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Rewards, Nicotine, and the Brain
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shevie



Quit Date:
May 23, 2005

Posts: 413
Location: Grants Pass, OR, USA

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 1:51 AM    Post subject: Rewards, Nicotine, and the Brain Reply with quote

This is a post I made almost a year ago on another site. A lot of people seemed to benefit from it there, so I'm hoping it will help someone here, too. It skips nicotine's effect on acetylcholine and cuts right to the addiction mechanism that is triggered by that effect.

There have been some questions concerning rewards lately. I've been doing research (actually, more like rooting around) into the neuropharmacological aspects of nicotine addiction and thought I'd share a bit here. It's a bit long so if you want the bottom line, just skip to the colored part and start there.

When you experience something pleasurable, certain areas of your brain called reward centers activate by releasing dopamine. The presence of dopamine is what causes the pleasurable feeling, the enjoyment, the “ahhh”.

Smoking causes an increase in the dopamine levels. The actual mechanism is debated, but fMRI studies confirm the increase occurs. As you continue to smoke, the dopamine levels remain high and the brain starts shutting down some of the reward centers in an attempt to return to normal. This causes the smoker to require more, which raises the dopamine levels, which causes the brain to shut down even more reward centers. A balance is eventually reached, typically at the point of a pack per day (about 20 mg of nicotine). This also applies to users of chewing tobacco and snuff.

So now a balance has been reached. The nicotine has raised dopamine levels and the brain has shut down reward centers to compensate. Heroin and cocaine users also reach this maintenance level where the fix no longer causes pleasure, but simply maintains “normal”. When the dopamine level begins to drop (30 – 60 minutes after the last smoke) the smoker begins to feel “the need” and has another fix which re-establishes the dopamine levels.

When the smoker quits the levels of nicotine fall rapidly, as do the dopamine levels. After three to five days the nicotine is out of the system. The brain, however, does not recover as quickly. Without the constant smoking stimulus, dopamine levels are far below where they were. Since reward centers were long ago shut down to compensate for the increased dopamine levels caused by smoking, the (now) ex-smoker is operating at a “reward deficit”. As a result, the ex-smoker feels depressed, ill-tempered, and sad (cries a lot). Those who use sleep as an escape mechanism will tend to sleep much more.

Another effect of this “reward deficit” is that ordinary, everyday rewards don’t seem to work anymore. In reality, they do cause an increase in dopamine levels, but with so many reward centers deactivated the increase is barely noticeable, if it can be noticed at all. This is why we quitters need to reward ourselves often. The size of the reward isn’t important, the quantity is. Essentially, we need to exercise our reward centers to rebuild them, just like muscles need to be exercised after a long period of disuse.
The research I’ve dug into indicates it takes “several months” to “over a year” , (depending on who you read) for the brain to reactivate enough reward centers to approach the “normal” of never-smokers. Perhaps this is the root of the idea that you aren’t fully quit until you’ve experienced all the seasons. I suspect it is part of that idea. The other part is another topic.

So early in your quits, reward yourselves often. Little stuff is great. Window shopping, watching ducks at the park, special coffee after work, whatever. Doesn’t have to be expensive, just enjoyable. Think free weights for the brain.

Shevie
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Quit date: May 23, 2005
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Deb



Quit Date:
February 5, 2010

Posts: 967
Location: North Carolina (Originally New York)

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 7:42 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shevie,

That was an interesting article and it really makes a lot of sense. I had no clue about Reward Centers, oh my, I can't wait till mine come back. Instead of a reward right now, I'd like to give myself a good swift kick in the A-- for picking up the smokes again and having to go through this all over again.

I really don't mind the mood swing stuff, it's the change that goes on with my body in the first few weeks. You know the canker sores, not being able to go to the bathroom, quit zits, weight gain, you know, all that good stuff....... Crying or Very sad I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully I won't experience all of these glorious things this time around. It's way too early for the canker sores and zits but, the other has already kicked in. Embarassed

I do have one thing in my favor though, I've lost about 24 pounds prior to this quit it was unintentional but certainly needed. It was due to crap that was going on and, 10 of that 24 was what I had gained my last quit so, if I gain 10 back now I am in a win win situation. Very Happy

Enough wining, I'm glad to be free of the smokes once again. All of the changes that I mentioned above are far better than putting poison in my body and, I know that after about a month or so it levels itself out. Very Happy

Thank's for posting this info and I will reward myself as I truly had no clue of how important it was. In the past, I never really paid much attention to the reward process but, now, thanks to you I think I'll start my rewards a littlle earlier. Laughing

Thank's for sharing this info Shevie, it really explains the roller coaster ride.

