In the last tutorial we explored how nicotine dramatically alters the brain’s physiology and causes addiction. The end result paints a pretty depressing picture.
Fortunately, there is an absolute certainty that smokers can regain the health of their brain. The very same physiological processes that allow smokers to become addicted, also allow smokers to successfully recover. What’s more, these processes can be invoked and practiced by the user through progressive treatments.
The first of these processes is down-regulation, the reverse effect of up-regulation.
Down Regulation.
While up-regulation increases the number of nicotine receptors in the brain, down-regulation decreases it. This means the chemical dependency to nicotine weakens as it receives less of it. Down-regulation begins as soon as you stop smoking, or even cut down the number of cigarettes you consume.
The process is also fundamental to Nicotine Replacement Therapy, which progressively weakens the chemical dependency over time.
Once the chemical dependency to nicotine is broken, the addict can begin to invoke the second and most influential process to long term healing, brain plasticity.
Brain Plasticity.
For a longtime, it was accepted by the scientific community the brain ceased development at a certain point in an individuals childhood or youth. It was also believed we had a fixed number of brain cells.
Developments in neuroscience over the last thirty years has debunked this idea and proven the human brain, is in fact, capable of neural development throughout adulthood. This neural development is referred to as a brain’s “plasticity.”
In the last tutorial, we explored how addiction to nicotine results in the “hijacking” of neural networks by neurons and neural pathways connected to the act of smoking and nicotine abuse. This process is due to the brains plasticity. Put simply, plasticity is the ability of the brain to create neurons, neural networks and neural pathways. It is most commonly observed in the area of the brain that involves memory.
I also mentioned in the last tutorial, the neural pathways related to smoking strengthen with the constant behavior of smoking cigarettes. Thankfully, these same pathways weaken when not in use.
Over time, the neurons physically metabolize (break down) and allow new neurons and neural pathways to develop. Unlike down regulation and chemical dependency, this process takes a lot longer to play out and requires a commitment to long term treatment. (There are billions of neurons in your brain.)
If a smoker can commit to the healing process, the individual will stop desiring cigarettes and return to a state of normality.
To see plasticity in action, be sure to check out the below you tube clip!
So there we are! Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of nicotine addiction and can now believe with confidence, if you quit smoking and seek treatment for your disease, a time will come that YOU DO NOT MISS cigarettes!
Previous Tutorial.
The Short and Long Term Effects of Nicotine on the Brain.
Additional Links
The most informative site i have ever come across,i am now into my second full week of giving up the cigs,after 30 years of 15 a day, reading virtually everything on your your site i have never felt so confident,my first attempt at giving up(pray my last).from how the brain works etc,the knowledge i have gained makes it so much easier for me.i can only heap praise on you all,and all ex smokers,without you all i would have not taken this journey of a new beginning.Thanks.
That is truly satisfying to read Dominic. Thank you so much for the feedback!
Good luck on your new journey, millions of ex smokers will be barracking for you right now
I came across your site when looking for information about fatigue and poor concentration, I am on my 5th day of stopping a 39 year old 20 a day habit and I feel dreadful.
It is fantastic to be able to access the information you have on here, I keep popping back and reading it not only to reassure myself that I am not going mad but also to support my thought process that I can get through this and that to give into the cravings will undo any progress made so far.
Thank You for a great site :0)
Thanks Teresa
No you sure aren’t mad, those first few days are dreadful. If it hasn’t peaked in intensity, it should soon!
Stay strong and thanks again!
I am better off for the effort you have put into this site. well done mate
Thanks Philip.
One whole month since I quit – after 40 years of more than a pack a day. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Allen Carr, but your site is taking me further down the road of understanding, and giving me reasurrance that it will get easier and easier as my brain heals the wounds I’ve been inflicting on it for so long. Thank you so much!
That’s great to see Rosie!
Thank you for your website i now have a clear understanding
of this habit and how it works. I wish i came across your site sooner. This party is over
Thank you.
That’s great to see David! Thanks
Hi there, I’m coming to the end of a paltry day 3 smoke free. These 3 days feel like a lot longer and I feel terrible! Searching on the net in order to find some help from somewhere to help me understand what’s going on in my head and body and inspire me to keep going ….. This is attempt number 4 for me – I had my first smoke at 12, was a “social smoker” for about 20 years before hooking in and becoming a fully fledged smoker. I hate being a smoker and I don’t want to be one anymore. I’m finding it incredibly difficult due to the typical side effects when quitting together with my husband and a nephew (living with us short term) are both smokers! I pray these horrible feelings have lessened just a little bit tomorrow …. Enough of my grizzling – great website, really helpful information and insights. Very much appreciated and helped me get through another 1/2 hour smoke free!
Great going Del. It sure gets tough, real tough. It pays to remember that no matter how real it feels, it’s the addiction. Be strong!
I am smoke free for oh, at least 6 months now and I would love a cigarette right now. With the weigh I have gained (I’m up a size), it’s tempting. My weight is up, energy and motivation is down and I’m not sure which is worse. I’m not completely broken down yet. I’m still hanging on. I have quit for as long as 6 years at a time, and that first cigarette after a “quit” is like meeting up with an old friend. I hate to admit that, but it’s the truth. I was born to a heavy smoker who smoked during pregnancy and in the home while I was growing up. I started at 11! I quit at 17, started again at 19, quit, started, quit….my latest quit was at 46.
Any suggestions or ideas?
Hi Paige, grats on 6 months.
Yeah. those walls of craving do get pretty tiring. 6 months is a bit of a risky period because of it. Stay strong though, because the challenging walls stopped for me around 10 months from memory.