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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by turalizz on June 16, 2002, at 17:39:18
Hi,
I was thinking about my "impulsive" behaviors, and figured out something: Beyond being impulsive they are most likely compulsive, and severely self-destructive in nature.
I remember several times, I was very ill (caught a cold or something...) and I couldn't help smoking over and over all night. I coughed, was cold and dizzy, but could not help smoking until I became so ill that I had to stay in bed for two - three days...And the most frequent one; overspending. It seems under control now, but comes and goes from time to time: If I spend a lot, that I do not seem to make it to the end of the month; I tend to spend more. The more I spend the worse it gets. I had serious trouble with the banks because of my credit cards three times. (Luckily, I am still a college student and the damages are little)
I tried some dynamic therapies, but I dropped them every time because I got bored, lost faith in my therapist and so.
Now, the new psychiatrist I am seeing suggested that I try some cognitive-behavioral approach. Do you think that might help? I am sure I can find more and more examples from my life that fits the "if it gets bad, do more to make it worse!" pattern! Now, I wonder what could be the unconscious motive behind it. Can anyone relate to it?
Thanks,
cem
Posted by turalizz on June 16, 2002, at 19:44:26
In reply to self-destructive behaviours, please read!, posted by turalizz on June 16, 2002, at 17:39:18
This occurred to me, and I think it is true:
These self-destructive behaviors are incredibly irrational and unsuccessful defense mechanisms to ignore the unwanted situation....If I am still able to smoke, then I must not be sick!
If I still have the money to spend, I must not be broke!Am I really this stupid? Why are we such irrational animals sometimes?
cem
Posted by omega man on June 16, 2002, at 19:45:24
In reply to self-destructive behaviours, please read!, posted by turalizz on June 16, 2002, at 17:39:18
its the distraction..the rush of the headlong risk..which is something your body gets physically addicted to..whether jumping of cliff with a parachute or trying to push the brain to some out there intellectual nugget...
From what I know the more you push your andrenalin system the bigger the risk you need the next time...also I read that the more time you spend stopping these behaviours the more toned down your glands get..so really this school of thought says the only answer is to fight these urges, using CBT type self assesment as you find the impulse hitting you..
its my opinion you can try and get some fruitfull pursuit where you can run rampant on andrenaline all the time..I did hockey..which is great fun..eveything is on the edge all the time..thats why you can only shift for about a minute..one good game a week keeps you straight and keeps the craziness in that place..but I wrecked my body and i'm only 35...
I'm not sure If I go for the relaxation program..its a real strain...but if you choose the crazy route just make sure its a sustainible one for your mind and body..
Posted by turalizz on June 17, 2002, at 5:50:08
In reply to Re: self-destructive behaviours, please read! » turalizz, posted by omega man on June 16, 2002, at 19:45:24
> its the distraction..the rush of the headlong risk..which is something your body gets physically addicted to..whether jumping of cliff with a parachute or trying to push the brain to some out there intellectual nugget...
>
> From what I know the more you push your andrenalin system the bigger the risk you need the next time...also I read that the more time you spend stopping these behaviours the more toned down your glands get..so really this school of thought says the only answer is to fight these urges, using CBT type self assesment as you find the impulse hitting you..
>
> its my opinion you can try and get some fruitfull pursuit where you can run rampant on andrenaline all the time..I did hockey..which is great fun..eveything is on the edge all the time..thats why you can only shift for about a minute..one good game a week keeps you straight and keeps the craziness in that place..but I wrecked my body and i'm only 35...
>
> I'm not sure If I go for the relaxation program..its a real strain...but if you choose the crazy route just make sure its a sustainible one for your mind and body..Thanks a lot. I found the article below, which I assume to be related to my situation:
Reward deficiency syndrome:
genetic aspects of behavioral disorders
by
Comings DE, Blum K
Department of Medical Genetics,
City of Hope Medical Center,
Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
dcomings@earthlink.net
Prog Brain Res 2000; 126:325-41ABSTRACT
The dopaminergic and opioidergic reward pathways of the brain are critical for survival since they provide the pleasure drives for eating, love and reproduction; these are called 'natural rewards' and involve the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and frontal lobes. However, the same release of dopamine and production of sensations of pleasure can be produced by 'unnatural rewards' such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, nicotine, marijuana, and other drugs, and by compulsive activities such as gambling, eating, and sex, and by risk taking behaviors. Since only a minority of individuals become addicted to these compounds or behaviors, it is reasonable to ask what factors distinguish those who do become addicted from those who do not. It has usually been assumed that these behaviors are entirely voluntary and that environmental factors play the major role; however, since all of these behaviors have a significant genetic component, the presence of one or more variant genes presumably act as risk factors for these behaviors. Since the primary neurotransmitter of the reward pathway is dopamine, genes for dopamine synthesis, degradation, receptors, and transporters are reasonable candidates. However, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, opioid, and cannabinoid neurons all modify dopamine metabolism and dopamine neurons. We have proposed that defects in various combinations of the genes for these neurotransmitters result in a Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and that such individuals are at risk for abuse of the unnatural rewards. Because of its importance, the gene for the [figure: see text] dopamine D2 receptor was a major candidate gene. Studies in the past decade have shown that in various subject groups the Taq I A1 allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, obesity, compulsive gambling, and several personality traits. A range of other dopamine, opioid, cannabinoid, norepinephrine, and related genes have since been added to the list. Like other behavioral disorders, these are polygenically inherited and each gene accounts for only a small per cent of the variance. Techniques such as the Multivariate Analysis of Associations, which simultaneously examine the contribution of multiple genes, hold promise for understanding the genetic make up of polygenic disorders.
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