The brain and Addictions

[Marisa]

As mentioned in the scripts section and under Neurofeedback (once I get something posted there) - Light and Sound technology is a fabulous tool for helping people overcome addictions.

According to research, people with addictions are deficient in alpha brain waves. It is these set of waves that signal to a person the feelings of contentment and be satiated.

The biochemical component to addictions involves serotonin and dopamine. Usually when someone drinks they are self medicating as their serotonin levels are down. Alcohol temporarily raises serotonin levels, which is why many people get all happy and lovey when they drink. The get mean & into fights when the "high" wears off - in other words, when the serotonin levels drop. This is why antidepressants work really well with people who have addiction problems.

There are ways to naturally raise serotonin levels but it takes a bit more effort than the pharmaceutical way. Keeping in mind that some people are born with deficient levels of serotonin and may need drug therapy.

It's important to know what an antidepressant does. Most antidepressants (SSRIs) block the uptake (dissolution) of the serotonin. That's it. It just keeps what you already have in your system longer.

Too much serotonin in your system though, is just as bad as not enough. Most of the stories you hear or read about where a person takes an antidepressant and becomes suicidal don't tell you the whole story. If a person takes an antidepressant and doesn't need it or the dosage is wrong, it'll either not work at all or the person can experience adverse affects.

If the person is depressed or anxious and doesn't have the life skills or knowledge necessary to change the behaviors or lifestyle that is causing the problems, the pills won't work.

All the pills do is balance the brain chemistry - they get you there but you have to make the personal changes to maintain the balanced mind.

Light and sound is a tool that helps your brain use something it has better. Again, the machine doesn't create the brain waves for you - it merely shows your brain where those waves are and teaches your brain how to create more (entrainment). Your brain does the work, the machine only makes the suggestion... per se.

Anyway, hopefully this is enough to get a discussion going ... any thoughts anyone?

[hseaver]

This is something I'm quite interested in, changing brain chemistry naturally with L&S, neurofeedback, and yoga. Here's a couple of links to research in this area:

http://www.aaets.org/article47.htm
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/patterson.html

Also people might be interested in building their own EEG machine. I'm building one of the older kits, the HAL-4, but there is a new open-source EEG movement --
http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/

[Marisa]

Hi Hseaver,

This is something I'm quite interested in, changing brain chemistry naturally with L&S, neurofeedback, and yoga. Here's a couple of links to research in this area:

http://www.aaets.org/article47.htm
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/patterson.html

Thanks for the links to the articles. I have posted copies of them in the library so that others can easily find them and enjoy them.

I really appreciate your contribution to this forum.

M.

[nonena]

I have ADD and cyclothymia a mild form of chronic depression. I have never really had any problems with addictions except for one for pornography. Alcohol, smoking, drugs, gambling etc... have never had much appeal to me. While I wasn't addictive I was compulsive to a degree. I had problems on antidepressants, probably they induced a mild mania, I felt better on prozac but it wasn't productive/constructive for me. I am on ritalin now and it is very helpful for me, the porn addiction is largely gone though it wasn't for 6 months after starting medication that things improved. Bipolars often have a problem with antidepressants because it can cause an induced mania or induce a mixed state. Mixed states are probably what causes the high suicide rates in bipolars and other violent behaviour. Estimates as to the prevalence of bipolar vary a lot but some doctors estimate 30% of depression patients could be bipolar. I think to avoid or reduce addictions you need a degree of mental health. If a person has a biochemical imbalance they are at a considerable disadvantage, an imbalance can be caused by genetics, the environment, ones mindset, or an interaction of these factors. Meditation and or prayer are well established techniques to improving mental function and behaviour. I still find it differcult to concentrate which is why I have bought a proteus to make it easier to practise deep relaxation. I need more control over my thinking, I lack discipline in where I direct my thoughts, irritability is a problem at times. As I gain experience with the mind machine I will probably have questions.

[nonena]

I have some ideas, theories, angles that may be worth considering for some people.

The prevalence of bipolar disorder one and two is thought to be about 2 - 3% of the population. A similar number are thought to have soft bipolar, traits that don't qualify for diagnosis as a serious disorder but are never the less troublesome at times. Cyclothymia is a chronic mild bipolar mood disorder Some doctors believe dysthymia is a form of bipolar. Even soft bipolar can often have negative, cognitive, emotional and social interaction aspects. It is physiological but can or does effect psychology and personality.

I suspect that among users of equipment like mind machines bipolar's are disproportionally represented. Reasons include they are often highly motivated to look for solution's to their problems, they are often more adventurous, independent, and less conservative than most. Historically they are often misdiagnosed or under diagnosed. They often experience problems with antidepressants, including poor response and resistance. They often have more than just mood problems.

Bipolars often have addictions. Alcohol is the drug of choice for many of them.

Dopamine seems to play a significant role in the symptoms/traits and treatment. Most antidepressants work on serotonin. Bipolars seem to respond better to antidepressants that also increase dopamine. Antidepressants are often destabilising, they will increase the risk of mania or hypermania, in bipolar mood stabilisers are first line teatment. There seems to be some complexity that confuses the picture. Some of the least destabilising antidepressants are those that are primarily for dopamine. The MAOI's antidepressants are considered some of the best for response in bipolar and they increase 3 neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine. Serotonin re up take inhibitors like prozac can induce mania, or at least hypomania, and mixed states. Some times stimulants are prescribed for bipolar disorder. I have something like cyclothymia and ADD, the latter is considered a form of ADHD. It is not unusual to have this combination or comorbidity. All I am taking is 20mg of ritalin, I dont see any signs of bipolar in my behaviour now and there is significant improvement in communication and ability to socialise.

I have skimmed over a number of the posts on this forum. I notice a few people experience an increase in anxiety after using the equipment. Could this be explained in some cases as an increase of serotonin that is inducing a mild mixed state? I understand mind machines are useful for treatment of ADHD. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter implicated in this disorder, what program's are best for ADHD and are they likely to have benefits for bipolar? I can think of other reasons why anxiety might increase with deep relaxation exercise. A person might be repressing tension from a response to there environment, past, or existing attitudes and an increase in mental energy makes this tension perceptible. It is unrealistic to expect a cure all from one type of treatment. Meditation and mental relaxation will often have benefits but they will often require supplementing with other types of treatment for people with behavioural problems. Bipolars may require medication particularly mood stabilisers. People with psychological problems may have to address them some how.

[nonena]

"ADHD has captured the headlines, and I strongly suspect there's a lot of people trying to treat themselves for ADHD who should actually be looking at non-pathological laziness and procrastination - AVS can be helpful for either, but the strategies are very different".

Mild bipolar depression can often be perceived as non-pathological laziness and procrastination. It can be more physiological than emotional.

[nonena]

What I am trying to achieve with my proteus is an improvement in cognitive traits and subsequently behaviour. Specifically, improve sleep, reduce symptoms of mental disorders, and reduce unnecessary thinking which I think is negative, one way or another. I said in an earlier post I couldn't see any bipolar symptoms since taking my present medication. There is one thing. In bipolar the sleep/wake cycle is often out of sync. I have trouble getting to sleep in the evenings and probably are slower in the morning than I could be. If I cant sleep I think about things. So I have been using the mind machine to fall asleep with. Program P47, medium volume, maximum light setting. Last night I finished the program and removed the phones and glasses before falling asleep. Other nights I have fallen asleep with it on and removed it on waking in the night which I always do to pee. Some times I have trouble falling asleep again after waking in the night so I may use the machine again in these instances. In the morning before getting out of bed I have been playing P37, I understand this program is useful for increasing beta waves and is recommended for ADD. I find this program very relaxing physically, though I don't experience sleepiness with it, possibly because I have just had a good sleep. I will continue on with this plan and modify it as I gain experience and knowledge.

[neuroasis]

Hi Nonena,

Your posts are interesting and I applaud the study and self reflection. I hope you will continue to share your insights.

Scott

[nonena]

Hi Scott, when you have problems with the way you function it is motivating to try and fix them. I seems to be I am on a self improvement trend that started with a prescription for ritalin. Before that nothing really worked for me. I think things have been improving since I started using my mind machine but it may take a while to recognise specific benefits. I am regularly changing different aspects of how I live so it is confusing what is doing what. I think the benefits of deep relaxation, good sleep and avoiding types of mental activity are well established for most individuals.
I have been using program 37 for going to sleep with now because I enjoy it and it seems to relax me more than P47. I find some times it has a stronger relaxing effect than at other times. Probably developed some resistance. I miss the occasional session but am fairly regular. It is pleasant enough to use but not compelling. I wouldnt have tried more than 20% of the programs.

My addiction problems are not often a problem now. I do have the occasional relapse but it seems to me to largely be physiological. It is like a switch, either there or not. I think with the medication, which I have room to increase in dose, supplements and things like the mind machine I can eliminate or make relapses rare. Different addictions and destructive behaviours are very negative for individuals and society, it is a lot better to have control. My life is healthier and more constructive now, I make better choices in all aspects of my life and things are developing positively now.

[AstralTaveler]

I feel that this is very much true. Statistically I am addiction prone. I have major depressive disorder and had a crappy time throughout most of my adolescent years. I used to use marijuana multiple times daily (and a few other worse drugs occasionally), and now whenever I feel like I need to smoke I just throw on a session on my kasina and it really provides me with that break in reality that weed would give me. I haven't really achieved a "high" feeling from it but it definitely keeps my mind off of getting high. I can get into the usual weird/trippy thought process that weed usually gives me. I still smoke occasionally, I just remind myself that I can't go back to smoking all the time. And every once in a while i treat myself to weed + kasina, and that can get really psychedelic. But anyway the kasina has really helped me to back off of the weed. So thanks mindplace, you're saving me a lot of money in the long run, as well as helping me stay sober.