Managing addiction 
    
    The brain science of addictive behaviours 
    
    There is a reward pathway in the limbic system of the brain. When you experience pleasure. The limbic system will secrete neurotransmitters dopamine which will stimulate the nucleus accumbens through the reward pathway to make people feel happy.
    
    Imagine that there is a balance beam in our brain. One side is happiness and the other is pain. When ones experience pleasure, the balance beam will lean on one side. But in order to keep the biological balance, the self-regulating mechanism will pull it back, making people feel unsatisfied and want to repeat the behaviour to bring pleasure for example, to continue eating keep on playing, keep on buying or keep on gambling. 
    
    But if the behaviour is repeated without restraints it will stimulate the limbic system to secrete a high amount of dopamine. When the brain adapts to a high level of dopamine tolerance develops the feeling of pleasure will gradually diminish you will need to increase the number and degree of stimulation of specific behaviours continuously to feel the same level of pleasure. 
    
    Once the behaviour is stopped one will soon feel bored and agitated. As a result, even if you know that there will be bad consequences you will want to continue that behaviour regardless of anything and it is difficult to control yourself. 
    
    Usually, addictive behaviours are about pleasure-seeking at the beginning but then it gradually becomes a way to escape from stress. 
    
    Any excessive or uncontrolled activities may lead to addiction.
    
    Ways of reducing addiction
    
    Write down which activities you often depend on to attain happiness or escape stress. Then, give yourself a goal to suspend these activities in 30 days. Let the brain gradually adapt to the healthy level of dopamine.
    
    In the first two weeks you may feel very uncomfortable irritable and bored. eager to continue these suspended activities. You can cope with these addictions through these methods. 
    
    Remove the items that remind you of the activity. 
    
    Arrange other activities in advance to reduce free time. In addition, circle the successful day the calendar every night. When you see that there are more and more successful days the closer you reach your goals the less likely you want to give up. 
    
    Limit the type and number of activities. For example, if you are addicted to buying clothes and models you may restrict yourself from buying clothes and models in these 30 days, at the same time limit the amount of money you can spend. 
    
    As long as you can persist through this challenging period, you will have a great opportunity to be released from the bondage of addictive behaviours successfully and can easily feel happy and satisfied in normal daily life. 
    
    If addictive behaviours persist and affect your daily life you need to seek professional help to address the issues accordingly.