Deb
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Mary Dude



Quit Date:
June 15, 2004

Posts: 4803
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 7:46 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow...a scientific explanation for why I don't want to stop 'treating' myself to a monthly pedicure...that was my first 'reward' the day after I quit smoking...and every month since then usually around my lunaversry and now...I have some really cute toes!
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Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles, but it does ruin today's happiness!
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Lori



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March 18, 2006

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Location: Pennsylvania, USA

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 8:51 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mary "Cute Toes" Dude, you are too funny!!

Shevie, thanks for that post -- it was fascinating!
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jrduffis



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February 13, 2005

Posts: 43
Location: Randleman, NC

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 9:09 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the read Shevie. I walked around this on the other joint and never read it. This is so outstanding and explains a lot of the brains reaction to nicotine. The reward sensors are going wide open during withdrawl so no wonder we are always wnating something, food, drink or the nasty one a smoke. Understanding the quit process and your explanation of the reward system should help a lot of people save their quits.

I will find Roxanne and let her know that she owes me at least 18 big rewards to start with. Laughing Demon

Thanks again Bob
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kevin
Site Admin


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PostPosted: August 22, 2006 9:34 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks for posting this, shevie; it's an interesting (and well-written) read. Smile
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kevin

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swaneem



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PostPosted: August 22, 2006 9:45 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for sharing this....makes a lot of sense to me!

Donna
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Pamela



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PostPosted: August 22, 2006 10:57 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Shevie! Finally, a scientific explanation for eating more CAKE!
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Free



Quit Date:
May 12, 2006

Posts: 826
Location: USA

PostPosted: August 22, 2006 12:05 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

This post really helped me in my quit. Once I figured out what my rewards were going to be, reward time was ON!

Now, 3 months later, I realize that I did not reward myself enough when I was a smoker. I didn't have time ... I was smoking. Now rewards are a part of my everyday activities. Little things like: gourmet coffee, exercising, a movie rental, a new plant for my garden, etc.
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Barbara K.



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PostPosted: August 22, 2006 5:47 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very Happy Thanks Shevie,

I love your examples of rewards also.

Blessings,
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Rusty



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PostPosted: August 22, 2006 8:13 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very Happy Shevie, I can never read this too many times...you know I'm the Queen of Rewards! I just love 'em! Thanks for bringing this along with you,

Rusty Very Happy
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marw



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PostPosted: August 23, 2006 3:53 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shevie, I used to constantly preach to people about giving themselves enough rewards. But I didn't know until now why I thought it was so important. I just knew it was. It was how I did my own quit. So MANY THANKS for posting this! I know it will help many. And it is also very interesting and well-written! Cool Very Happy

P.S. I couldn't think why I was spending so much time in Victoria's Secret this week, until I read this....that was where I constantly shopped during the first month of my quit....and apparently when I had phantom urges this week, I just went right back there! Laughing Laughing
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texas2step



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PostPosted: October 24, 2006 9:12 AM    Post subject: Very timely for me thanks! Reply with quote

Just when I was thinking I have to watch out letting myself have too many food rewards (and spreading the lower regions across my chair wider) I remembered what I use so often during each week to reward my brain... my little quit meter on my computer that tells me how much money and life I've saved. Course it's good that I'm saving days of life but somehow seeing those dollars add up that I am no longer burning and wasting sure bring a huge smile to my face....

Thanks for having this discussion at just the right time.... I bet if we kept track of when urges came they would coincide exactly with need for more dopamine or whatever. Food for thought.

Happy day all
Texas
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BlueEyes



Quit Date:
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PostPosted: December 27, 2006 3:59 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Understanding the quit process and your explanation of the reward system should help a lot of people save their quits. "

I so agree and this article was super and the best one I have read of the nicotine/dopamine relationship. Also, why Zyban (creates dopamine) works so well with quitting!

Huge thanks.

Julie
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Barbara K.



Quit Date:
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PostPosted: January 1, 2007 8:20 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very Happy I just re-read this. I still reward myself.
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