Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction | Judy Grisel | TEDxPSU 

Very insightful

Well said

How did you retrain your brain? I'm interested in hearing the steps that you took. What type of work did you do? What classes?

@@allfacts19 I’m in the process of retraining my brain while I’m still in my years of development. I’m 22 and have been smoking weed since I was 12. Although it is said you cannot get addicted to weed, it is not true. I constantly told myself I can quit whenever I want and that I just smoke weed because I feel like it, I was lying. Everytime I would wake up the first thing I would do is hit the vape/pipe up until I would go to sleep. I have realized that smoking weed can be relaxing but it definitely made changes to my body/mental thinking and not for the positive. My body constantly relies on THC to eat, or I cannot. Every week I was buying a new cartridge, and it would be gone in days, and I would repeat the cycle. I started noticing how much I was being affected when I started working heavier duty jobs and I noticed how much weed would just make me not want to do anything, so that combined with the fact that weed was the only thing that would get me to eat something, is when I realized there’s a big issue. I couldn’t go hours without just wanting to hit a weed vape or actual weed. I started spending more than I could afford to, which also made me realize I had a problem. One who is trying to overcome addiction must realize the problems that come with it. It is a battle of one person vs themselves, most importantly their mentality. Somebody who wants to overcome addiction has to bring it upon themselves to realize and say I DO NOT NEED IT. You CAN live without it, you used to NEVER NEED it, so why do you need it now? You don’t, but your body is going to make you think you do. It is the biggest mental battle people will face within themselves. Retrain the brain to work without it. Find things to keep you busy, find new friends, find new hobbies, you will be amazed at how much more open you are when you are mentally free from addiction, but it all starts with retraining the brain. It all starts up there.

@@bigloko6380 I totally agree. You can become addicted to anything in this world. To beat a harmful addiction it is best to stay busy and find different hobbies like you said.

I agree! Thanks for commenting.

This has been a part of education for decades. The problem is the lack of honesty and the Reefer Madness approach used. MJ is not a gateway drug and telling this to kids and that all kinds of horrible things will happen if you light up is not sound. Why? Because if they try it and nothing happens then the adults have no credibility. Further, most kids drank before they smoked. But alcohol isn't the gateway, either. It's trauma. A lack if coping skills to deal with feelings. THOSE are the things young humans need to learn about. That and decriminalization might go a long g way toward fewer addicts overall

Thank you so much!

Thank you Eric

@@judygrisel6291 I enjoy your book and listen to it once a year, Judith, thank you so much for your work.

My pleasure!

I love TEDs, there are always these gems.

Thank you for writing-- and feel free to keep in touch!

What is her first name, I want to get the book.

@@brandyhuffman8672 Never Enough

Judith Grisel

I'm hearing you buddie. The further I get away from my last drink the stronger the cravings and torment. You question why you even bother to live. The longest that I was sober was 6months. Today I'm back at two weeks . Waiting on that miracle !

@@plusbonus1165 lol my brother is the only person who has ever called me buddy lol I'm waiting on that miracle too. I started vigorous exercising with heavy weights and drinking tons of ice water, it does help. I'm a small female though so heavy weights to me is 20 pounds lol I go from being suicidal to not being suicidal, I'm very unstable. I don't know if I will ever be normal, I sure hope so.

@@show_me_your_kitties I hope you’re doing okay. I’ve been to nationals as a weight lifter and the only thing that has helped alleviate the urges has been to push my body to extremes like ultra marathons. I went from running 0 times to 3 marathons in a month in a matter of 3 months. Only way for me to beat an addiction is to have a more extreme, more difficult addiction in whatever extreme you pick

Check out johann hari's Ted talk

P

lovely link to send, blessings!

Exactly! We need to work together to find meaningful ways to engage kids that aren't so self destructive!

I have lost friends to drugs, unable to cope they thought they could but we could see the decline, they did I fear when it was at the end.

@@judygrisel6291 you are absolutely correct Dr, Grisel, great talk!

This is why I watch TED's.

My bet is that you will like yourself better (once the withdrawal phase is over). Give it a try and let me know.

@@judygrisel6291 thank you so much Dr Grisel.

You might like yourself better.

hey girl! I've noticed in my experience, that sharing my addictions with someone in my life, and sharing how I will limit myself, helps me hold myself accountable. I personally have a constant need to pursue/achieve more-- but scheduling my time out, by carving out specific time to honor that part of me, writing it on paper, to make it concrete, and then sharing with someone, "Hey I'm only spending 3 hours of productivity time per day" that helps me a lot! Sharing with someone, to who you can send an accountability text/call to, helps me a lot. Also being mindful, and ask yourself what is driving you to want to achieve more. And asking yourself what are the pro's and con's of this drive. Is it hurting myself/people more than helping? Then make appropriate changes to finding what balance you can have of honoring your wants/desires/needs as long as you aren't doing them at the expense of others' wellbeing, and your overall wellbeing. Rest/play/connection with others is so important for fueling us with passion and love. The high's are great, but finding more appreciation and joy for the process in which you are creating/striving for those high moments, is where I have been able to channel that excitement high I personally enjoy as well. Coming from an elite athlete, who very much enjoys the high of achieving things, getting into my body, and realizing the end goal is usually a temporary high, and appreciating the process more has helped me be able to spread out that high throughout the process at a lower dosage that doesn't leave me as burnt out, or feeling as much guilt/shame. There's nothing wrong with wanting to achieve things, I believe bringing joy and appreciation into the little moments throughout the experience is what takes away the shame/guilt I experienced originally in my pursuits. Also, write at the end of the day 3 things you did great that you are proud of yourself for, 1 having to do with the goals you are currently pursuing, 1 having to do with an emotional thing you are proud of yourself for experiencing/feeling/pushing through/opening yourself to, and lastly 1 thing having to do with anything but "work". as simple as "I brushed my teeth twice today, and I am so proud!" The other thing I would suggest is making a list of your accomplishments, and asking yourself "what little things about that process of achieving the big goal at the end, can i look back and appreciate, what did i not enjoy, and in the pursuit of my next big goal, what little goals, little things that make the big goal possible, do i want to experience more of in pursuit of my next big goal? I hope that makes sense!

Sorry for the long delay, Rob. It's meant to take the fun out of drinking (but leave some of the sedative effect). It wouldn't solve addiction but can help some alcohol abusers. In general, I think it is more freeing to lean into sobriety and come up with more creative ways to mitigate anxiety. Meditation and exercise are both more effective in the long run than any drug (GABA agonist like alcohol or benzodiazepines) just not as simple to achieve at first.

No time like the present. There is always hope!

You’re in denial 😂

Toke up.

I'm guessing that she still wants to make herself look good when using theses things

LOl

You're experience is interesting but not typical. Would love to better understand the neural substrates (or the experience) of moderation! Not in my 'wheelhouse', but my hat is off to you.

Cole is impossible to moderate. You are a train heading for a wall of fire with no brakes. All your moderation comment is saying is you are heading towards that wall of fire at a slower speed. The fire gets everyone mate.