How to Heal Your Body After Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Long-term alcohol or substance abuse affects your body's ability by damaging different parts of your body. This can include corrosion of the brain and other organs, leading to visible signs of decay and malnutrition over time. However, the harm isn't permanent. A holistic recovery approach involves nourishing the body with proper nutrition, staying active, seeking emotional and mental support, and other helpful measures. This article will discuss how to heal your body after drug and alcohol addiction. How Does the Brain Get Hijacked by Drugs? In the past, many doubted drugs could alter the brain. They viewed addiction as a choice, not a medical issue. Despite progress, this misconception persists. Our brains have a reward system that drives essential behaviors like eating. However, drugs hijack it, altering the brain permanently. For those with certain factors, addiction is lifelong, making drug avoidance crucial. It's a chronic disease. However, therapy and professional help can prevent relapse. You're not alone; support is available. What are the Long-Term Psychological Effects of Substance Abuse? The connection between addiction and mental health is complex and often not straightforward. Sometimes, you might find yourself with mental health issues like anxiety and turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope, while substance abuse itself can lead to mental health problems. In 2020, about 17 million adults in the US faced both addiction and mental illn…
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Addiction And The Brain

Addiction and Its Impact on the Brain: Previously believed to be a moral issue resulting from poor decisions, addiction is now widely acknowledged as a chronic, relapsing condition that entails changes to the brain that may last a lifetime. Addiction can cause the brain to adjust in a way that when drug use is decreased or halted, a person experiences withdrawal.  After a critical stage, the brain cannot handle the changes of sudden reduction or stoppage in the substance intake and often reacts drastically. As a result, a person with an addiction uses a substance or engages in a particular behavior for which the reward may provide a compelling incentive to repeat the activity. Getting sober is considerably more complex than just saying "no" to drugs because of the brain alterations brought on by prolonged substance use. Substance use is initially a choice made by the user, but when brain chemistry changes and addiction sets in, the user's capacity to manage their use decreases. What Parts of the Brain are Affected By Drugs and Alcohol? Substance use and abuse have a negative influence on three critical areas of the brain: The basal ganglia: The area that plays a significant role in the reward circuit and is responsible for developing routines and habits. The extended amygdala: The area that affects reliance and the discomfort and anxiety experienced after withdrawal. The prefrontal cortex: The area that is necessary for higher-order cognitive proce…
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