The Battle in the Brain: Understanding Addiction and Its Neurological Impact
Addiction is often misunderstood. Many wonder how intelligent, talented, and caring individuals can make choices that lead to personal and social harm. The truth is, addiction isn't just about willpower—it’s about biology. Understanding what happens in the brain during addiction can provide insight into the struggle individuals face and why overcoming addiction requires more than just determination.
The Two Sides of the Brain at War
At its core, addiction is a battle between two parts of the brain:
The Sophisticated Brain (Prefrontal Cortex) – Located at the front of the brain, this region governs impulse control, reasoning, intelligence, and introspection. It helps individuals consider long-term consequences and make rational decisions.
The Survival Brain (Limbic System & Brainstem) – Located at the base of the brain, this part is primal and reactive, focused on basic survival needs like food, sex, water, and pleasure. It does not engage in higher-level thinking or long-term planning.
When addiction takes hold, the Survival Brain overpowers the Sophisticated Brain, making choices that prioritize immediate pleasure over consequences. The addicted brain becomes hardwired to seek substances, overriding logical thought processes. It is as if the survival brain is shouting, thus forfeiting the ability to hear and access Sophisticated Brain.
How Addiction Hijacks the Brain’s Reward System
The brain naturally releases “feel-good” chemicals—like dopamine and serotonin—during pleasurable activities like eating, exercising, or spending time with loved ones. However, addictive substances trick the brain into releasing abnormally high levels of these chemicals, leading to intense euphoria and an obsessive desire to continue feeling euphoria and to numb emotional and physical pain.
The Cycle of Addiction
Initial Use: A substance floods the brain with dopamine and serotonin, creating an overwhelming sense of pleasure.
Tolerance Development: Over time, the brain adapts, requiring more of the substance to achieve the same high.
Chemical Imbalance: As the brain struggles to keep up with the demand, dopamine and serotonin production declines, leading to depression and an inability to experience natural pleasure.
Addiction Takes Over: The Survival Brain takes control, prioritizing substance use over even basic needs like food or sleep. The brain is unable to continue meeting the demands for high levels of feel good chemicals, thus creating the need for more of the substance (ie: tolerance) and mimicking that of a depressed brain (ie: very low levels of dopamine and serotonin).
Why Quitting is So Hard
One of the biggest challenges in overcoming addiction is that the brain literally rewires itself to prioritize substance use. When an individual tries to quit, their brain experiences severe chemical imbalances, making recovery feel impossible.
Even after quitting, it can take 12 to 18 months of sobriety for the brain to restore normal dopamine and serotonin levels. During this time, individuals must work through depression, mood instability and strong cravings—all while their Sophisticated Brain is stabilizing and trying to regain control.
Specific Types of Therapy that are POWERFUL for Addiction Recovery
To learn more about any of these specific treatment approaches click here
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the client to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation, which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Bilateral stimulation (BLS) refers to the use of a stimulus that is presented to both sides of the body such as eye movement, ear tones or hand held pulsers.
Somatic Therapy works on the principle that trauma gets trapped in the body, leading to some of the symptoms people with PTSD or people who have experienced trauma might experience. Through this method, street and trauma are released from the body and clients are taught how to understand and soothe nervous system regulation.
IFS stands for Internal Family Systems Therapy: Internal Family Systems is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a client’s internal “parts” and “Self.” In IFS, the mind is considered to be naturally made up of multiple sub-personalities or families within each individual’s mental system. These sub-personalities take on different roles, such as an inner critic or inner child, and consist of wounded parts and painful feelings like anger and shame.
ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT therapy) is a type of mindful psychotherapy that helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings without judgment. It aims to help you move forward through difficult emotions so you can put your energy into healing instead of dwelling on the negative.
CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT connects thoughts, feelings and behaviors to core beliefs we have about ourselves, other people and the world. CBT offers practical and tangible ways to correct negatively held beliefs and dysfunctional thought patterns.
Hope for Recovery
The brain and body have an incredible ability to heal! With proper treatment, therapy and support, the Sophisticated Brain can recover, supporting individuals in rebuilding their lives.
It is important to remember that addiction is a lifelong vulnerability. If a person in recovery starts using again, the brain quickly reverts to old patterns, reactivating the addictive cycle with the decline often begin quick and risky.
Understanding the neurological basis of addiction highlights why compassion, structured treatment and long-term support are crucial for recovery. The journey is not about just saying no—it’s about rewiring the brain, regaining control and restoring balance.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, know that healing is possible. The brain is resilient and with the right help, recovery is within reach. If Nourish Therapy & Wellness can support you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 215-858-0066 or laurenbittner@nourishtherapyandwellness.org
