| I am glad folks are curious and searching for | | | | will be the next moment in a very real sense, and |
| information on recovery from drug addiction. | | | | these choices are left embossed in physical form on |
| Recovery is an emotional, physical, cognitive, and | | | | our material selves." |
| spiritual process, and happens inside forever, once | | | | The discovery that neuroplasticity cannot occur |
| the commitment to such a powerful change is made. | | | | without attention has important implications. If a skill |
| It is wrenching to change all those habits at once. | | | | becomes so routine you can do it on autopilot, |
| Eventually though, with new programs installed in | | | | practicing it will no longer change the brain. And if you |
| your brain and habits established, it is possible to | | | | take up mental exercises to keep your brain young, |
| maintain a maintenance regimen. | | | | they will not be as effective if you become able to |
| External changes like a new job, or a new car, or a | | | | do them without paying much attention." |
| new relationship are sometimes used to measure | | | | This is where thinking about the steps of your |
| drug addiction recovery, because there are only | | | | program, for example, begin to pay off. There is no |
| feeling and thinking metrics to judge the internal | | | | end to that process, but the practice itself changes |
| process, until one has some experience with that | | | | your brain in a healthy, neuroplastic way. |
| internal process. | | | | In fact, a key component of healthy recovery from |
| After hitting your bottom, most folks are not sure | | | | drug addiction is a healthy brain, and a healthy brain |
| how much credibility they can place in their own | | | | means you need to take care of the pillars of brain |
| thoughts and perceptions, since those are the | | | | fitness, getting enough physical exercise, proper |
| thoughts and perceptions which got them into trouble | | | | nutrition, including omega 3 fatty acids to keep your |
| in the first place. | | | | neurons supple and flexible, for good signal sending |
| So perhaps the first step is the physical detox, which | | | | and receiving, good sleep, stress management (step |
| can take some time depending on the drug of choice. | | | | 11?), and novel learning experiences, which certainly |
| At this stage, supervision by a medical expert may | | | | includes puzzling over how to create your recovery. |
| be very important. | | | | But remember, you can enhance and encourage |
| During this stage the body, which is designed to | | | | neurogenesis and neuroplasticity by attending to the |
| function in a very healthy way, and heal itself if given | | | | pillars of brain fitness, which actually closely parallel |
| the correct fuel, will begin to right itself, including | | | | the pillars of kidney and liver health, for example. |
| resuming neurogenesis, which is the growth of new | | | | The key piece of recovery from drug addiction is to |
| brain cells. | | | | manage your thinking. |
| New brain cells will be in great demand as the | | | | Capture and dispute automatic negative thoughts as |
| neurons recalibrate and close up receptors which | | | | Daniel Amen, MD, describes them, simply because it is |
| were opened to handle the metabolization of | | | | your brain and you can do this. |
| recreational chemicals. It will take some time for the | | | | In a sense automatic negative thoughts are like |
| brain to replace the wear and tear, but rest assured, | | | | computer viruses. You install your 12 step filter, for |
| it is working to build new cells. | | | | example, and reboot the brain as you become aware |
| As the brain rights itself physically, then thinking | | | | of each negative thought. Soon you will be repeating |
| patterns can begin to be addressed, which involves | | | | thoughts which leave you feeling good, simply |
| another critical capacity of the human brain, | | | | because you can and now your neuroplasticity is |
| neuroplasticity. | | | | becoming effective in a positive way. |
| Neuroplasticity is a term used to describe the brains | | | | Change the thought, change the feeling, and soon |
| ability to rewire and reconnect itself in a ceaseless | | | | your brain is moving towards a very healthy and |
| search for more effective connections and more | | | | relaxing pattern of thinking and internal chemistry. |
| effective circuits for maintaining survival behavior. | | | | Remember though, that we process sensory data |
| At this point, someone in treatment, or someone | | | | and create thoughts about sensory data |
| who has sought out AA, NA, or another 12 step | | | | continuously, so this is an ongoing process. |
| program or counseling will begin to address the | | | | Enhanced Neuroplasticity From Computerized Brain |
| thinking components of recovery, which involve the | | | | Fitness Programs |
| neuroplasticity of the human brain. | | | | One of the pillars of brain fitness is novel learning |
| Sharon Begley in her book, Train Your Mind, Change | | | | experiences, which for a recovering addict certainly |
| Your Brain, speaks to how attention to what we are | | | | involves learning new skills, but for others might |
| paying attention to changes your brain. | | | | involve learning a new language or new musical |
| This is an excerpt from an article that she wrote for | | | | instrument, which challenges the neuroplastic capacity |
| the Wall Street Journal; | | | | of your brain in a healthy way. |
| "Through attention, UCSF's Michael Merzenich and a | | | | If you do not have time for a new language or |
| colleague wrote, "We choose and sculpt how our | | | | instrument, there are a number of computerized |
| ever-changing minds will work, we choose who we | | | | neuroplasticity enhancing tools available. |