Inner Journey to Wellness
A Neuro-anatomical Model
A Neuro-anatomical Model
Altered stress systems progressively impact on dopaminergic networks to cause the neuro-anatomical “brain signatures” of addiction (17).
Reward – stress activates the DS (87) and substance-related cues elicit dopamine release in DS (88) in line with addiction severity, suggesting the strengthening of substance-related habits as addiction progresses. This reflects a shift in reward processing from the VS to DS.
Stress and dopamine are both involved in habit learning (89, 90). Lesions to the DS dopamine prevent habit formation (91).
Memory – elevated stress triggers excessive engagement of habitual processes, by changing the role of memory systems in behaviour. For example, acute stress before a learning task results in a predominantly habitual rather than a cognition-based role of memory in task completion (35).
Chronic stress causes opposing structural changes in neural networks subserving goal-directed and habitual action, with PFC atrophy and DS hypertrophy (35). Bias toward habitual responding…
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Cognitive Bias Modification
Cognitive biases directly affect the way we perceive and process sensory and memory data. Several types of cognitive biases effect how we perceive, think, and feel (Mathews & Mackintosh, 2000).
The specific types of cognitive biases are:
- Attention Bias explaining how things are seen, heard, and felt, that individuals subconsciously choose to perceive based on their current paradigm and ignore what conflicts with beliefs (Salemink, Hout, & Kindt, 2007). Individuals delete, distort, and generalize data so it aligns with their biases (Salemink et al., 2007).
- Interpretation Bias is when the sensory data perceived and accepted is interpreted in a way that fits into or supports one’s biases.
- Memory Bias occurs when individuals recall prior experiences, thoughts, and imagery that supports their current biases (Hertel & Mathews, 2011)).
More emotional individuals may have vulnerabilities to cognitive biases that contribute to more negative processing of the sensory data available and this contributes to emotional distress being more prevalent (Standage, Ashwin, & Fox, 2010). Additionally, modified cognitive biases induce or influence an individual’s emotional state (Hirsch, Mathews, & Clark, 2007). Persistent focus on negative biases in attention, interpretation, and memory are thought to induce these higher levels of emotional vulnerability and more prevalent mood instability (Standage, Harris, & Fox, 2014).
Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) procedures are designed to modify interpretative biases, and are particularly vulnerable to inducing changes in cognition and mood (Holmes & Mathews, 2005). Many CBM procedures have been developed (Standage, Ashwin, & Fox, 2009), and mood changes tend to be significant following treatments (Standage et al., 2010). Positive or negative CBM depict congruent changes in the emotional response, depending upon the context of stimuli (Mathews & Mackintosh, 2000), thus implying that individuals can be “trained” to manifest particular mood states (Standage etal., 2010).
Social comparison processing may be an important moderator of CBM as people become biased as they conform to social norms (Standage et al., 2014). Just as individuals suffering from depression tend to demonstrate a heightened elaboration on negative stimuli, an intensified predisposition to attend to negative stimuli and engage in rumination is a precursor for clinical disorders (MacLeod & Bucks, 2011). This demonstrates the significance of negative attentional focus contributing to negative biases during the interpretation process. CBM can help with the management of self-regulation and maintenance of debilitating emotional disorders (Joorman, Waugh, & Gotlib, 2015), by utilizing instrumental, strategic control of thought patterns and attention selectivity (MacLeod & Bucks, 2011).
Visual text base CBM procedures have been found to elicit the most significant effect on changing interpretations and moods (Standage et al., 2009). Participants who engaged in visual CBM procedures that appraised positive and negative statements have shown a congruency in their interpretive mood bias, either positive or negative (Holland, Tamir, and Kensinger, 2010). Specifically, CBM participants who read about positive but ambiguous situations, then made more positive decisions, while participants who read about more negative ambiguous scenarios followed with more negative decisions or resolutions (Standage et al., 2009). Therefor, it is concluded that appropriate positive and negative interpretative biases are induced by CBM procedures.
An Excerpt from
Mood Modification in Introverted and Extraverted Personality Types
By
Ashleigh Brinkerhoff
Kevin Brough
Tina Brough
Taylor Sullivan
“No matter what people tell you,words and ideas can change the world.”-Robin Williams.
“No matter what people tell you,words and ideas can change the world.”-Robin Williams..
“I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.”
-John Keating (Robin Williams)
Dead Poets Society
Cognitive Distortions
We have a new page!
This page will look at the myriad of cognitive distortions and preservative (and deluded) thinking that appears to be part of the condition of many different addictive behaviours.
