Addiction is a complex phenomenon that affects millions of people around the world and of which in recent years there has been greater awareness and knowledge. Often, addiction is exclusively associated with substances such as drugs and alcohol, but some people wonder if it is possible to become addicted to compounds generated by our own body, such as neurotransmitters or hormones.
Addiction is defined as a dependence or compulsion toward a specific substance, activity, or behavior that has a negative impact on a person’s life. In the brain, addictions are closely related to the reward system, which is largely mediated by a neurotransmitter: dopamine. The reward system is what generates the feeling of pleasure and well-being that we experience when doing rewarding activities.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter with a central role in this reward system, as dopamine is released when experiencing these rewarding sensations. This reinforces the connection between the experience and the feeling of reward, encouraging us to repeat this behavior and thus generating the addictions themselves.
In this article we are going to delve into the possibility of generating an addiction to the dopamine that we generate when experiencing pleasure and gratification or if, since dopamine is part of the addictive processes themselves, it is impossible to be addicted to it.
As we have mentioned, dopamine is a neurotransmitter with a fundamental role in the reward system that, like all neurotransmitters, is a chemical signal that transmits messages between nerve cells and facilitates communication in various regions and areas of the brain.
When experiencing something pleasurable or rewarding, such as enjoying a delicious meal or receiving a compliment, dopamine is released in the brain and the reward system is activated. The reward system is a network of interconnected brain areas that, as a result of learning by receiving dopamine gratification, establishes those behaviors that take us back to that state, causing us to seek repetition and thus generating addictive behaviors.
Dopamine in these processes, in addition to giving pleasure and reinforcing the behaviors associated with obtaining rewards, creates a feeling of motivation and positive reinforcement, which encourages repeating the behaviors that make us feel good. The reward system is designed to seek survival and well-being.
The release of dopamine motivates us to seek out nutritious foods, form satisfying social relationships, and achieve goals that are important to us. However, when This system is exploited by addictive substances, such as drugs a massive release of dopamine can be caused, generating a sensation of intense pleasure that alters the natural balance of the system.
Is it possible to be addicted to dopamine?
The question of whether it is possible to generate an addiction exclusively to dopamine has generated debates and controversies in the field of neuroscience and clinical psychology. Some argue that dopamine itself can be addictive, as it is the trigger for these pleasurable sensations that reinforce behaviors associated with obtaining rewards. However, others maintain that addiction involves much more complex and generalized processes to different aspects of daily life and is not limited exclusively to dopamine.
Addiction usually establishes itself and becomes generalized when, through the consumption of addictive substances or the pursuit of behaviors related to the secretion of dopamine, our dopamine levels increase and the brain networks of the reward system are strengthened
Therefore, in view of the advances in scientific literature and research, although it is still a topic under investigation and it is possible that future advances will give greater determination to the answer to this question, in principle we could conclude that addiction does not exist. to dopamine, but to what produces its segregation. When we look for dopamine in healthy behaviors such as a satisfying relationship or watching a good movie, its effect on the reward system is not as great or decompensatory as that caused by toxic substances or addictive behaviors. When we talk about dopamine addiction, we are really referring to what caused it; not to dopamine itself.
Myths and realities
It is important to demystify beliefs associated with addictions and the action of dopamine in our body. Next, we are going to comment on two myths associated with addictions and dopamine secretion:
1. Myth: Addiction depends exclusively on dopamine
Fact: Addictions are not limited to a single neurotransmitter. In addition to dopamine, other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and glutamate are also involved and influence addictive processes. These neurotransmitters interact in a complex way and contribute to the addictive effects of substances and behaviors
2. Myth: Addiction is just a chemical imbalance in the brain
Reality: It is important to be aware that addictions are not an exclusively neurochemical issue. Psychological factors, such as emotional vulnerability, stress, and dysfunctional thinking patterns, also play an important role in addiction. The social factors like the environment and the influences of other people, also influence the development and maintenance of an addiction.
In conclusion, we remember: dopamine does not generate addiction; What generates addiction is what releases dopamine in extreme quantities and unbalances our brain networks in relation to the reward system. Talking about addictions is talking about something more complex and multifactorial, having to take into consideration many factors in a person’s life, psychology and environment.
