Science articles and research links
 

Do you have any links to science articles or scientific research concerning addiction or recovery from addiction?

Here's one about alcohol's effect on the limbic system;

RESEARCHERS UNLOCKING SECRETS OF ALCOHOL'S GRIP. - Free Online Library

I'll post more as I discover them. I'm pretty new to all this stuff, so I would really appreciate it if you would share your scientific links here.

Thanks,

Murray

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

The link below takes you to page one of three pages from Terence Gorski's book, "Staying Sober" which explains how and why so many people relapse, and how to avoid relapsing. (click link at bottom of each page to go to next page)

Here's an excerpt;

"Post-acute withdrawal is a group of symptoms of addictive disease that occurs as a result of abstinence from addictive chemicals. In the alcoholic/addict these symptoms appear seven to fourteen days into abstinence, after stabilization from the accute withdrawal.

Post-acute withdrawal is a bio-psycho-social syndrome. It results from the combination of damage to the nervous system caused by alcohol or drugs and the psychosocial stress of coping with life without drugs or alcohol"

Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center

Murray

Being an Agnostic, I had a bit of trouble with Gorski's section on spirituality. To be fair, if he was able to explain his idea in words in a group situation it would probably make a bit more sense, but as written it seems a bit confining.

On the Digital Dharma website I found a much more acceptable explanation for spirituality as it relates to PAWS;

"...our higher power can be god, as we understand god, or our recovery group, or the great outdoors, whatever. Recognizing a higher power is simply admitting that we aren't perfect and don't know everything. We let all those grandiose feelings go, substituting a bit of humility instead, and become willing to listen to the ideas and advice of others".

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) — Why we don’t get better immediately) Digital Dharma

Mine is the Universe, Nature, and Life's ability to always find a way to be.


Murray

Biological Impacts of Alcohol Use

Michaele P. Dunlop - Clinical Psychologist

A general description of the bodies organs and systems responses to alcohol use and withdrawal from alcohol consumption;

Biological Effects of Alcohol Use, Michaele Dunlap, Psy.D

Side note: I became allergic to pollen in the spring when I turned 40. I just found out in this article that increased sensitivity to allergies is one of the results of long term drinking...go figure!

Murray

This one always works for me...

SubSite - Start

I like this article by Time Magazine: How We Get Addicted.

From PBS Online: Moyers on Addiction, Close To Home.

"A genetic variant of a receptor in the brain's reward circuitry plays an important role in determining whether the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain following alcohol intake..."

Receptor Variant Influences Dopamine Response to Alcohol, May 18, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Murray

:c011:WHERE do you find this stuff?

I had diarrhea for years and years. Thankfully, scatologically speaking, things went back to normal around 19 days sober. The link below describes alcohols effect on the GI tract;

Alcohol and GI Tract

Murray

Kind of gross link, but informative...thanks:-) I think my digestive issues were a major contributing factor to giving up booze...it was literally painful at the end to drink (and smoke) but I kept at it for months even after it had become horrid to swallow a drink. I mentioned elsewhere, that at the end it was pure willpower keeping me drinking, I think that confused a lot of people. My digestion isn't back to normal, but it is better:-)

I will try to find some of the links I have used that might be of interest to you all later.

Right now, I need to go help with dinner!

The University of Michigan Drug use "sensitizes" the brain, making recovering addicts vulnerable to relapse.

The Limbic Lizard

The Physiological Basis of Addiction &
Understanding how to Defeat Urges and Cravings

:scoregood

This was a great article that really made sense for me. Early on in Recovery I had to go visit my parents, a massive trigger and a house full of booze. I think I had 10 days sober. Anyway, the whole trip down I made myself think of drinking and then I immediately associated it with my worst memory of drinking was the feeling of drinking at the end...and the feeling of vomiting. I made myself remember how much it hurt and how awful I felt. This acted as a great buffer during my stay at my parents.

So when I was reading the article I was so happy to see that there was a reason for this. And this was there recommendation:

"CLOSING THE GAP" Whenever you get a craving or urge to drink use get real about the consequences immediately. Recollect your worst memory from drinking/using"

I was just lucky that I stumbled on this on my own. I wish this knowledge was more widely dispersed!

Hi LF

"Closing the gap" works for me as well. I have some very powerful emotional based memories at my disposal. They sure do the job of deterring me from picking-up the first drink/drug.

I have a hypnosis program that works something like the Closing Gap. You create a negative trigger from a synthesis of memories. It takes the negative associations and tightly binds them to your DOC. I don't think I could pick up a half pint of Smirnoff without wincing.

The one thing I could add to the article is to include as many senses as possible in your memory. Remember the crappy taste in your mouth, the pain in your gut, the ear splitting sounds, the horrendous smell, blurred vision, etc. You are trying to get as many neural pathways turned on as you can. Remember lizards probably don't have much, if any, freewill, neither does that part of your brain.

Very interesting information! Thanks to you all...........

Here's an article I found interesting about Learned Helplessness with regards to addiction.

Yes, good point. I do my best to invoke a strong emotional reaction for my negative trigger.

Alcohol's Impact On Kidney Function;

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