So far in this blog we have looked at how altered stress systems effect emotion processing and regulation and how this results in the increasingly compulsive need to use substances and behaviours to regulate subsequent negative emotions and affect.
Now we will be looking at the third strata of this disorder of addictive behaviour, that of distorted preservative thinking. Perseverative thinking is when someone gets an idea or thoughts in their head and just can’t get them out.
It is commonly shared in 12 step meeting show we have a problem with our thinking and hence our decision making. We find this to be true for us also.
Some addictive behaviours have their own specific cognitive distortions…
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Things Change
Change:
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future” – John F. Kennedy
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” – George Bernard
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress” – Frederick Douglas
“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality” – Nikos Kanzantzakis
“If you don’t change direction, you may end up where you are heading” – Lao Tzu
Everyday, life changes, whether we accept those changes / events or not. Yesterday, I caught myself saying “if something didn’t go wrong, it just wouldn’t be an ordinary day”. I continued to think “it’s always something” and “I can’t have a day where something bad doesn’t happen”. Those are some of the most selfish statements I could make with the magnitude of my…
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Co-morbidities
Another new Page!
This page will be dedicated to addressing the co-occurrence of other psychiatric conditions with addiction and addictive behaviours.
For example, conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and major depression are said to frequently co-occur with addictive disorders.
This page will be addressing how frequently these disorders actually co-occur with addiction, or whether their influence has been overstated.
How they should be treated, whether treatment for addiction can help with these disorders too or whether they should be treated separately and importantly whether these so-called co-morbid conditions are tributaries which feed into the overall disorder of addiction?
In other words, when we receive treatment specifically for addictive behaviours are we also treating the conditions which have canalized into addiction.
If so does medication help or hinder sobriety and recovery, especially if prescribed based on a misdiagnosis of addictive disorder showing as an affective…
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Self Sustainability
Nature combines the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind to create beauty and abundance in a self sustaining bio diverse way. Through exposure to light and air growth occurs.
Humans thrive in a similar fashion! Through accessing and using innate resources combined with breath and light, growth and contribution will manifest. When an individual chooses to live in a healthy self sustaining way resources are built, not burned. Wake up! Revive from unconscious living and reclaim who you are, full purpose, and deep meaning.
Be your true self, “the world needs you”. Human diversity is necessary for the self sustainability of humanity. The sacred tree of life will grow and nurture all, as we live in a more symbiotic manner.
Reclaim Yourself and Revive Your Life!
As we revive mother earth and return natural bio-diversity to the land, the work and intent also touches and revives the “Soul” of everyone involved.
The Human Revival Project is about making the simple things in life sacred.
The Human Revival Project is about communion with the land and the Creator, while reclaiming, creating, and supporting natural balance in our selves and in our lives.
It is time to “REVIVE” who we really are and start living authentically.
Get your VIVE* back! (*Life & Vibe)
Join our project. Join our mission.
Kevin at http://www.retreatatzion.com
An apt and accurate illustration of the professional regulation of medicine in 2015 via Mel Brooks History of the World Part 1
It’s good to be the king!
- Count De Monet: I have come on the most urgent of business. It is said that the people are revolting!
- King Louis: You said it; they stink on ice.
Count de Monet: Gerald! Gerald: Count da Money! Count de Monet: de Monet… Monet! Say it! Monet! Gerald and Count de Monet: Moonnet, Moonnet, Moonnet Gerald, Count de Monet, Bearnaise: Mooonnnet! Count de Monet: Perfect, don’t forget! Give it to me again! Monet. Gerald and Bernaise: Monet.
Impoverished Paris Street Merchant: Rats, rats for sale. Get your rats. Good for rat stew, rat soup, rat pies, or the ever-popular ratatouille.
- Other Street Merchant: Nothing, I have absolutely nothing for sale!
Life In Recovery – Australia, USA and the UK
“Recovery introduced me to myself. The hardest but most rewarding journey I have ever undertaken.”
“Recovery from alcohol and drug addiction is now widely recognised as a journey that takes place over time and in a multitude of ways that reflect personal circumstances, supports and resources.”
The Australian Life in Recovery Survey, conducted by Professor David Best of Sheffield Hallam University and Turning Point in partnership with South Pacific Private, is the largest survey of its kind in Australia.
This survey provides an important first glimpse into the lives of people in recovery through comparisons of key domains of life and wellbeing during active addiction and after seeking recovery.
Additionally, comparisons are drawn to the U.S. version of the survey sponsored by Faces & Voices of Recovery. Just click image blow for the findings.
The first ever survey in the UK into Life in Recovery is also in…
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Balance Your Health 