If you’re in recovery or seeking addiction help, then you’re likely interested in mental health. Being in the throes of addiction could be called mental illness. And in fact, addiction is more frequently being referred to as a disease. For this reason, if you’re aiming for sobriety, you’re aiming for mental health.
More and more research indicates a healthy brain plays an essential role in mental health. For instance, researchers are beginning to see that the shapes of certain parts of the brain are different among those who have Bipolar Disorder, for instance, versus those who don’t.
Another example is the way that the amygdala functions differently in those that have mental illness. And the brain stem plays a significant role in addiction and substance abuse treatment. There are four parts of the brain that have been significant in research and have their influence on mental health. They are:
Cerebral Hemispheres
The left and right hemispheres make up the part of the brain that are uniquely human. They are responsible for collecting information, processing, making connections, generating thought, and controlling emotions. When there are problems with parts of the cerebral hemispheres, there is likely mental illness.
For instance, when the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex are impaired, so is the mental health of that individual.
Thalamus and Hypothalamus
These two parts of the brain are small but significant. They regulate important levels of functioning, such as sleep and body temperature. The thalamus is responsible for the messages received by the senses and then delivers it to the cerebral hemispheres for processing. It is also responsible for our experience of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
The hypothalamus regulates temperature, hunger, thirst, and energy cycles.
Brain Stem
This part of the brain regulates daily life functions such as breathing and the functioning of the heart. It also plays a role in our experience of reward and pleasure and is significant in the experiences of mania and addiction.
Cerebellum
This is sometimes known as the little brain in that it also has two sides that communicate between one another. This part of the brain regulates coordination, movement, posture, and balance.
Another essential part of the brain and significant to healthy psychology is the network of neurons. This large network in the brain allows cells to communicate with one another, carrying signals back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. Research points to the fact that a healthy psyche means the ability for that network of neurons to change.
As the human being grows and learns, neurons form connections that can last a lifetime. A healthy brain is one that can be plastic, adaptable, and continue to change with its environment. Neurons are wiring and new connections between the two hemispheres of the brain are forming.
If the brain can continue to be plastic, that is, if new neural connections can continue to form and if old ones can be released, this is can support healthy brain function and mental health. These neural connections and adaptability are important in a person’s learning, behavior, and mood regulation.
This is important to know during drug addiction treatment. During recovery, individuals are learning about their treatment, making different behavioral choices, and finding new ways to cope with their emotions. In a sense, drug addiction therapy requires having a healthy brain in order to learn and grow. Clearly, an individual still using drugs isn’t going to be as open to recovery as someone who is clean.
Other conditions such as genetics, environmental circumstances, or trauma can influence the functioning of the brain. The way the brain functions has a significant role in the quality of our health, both physical and psychological. Research continues to investigate this relationship in order to better the understanding and treatment of mental illness.
If you are reading this on any other blog than The Lakehouse Recovery Center or via my RSS Feed, it is stolen content without credit.
Follow us on twitter @TheLakehouseRC
Come and visit our blog at https://lakehouserecoverycenter.com/blog/