About this episode
What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to quit? Discover precisely how addiction works in the brain, the powerful connection between addiction and dopamine, and what’s really driving your cravings. In this video, I’ll show you how to break the addiction cycle with practical steps that can help you regain control.Download Dr. Berg’s Free Daily Health Routine: https://drbrg.co/45qtO070:00 Introduction: Addiction explained0:52 How addiction works in the brain2:40 Why addiction is so hard to quit3:34 How to break addiction cycles 6:35 Addiction recovery tips8:09 Nicotine addiction explained9:00 Changing your environment to break addiction10:18 What causes addiction? 11:24 More addiction recovery tipsWhether you’re addicted to smoking, alcohol, porn, sugar, social media, or gambling, attempting to quit often makes matters worse, but why?When you drink alcohol, for example, you feel happier and less stressed. Dopamine then tags alcohol as something that increases survival, and the more you consume, the stronger the drive.Dopamine and glutamate are the hormones involved with addiction. When glutamate levels are too high, you may experience abnormal body sensations, agitation, pressure, compulsion, and obsession. When you ignore this, your fight or flight mechanism kicks in, and your symptoms worsen.When you experience withdrawal symptoms as you’re trying to break an addiction, try the following steps:1. Rate the intensity of the urge on a scale of 0-102. Locate or point to the affected part of your body3. Describe it to yourself4. Repeat When you repeat the process, you'll notice that the intensity of the sensations decreases. This process helps you differentiate yourself from your addiction. The more you define your addiction and separate yourself from it, the less it will affect you. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reduces glutamate spikes. Try taking 600-2400 mg of NAC per day, depending on the severity of the problem. Magnesium glycinate can increase GABA, which reduces cortisol and the fight-or-flight response. If you’re a smoker, vitamin B1 and potassium can help. Changing your environment is vital to breaking the cycle of addiction. Problems with sleep, exercise, or blood sugar can make someone more vulnerable to developing an addiction. Coincidentally, increasing exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and following a low-carb diet can help break the cycle. Oxytocin can act as a safety net when you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Increase oxytocin with hugs, pets, bonding with friends and family, and L. Reuteri yogurt. Dr. Eric Berg D
