this is Susan Susan loves to bike while
out for a ride she falls and breaks her
arms special cells called neurons send a
signal through the spinal cord to the
brain which interprets the signal as
pain
Susan understands the pain means she
needs to go to the hospital and her body
is equipped for survival helping her not
to panic so she can seek help
many of her neurons are covered in
proteins called opioid receptors these
receptors act like a brake to slow down
the neurons ability to send pain signals
when injured her body releases natural
painkillers called endorphins like a key
in a lock endorphins activate opioid
receptors slowing down the pain signal
and preventing a panic Susan gets
treated for the broken bone but three
months later her arm still hurts and now
that pain is making her feel depressed
and anxious so her doctor prescribes an
opioid painkiller there are many
different opioids but they all share a
chemical similarity to our own
endorphins this allows them to bind to
the same opioid receptors and stop pain
signals but that’s not all they do
deep inside Susan’s brain is a region
called the ventral tegmental area or VTA
for short the VTA is full of neurons
that produce a chemical called dopamine
when something good happens dopamine is
released giving Susan Afilias pleasure
this helps teach her brain to keep
seeking out good things to keep dopamine
neurons in check inhibitory neurons keep
the brakes on until something good comes
along just like the payment on these
neurons are covered in opioid receptors
when Susan takes the painkiller
prescribed by her doctor the opioid
receptors turn off the inhibitory
neurons and completes the break on the
dopamine the rush of dopamine
temporarily eliminates Susan’s
depression and anxiety and she feels
relief calmness and even euphoria as
Susan continues to take the painkillers
her brain responds by trying to regain
its balance her inhibitory neurons work
extra hard even though fluid centers are
activated and it becomes harder and
harder for her dopamine neurons to
release dopamine Susan finds that she
needs to increase her dose of
painkillers in order to feel comfortable
this is called tolerance eventually
Susan’s pills run out inhibitory neurons
that have been working over loops
clamping down on the dopamine neurons
and shutting them out almost completely
now not only is Susan in pain but the
depression and anxiety come back on top
of that Susan feels ravaged by an
inescapable physical sickness far worse
than any flu Susan’s body is going
through withdrawal most people who take
opioids for a long time tend to
experience some withdrawal but they can
still stop taking the pills in return to
normal but for people like Susan it’s
not so easy for genetics in the
environment she grew up in put her at a
higher risk for addiction her withdrawal
symptoms aren’t just unpleasant
they’re unbearable
Susan thinks the only way to feel normal
is to find more opioids and this is how
the cycle of opioid addiction emerges
driven by a brain trying to regain his
balance but there is hope for Susan
though the road to recovery can be
challenging and there may be setbacks
treatments can retrain Susan’s brain
with the help of medication and therapy
Susan finds pleasure in her life once
again
[Music]
[Music]
you
[Music]
out for a ride she falls and breaks her
arms special cells called neurons send a
signal through the spinal cord to the
brain which interprets the signal as
pain
Susan understands the pain means she
needs to go to the hospital and her body
is equipped for survival helping her not
to panic so she can seek help
many of her neurons are covered in
proteins called opioid receptors these
receptors act like a brake to slow down
the neurons ability to send pain signals
when injured her body releases natural
painkillers called endorphins like a key
in a lock endorphins activate opioid
receptors slowing down the pain signal
and preventing a panic Susan gets
treated for the broken bone but three
months later her arm still hurts and now
that pain is making her feel depressed
and anxious so her doctor prescribes an
opioid painkiller there are many
different opioids but they all share a
chemical similarity to our own
endorphins this allows them to bind to
the same opioid receptors and stop pain
signals but that’s not all they do
deep inside Susan’s brain is a region
called the ventral tegmental area or VTA
for short the VTA is full of neurons
that produce a chemical called dopamine
when something good happens dopamine is
released giving Susan Afilias pleasure
this helps teach her brain to keep
seeking out good things to keep dopamine
neurons in check inhibitory neurons keep
the brakes on until something good comes
along just like the payment on these
neurons are covered in opioid receptors
when Susan takes the painkiller
prescribed by her doctor the opioid
receptors turn off the inhibitory
neurons and completes the break on the
dopamine the rush of dopamine
temporarily eliminates Susan’s
depression and anxiety and she feels
relief calmness and even euphoria as
Susan continues to take the painkillers
her brain responds by trying to regain
its balance her inhibitory neurons work
extra hard even though fluid centers are
activated and it becomes harder and
harder for her dopamine neurons to
release dopamine Susan finds that she
needs to increase her dose of
painkillers in order to feel comfortable
this is called tolerance eventually
Susan’s pills run out inhibitory neurons
that have been working over loops
clamping down on the dopamine neurons
and shutting them out almost completely
now not only is Susan in pain but the
depression and anxiety come back on top
of that Susan feels ravaged by an
inescapable physical sickness far worse
than any flu Susan’s body is going
through withdrawal most people who take
opioids for a long time tend to
experience some withdrawal but they can
still stop taking the pills in return to
normal but for people like Susan it’s
not so easy for genetics in the
environment she grew up in put her at a
higher risk for addiction her withdrawal
symptoms aren’t just unpleasant
they’re unbearable
Susan thinks the only way to feel normal
is to find more opioids and this is how
the cycle of opioid addiction emerges
driven by a brain trying to regain his
balance but there is hope for Susan
though the road to recovery can be
challenging and there may be setbacks
treatments can retrain Susan’s brain
with the help of medication and therapy
Susan finds pleasure in her life once
again
[Music]
[Music]
you
[Music]
Please follow and like us: