is another form of addiction. Exercise addiction is an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and exercise. It releases endorphins and dopamine. These are the same neurotransmitters released during drug use. An exercise addict feels reward and joy when exercising. When they stop, the neurotransmitters go away. An addict has to exercise more to trigger the chemical release (Stubblefield, 2016). This is very unhealthy because it can lead to anorexia. Some people are not satisfied with just exercising to be healthy, they feel the need to stay thin, thus taking the exercising to a whole different level. They workout in the mornings and again in the evenings everyday, eating small meals in between and constantly stepping on the scale. For people like that, there is more going on than just an addiction to exercise. Same as in exercise addiction, with gambling addiction, the increased activity of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain is responsible for releasing neurotransmitters that help gamblers feel good when gambling. Those addicted don′t seem to care whether they win or lose; it′s the feeling and rush they feel while engaging in the activity. Individuals who have a low level of serotonin in the brain are also thought to be at high risk for developing pathological gambling compared to others (Dryden-Edwards, 2019). This addiction can cause family problems and financial debt, which may lead a person to start stealing just to continue their addiction. FOR EXAMPLE: I agree. Shopping addictions can lead to devastating outcomes. It is crazy because not many people would link shopping addictions to issues like hoarding, but it sure does go hand in hand, and additionally can lead to marital and family discord, social isolation, financial issues and even health issues. The fact is that most, if not all addictions require the same thing to get over those said additions; which is therapy and family support. Family support is essential to get over any issues anyone is facing, whether it be an addiction or even a breakup. When it comes to shopping, yes cutting credit cards would be a huge assist on getting over a shopping addiction. I would consider not cutting those credit cards as well, with the reason of wanting to teach self-control as well. It may be difficult for many but those with said addictions would benefit from this type of lesson entirely. What you mentioned with having someone trustworthy handle those finances until they feel completely comfortable is actually a great option for additional support. It is definitely difficult to overcome these addictions due to the ″feel good″ feeling that it provides, but recognition it key to start with getting over these addictions.