The brain is a very complex network of cells that work unanimously to maintain homeostasis and control/maintain proper functioning of different parts of the body. This complex network of cells continuously fire and communicate with one another in different parts of the brain to invoke different responses in the body. The brain acts similarly to a computer, and is oftentimes compared as such. The brain uses electrical signals, called synapses, to send messages/information through the system to elicit a particular response. Both have the ability to expand/grow their memory, as well as the ability to adapt & learn. The brain has 6 main components: the frontal lobe (responsible for speech, problem-solving & reasoning), the temporal lobe (responsible for hearing, memory, & behavior), the parietal lobe (responsible for spatial/visual perception & differentiation), the occipital lobe (responsible for sight & color perception), the cerebellum (responsible for balance & coordination) and the brain stem (responsible for basic homeostatic functioning; breathing, digestion, sleep, & maintaining body temp). Without communication from these regions of the brain, the body’s systems would fail resulting in the death of the organism.
Drugs are classified as any chemical substance that causes a change in an individual's physiological or psychological state (body & mind). Drugs interfere with how the brain’s network of neurons communicate, thus interrupting the overall balance causing a shift in an individual’s mental or physical state. Drugs work because their chemical make-up mimics that of different neurotransmitters produced naturally in our body. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers of the brain sent through neurons to communicate information within the system. Drugs that mimic these neurotransmitters can send false messages through the system invoking a specific response. Although we generally associate the word “drug” with a negative connotation, there are good & bad drugs all with varying effects on the brain & body. The overuse of any chemical substance that mimics the natural processes in the body, can be severely detrimental to the natural balance of the system.
The brain controls every process used to regulate our bodies in order to maintain homeostasis, when there is improper functioning in the brain it results in a cascade effect severely impacting a person’s health or physical normalcy (disease/disorder). Environmental stressors are one of the most commonly seen factors that can disrupt the balance and normal functioning of a system. These environmental stressors include, but aren’t limited to: improper systemic development, chemical imbalances, psychosocial stressors/trauma, blunt trauma, and medical abnormalities (such as cancer or a tumor). These stressors can lead to a variety of different mental diseases, such as: neurological disorders, storage disorders, personality/mood disorders, developmental disorders and prion diseases.
When the brain is exposed to something regularly, it will acclimatize to that change. This can help to explain symptoms of withdrawal. When a person regularly uses drugs, the body becomes dependent on the intake of that chemical. In an attempt to stabilize the imbalance of chemicals, the body either stops producing natural neurotransmitters or the receptors found on neurons & target organs require a stronger stimulus to fire action potentials or send the signal across. When you stop using these drugs normally, your system is put in a constant state of imbalance due to an insufficient amount of neurotransmitter activity needed to cause a reaction.
Throughout my research on this topic, I have become fascinated with the effects mental health has on the body - building on this concept of ayurveda and the balance between mind, body, & spirit. In a previous class, I discussed the concept of “evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology is the study of the ways in which the mind can be shaped by pressures in the environment to improve survivability and reproductive success. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations. This concept of “evolutionary psychology” helps to explain the evolutionary basis of mental illness and the reasons some mental disorders are still selected for in present day society. Mental illnesses, like depression & anxiety, are a result of an extreme imbalance in the chemical makeup of your brain leading to a shift out of homeostasis.
In small amounts, the hormones in your brain are very necessary in order to maintain fitness/survival in certain situations. Take the mood disorder, anxiety, for example; it was proposed that anxiety evolved with humans to help with the development of cognitive functions. Fear is a necessary response. Anxiety (in appropriate amounts) helps humans identify/recognize dangers, ignite their fight-or-flight response, and be able to respond quickly to situations (usually). This is a survival response and it has proven to be essential in keeping people alive.
This connection between mind, body and environment can also be seen in the mental disorder, Depression. Early humans exerted a lot of energy hunting and it was hypothesized that depression (or the hormone imbalance in your brain) caused people to feel tired & unmotivated to help humans save energy & still be able to hunt for food. Postpartum depression gave an entirely different effect and provided different benefits on the human mind. When giving birth, mothers experience a wave of intense emotion due to the many hormones produced while being pregnant, but an unexpected emotional response commonly produced is depression. A major trigger for such a response is due a major change in environment and what that individual perceives as “normal life” (life before children). In a major change such as this, it can be difficult for an individual to fully adjust back to their “normal” lives and figuring out how to balance all of that can be emotionally draining on a mother. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these individuals dislike their new environment; however, because of such a huge change (& the stresses involved in such change), the brain has a difficult time adjusting and as a result these individuals develop postpartum depression (PPD).
Many individuals who suffer from depression show increased levels of Monoamine Oxidase A (MAO-A) - which is an enzyme that breaks down key neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. The low levels of these neurotransmitters causes this state of imbalance that we often call depression. In postpartum depression, MAO-A levels may increase at a significant rate due to the dramatic drop in estrogen levels thus causing a huge depressive episode. This is because Estrogen helps to decrease MAO-A activity in the brain. Antidepressants, specifically MAOIs or MAO Inhibitors, are commonly prescribed to individuals struggling with PPD, as these inhibitors help to reduce the levels of MAO-A by blocking binding sites.
Drugs are prescribed to help lessen the symptoms of disease and disorder; however, many of the drugs we prescribe are extremely addictive or have serious side effects all at the cost of feeling “normal” or “healthy”. Addition lies within the brain’s pleasure center, also known as the hypothalamus. Dopamine is the hormone that controls motor function, motivations, and provides us with a sense of pleasure. Dopamine runs the hypothalamus and is a major influencer in addiction. When an individual uses drugs, it activates the dopamine receptor almost immediately - over time this continuous use leads to tolerance thus the body needs more of a substance to feel the effects. Dopamine tricks the pleasure center into believing drugs are necessary for survival leading to cravings or dependence making it hard to quit using the substance.
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