What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to quit? Discover precisely how addiction works in the brain, the powerful connection between addiction and dopamine, and what’s really driving your cravings. In this video, I’ll show you how to break the addiction cycle with practical steps that can help you regain control.

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0:00 Introduction: Addiction explained

0:52 How addiction works in the brain

2:40 Why addiction is so hard to quit

3:34 How to break addiction cycles

6:35 Addiction recovery tips

8:09 Nicotine addiction explained

9:00 Changing your environment to break addiction

10:18 What causes addiction?

11:24 More addiction recovery tips

Whether you’re addicted to smoking, alcohol, porn, sugar, social media, or gambling, attempting to quit often makes matters worse, but why?

When you drink alcohol, for example, you feel happier and less stressed. Dopamine then tags alcohol as something that increases survival, and the more you consume, the stronger the drive.

Dopamine and glutamate are the hormones involved with addiction. When glutamate levels are too high, you may experience abnormal body sensations, agitation, pressure, compulsion, and obsession. When you ignore this, your fight or flight mechanism kicks in, and your symptoms worsen.

When you experience withdrawal symptoms as you’re trying to break an addiction, try the following steps:

1. Rate the intensity of the urge on a scale of 0-10

2. Locate or point to the affected part of your body

3. Describe it to yourself

4. Repeat

When you repeat the process, you'll notice that the intensity of the sensations decreases. This process helps you differentiate yourself from your addiction. The more you define your addiction and separate yourself from it, the less it will affect you.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reduces glutamate spikes. Try taking 600-2400 mg of NAC per day, depending on the severity of the problem.

Magnesium glycinate can increase GABA, which reduces cortisol and the fight-or-flight response. If you’re a smoker, vitamin B1 and potassium can help.

Changing your environment is vital to breaking the cycle of addiction. Problems with sleep, exercise, or blood sugar can make someone more vulnerable to developing an addiction. Coincidentally, increasing exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and following a low-carb diet can help break the cycle.

Oxytocin can act as a safety net when you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Increase oxytocin with hugs, pets, bonding with friends and family, and L. Reuteri yogurt.

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:

Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

Disclaimer:

Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.