The Science of Cravings: Understanding the Neurochemistry

The Science of Cravings: Understanding the Neurochemistry

Cravings are a complicated combination of physical as well as chemical processes in a person’s brain which are mostly triggered by a multitude of factors such as:

• Dopamine release: where the brain’s reward system is activated
• Neural Pathways: where a neural Pathway is created in the brain which makes it very difficult for the addictive behaviour to be stopped.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: When an individual decreases or stops substance use withdrawal symptoms are bound to occur.
• Conditioned Responses: With time individuals learn to associate stimuli with the rewarding effects of substances. Such stimuli can include people, places and things as well as internal states like an individual’s state of mind.
• Emotional States: These include stress and social contexts.

It is vital to note that the complexity of cravings is not just about the individual’s will-power, but also includes biological, psychological as well as environmental factors. Having self-awareness of cravings mainly involves a higher level sense of self-awareness and sometimes requires professional assistance, which is offered at Crossroads recovery centre in Johannesburg.

The Science of cravings focuses on how different things can trigger the motivational pathways in a person’s brain, they do not necessarily have to see the substance, but just thinking about it can cause a craving. In a person’s brain, the hippocampus is important for memory which assists in reinforcing the reward seeking behaviour which causes an individual to crave.

The science of cravings is encapsulated in three most known types of cravings, namely:

• Physical Cravings: Which includes hunger for specific foods, cravings which are due to withdrawal from substances or perhaps the need for sleep or rest.
• Emotional cravings: May include comfort eating during sadness or stress. A strong desire to use substances in order for one to relive oneself from boredom or feelings of loneliness.
• Habitual cravings: Some cravings can be triggered by habits, for example smoking after a meal as well as wanting something as a reward.

Knowing the neurochemistry behind cravings is vital for people who would like to get better as it helps them to realise why they have such strong desires for particular things.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
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• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
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• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
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• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
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