Can The Brain Recover From Addiction

In this episode, Can The Brain Recover From Addiction, we explore the brain's recovery from addiction to substances, like opioids and alcohol, and whether our brains are capable of making a complete recovery from any damage sustained from substance abuse and dependence. Can the brain recover from addiction?

In honor of Micheal McClendon, 13 years sober prior to his passing in September 2018. He will be missed.

Created by: Amanda Cortex
Edited by: Aaron Amygdala

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[MissusSnarky]

I never had considered neuroplasticity as holding any detrimental aspects. Now that I've watched this video, it makes so much sense!

Hopefully the results of these findings can be implemented a therapies to improve the lives of those who struggle with addiction. The possibilities and implications of this are extremely exciting!

Thanks for another awesome video!

(I may be binge watching)
😎

[rawremedies]

short answer yes. i was an alcoholic for 15 years. i stopped drinking 4 years ago and now despise it, can't stand the smell of it. don't even enjoy being around people who are drinking and i feel better then i ever have before...

[djimiwreybigsby]

As a 65 yesr old career addict I am so relieved to learn this.. I've been tapering suboxone sfter 20 years of opioids and now stepping down to .5 mg day, I am anxious to get past the fatigue and insomnia and depression of paws to heal my brain and be free again.
Grateful for the encouragement!

[GB-gift]

Everything is reversible but time taken will be varied per person and also depends on lifestyle

[plusbonus]

I hope that as we get clean our brains heal.
Fit recovery backs this up also.

[nicholasdorazio]

Great video!! I am over 5 months clean now. I went cold turkey, so no alcohol, coke, weed, and cigarettes! It's definitely a rough road.. As a musician, I can feel the natural connection these drugs took away from my ability to express myself through music. Without the substances, it's like the path to that place in my head was lost without it. I just continued to grind despite that; it gets way better trust me. Please do not give up!! You will see your efforts are awarded in time. Through the suffering, we get stronger!💪💪Also, almost two weeks with no caffeine. Good Luck Friends🤟😀🤟

[bmcg]

Tip for a struggling addict if you can afford to move country or some place youve never been do it your brain maintains its addiction through environmental ques, if you move to a different country at first your cravings will be severe but if you hold out your addiction will go into remission ive did this recently by moving from Ireland to the Netherlands for a month while your away excercise regularly to speed up recovery

[js]

This is such a high quality video I dunno why it doesn’t have more views

[graynano]

This is what I worry about most, I got addicted to pain meds after many surgeries that I've had to use and I struggle to stay off of them...inevitably though I will have to have many more throughout my life and therefore worry if I will ever be free of the demons it has created. This video gave me some hope. It is exactly what I needed right now in what I feel is my darkest hour. Thank you ❤

[PutTheShovelDown]

I ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ that there is a strong focus on the neurobiology of addiction and even more that you’re making it accessible to everyone through your YouTube videos. I do have a question though. When I hear/say the phrase “once an addict, always an addict I usually think about how quickly old neuropathways reactivate If a relapse occurs. I don’t think of it meaning the brain doesn’t heal but rather it remembers. Sorta like muscle memory. If the person relapses they typically find themselves doing the same old things very quickly. Are there any videos about that?

[paranoidgenius]

I used to inhale butane gas as if it were oxygen, I would sit there going through cannister after cannister, about 15 cannisters a day, & that's not exaggerating. I developed major psychosis, I thought people on TV was contacting me in secret code & I were seeing alien craft in the skies! I knew I was losing my mind. I begged & promised my own brain that I wouldn't gas up again, I begged with all my heart that the psychosis would go away, I couldn't watch any TV or listen to the radio or listen to music with lyrics because I was hearing the impossible! I never gassed up again after that. Luckily I think my brain forgave me. The psychosis decreased & went away. I can now watch anything, listen to anything with no I'll effects, I was so happy & thankful. I still have memories of watching & listening to media during psychosis & how horrible the experience of it was, it completely messed with my head.
DON'T ABUSE SOLVENTS, OR YOU'RE BRAIN WILL MAKE YOU PAY!🤯😵‍💫🥴🤢👽💥👹👺🔥💀

[lukeisprvkt]

from my experience i dont think the brain can heal if were replacing addictions. like i gave up drinking 6 years ago after years of abuse but i picked up other addictions to provide that dopamine i was recieving, food, social media, video games, sex etc etc. now that im sober and also living a cleaner life my brain seems to be finally returning to how it once. my point is were sometimes unaware of other addictions that arent as destructive that are as damaging to our brain when were trying to recoverer, if that made any sence. probably not haha.

[lancem]

Very interesting. I battled these issues from high school through the first year of college. I was able to quit early on though and have had many years of total abstinence since. I do Lumosity brain training daily and have done this for several years. Additionally, I exercise daily. I have noticed substantial memory improvements and was able to attain a much higher GPA in college whilst clean and sober and have had success in the job market since graduating. The strangest thing about sobriety is that I have consistently remembered more and more events that occurred during my childhood and phase of addiction. I’m not sure how or why these thing resurface but I believe it is evidence of healing. I do believe my brain has recovered but who knows to what extent. By continuing to use it I am certain I haven’t lost it ;)

[stu]

The unfortunate reality tho is that no one can say the amount of time it will take or guarantee of healing altogether. And when you don't feel any progress for over a year, it starts to get very disheartening. But that's life for you. Not to put off other people; I'm probably a rarer case

[Aleksaa]

Im 1 year clear from Marijuana, Speed and Mdma. I noticed my memory comes back and attention. I was not everyday user, but problem was i would take it few days in row and then not at all for example 2 months. I mostly used thc than speed and sometimes mdma on rave. It lasted like 2013 till 2019. 6 years sometimes user, i had days when i smoked marijuana everydays for couple of months. My brain is for sure damaged i experianced unrealistic thoughts paranoia and psychosis, now its like waking up from dream. Im glad i had driver license but not a car. Cuz i would pretty much end up in jail or get car crash. Also im thankfull i didnt had more money for drugs so my brain damage is on some average level. I started noticing changes after half year beeing sober. Its like waking up. Damn drugs i wish i never started.

[amitpanwar]

Yoga and meditation is the only treatment for recovery after drug abuse

[Matty]

So no way to improve long and short term memory problems?

[lethalhazard]

Can you PLEASE make a video on the positive effects fasting has on addiction?

Its my hypothesis but because the brain releases MUCH higher amounts of BDNF and HGH along with stem cells, prolonged fasting and it's crazy new emerging science could be our best cure... What do you think?

[timothyayomideogedengbe]

Watched this video and Can’t tell weather this video is good news or bad news. But GOOD NEWS! I know one thing for sure, everything is recoverable by the WORD of GOD. JESUS still heals all manner of sicknesses and diseases and ailments. GLORY TO GOD!

[janeramos]

Thanks for delivering such an exciting video. I hope to see more great videos like this in the future and keep the good work going on.