Addiction Monster |
| Drugs of abuse exert their initial reinforcing effects by triggering surges of dopamine in the brain, thereby “coating” the neuroreceptors at the front of the brain instead of being received by them. The frontal lobe is the home of much of what makes us human. It plays a role in everything from movement to intelligence, helps us anticipate the consequences of our actions, and aids in the planning of future actions. This part of the brain is the newest from an evolutionary perspective, and is the last to develop, making the frontal lobe both highly malleable and susceptible to developmental damage. Once the neuroreceptors are coated, it damages neurological pathways and disrupts the brains ability to make a logical decision or even a choice that’s in our best interest. The younger the brain, the more susceptible to damage as the frontal lobe is not fully developed until the age of 25. Once the neurological receptors are coated, instead of making choices that are good or safe for ourselves or our families, the monster rears its ugly head and DEMANDS that it be fed. That's why, once a person has detoxed the substance from their body, they now need to repair the brain and the neurological receptors. Addiction feels like a monster because it does not usually burst into someone’s life all at once. It creeps in quietly, pretending to be comfort, confidence, relief, or an escape from pain. At first, it may seem like something a person can control, but little by little it begins to take more. It takes time, peace, energy, trust, and sometimes the person’s sense of who they are. What once felt like a choice can become a voice that will not stop calling, even when the person is tired of listening. That is what makes addiction so terrifying: it can make someone feel trapped inside their own mind. A person may look in the mirror and know they want to change, but the craving can feel stronger than their promises, their plans, and even their love for the people around them. Addiction can whisper lies, telling someone they need it to survive, to relax, to forget, or to feel normal. It can turn hope into guilt and guilt into more pain, creating a cycle that feels almost impossible to escape alone. |
Addiction is also a monster because it does not only hurt the person struggling with it. It reaches into families, friendships, homes, and communities. It can make loved ones feel helpless as they watch someone they care about drift farther away. It can break trust, create fear, and leave behind sadness that words cannot fully explain. Still, the person fighting addiction is not the monster. The addiction is. The person underneath is still worthy of love, help, and another chance. | Even the darkest monster can be challenged when it is brought into the light. Recovery takes courage, not perfection. It takes honesty, support, treatment, patience, and people who are willing to stand beside someone even when the road is difficult. There may be setbacks, but setbacks do not erase progress. Every day a person chooses to keep fighting, the monster loses a little more power. With time and help, addiction does not have to be the end of the story; healing, hope, and freedom can still begin again. |
We're Standing Up for Recovery Because We Care! |