"Her Air is a Drug"

When I come across something like this, I wonder if sharing it is the right thing to do.  I think its a good explanation of how addiction works, and gives another reason to see addiction as a disease, but....It can also be discouraging.

It makes me even more passionate about STOPPING kids from using before they fall into this pit of endless struggle to walk away from what their body wants more than anything.  I've heard more than one heroin addict say that the high they get is better than sex.  (which makes me  want to try it, but of course I know better).  But the point is, its something they crave, something they feel so such a strong craving for that it destroys their life, but they keep going.

"If you never find your drug of choice, a dirty band-aid to the gaping wound of neurochemical imbalance, then perhaps you’ll never find addiction.

For most of us, it isn’t worth the experiment to know. For others, it starts out innocently, by becoming too reliant on pain pills prescribed by a doctor after an accident. Would you be “better” with a neurochemical enhancement?

I’ve been to rehab facilities and have seen good people lose their livelihoods, children and everything they hold dear. And thus, I ask: how could you say it’s not chemistry? How could you say it’s choice? Choice to feel robbed of free will? Choice to be dependent?

For addicts, it’s never over. A structure in the reptilian or old brain, the amygdala, causes the addict to crave a drug when she recognizes people, places, situations or patterns with which she’s previously used. It’s instinct, without conscious thought.

Consider this: if you’re drowning, you’ll push up for air. So will an addict, only her air is a drug."  from Addiction and Recovery

Peace, Hope and Love, Barbara

Can Brain Malfunction Be Reason for Men Cheating?

This may not seem related to the subject of this blog, but it is.  I've heard a lot about Dr. Daniel Amen and the brain scanning he does to treat issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and apparently - cheating.  


I haven't formed an opinion on whether or not I trust his theory, but if I had and extra $5,000 - $10,00  lying around,  I'd check it out just out of curiosity.  It would be fascinating to see the results of Keven's brain, and my own.


Here it the entire article (its not long) and here is the gist of what it says:

"I think we should start by looking at their brains. How would we ever know if it was just bad behavior or a brain acting badly unless we looked? Psychiatrists, whom these people come to see for help, are the only medical professionals who rarely look at the organ they treat. Psychiatrists still make diagnoses today as they did in 1841, when Abraham Lincoln was depressed: by talking to people and looking for symptom clusters. Imagine if a cardiologist or an orthopedic doctor acted that way!"  

If he's right, then we should all be able to solve our issues with the right chemicals and nourishment of our brain.  That sounds way to simplistic to me, but it sure would be wonderful wouldn't it?  No more cheating spouses, no more psychopathic murderers, no more ADDICTS.


A lot of people think he's a "quack" and some of the reviews I've read from people who have been to his clinic and some of their stories are alarming.


As of yesterday, Keven is seeing a doctor we had used two years ago.  Some people also think his philosophy is wrong and that he is a "dangerous" doctor.  There has been an interesting controversy surrounding him but out attorney thinks he's a great doctor for addicts so .... I am trusting her judgement.


What are your thoughts on brain scanning etc?  Have you or anyone you know ever tried it?  Just curious.




Peace, Hope and Love, Barbara