A Journey of Healing and Connection

May 19, 2025

Dr. Saba Riaz, Author & Copywriter/Content Writer, Molecular Care, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 

Tom O’Connor, Editor & Publisher

Topic: 

This article is a story of a young boy struggling with addiction. He was a poor boy raised by a dedicated single mother who worked diligently to make ends meet. Under such circumstances, the boy’s indulgence in addiction felt inevitable. The trauma he faced and the experiences of life contributed significantly to the addiction.

Author Dr. Saba Riaz will explore how trauma and emotional stress from early life experiences can disrupt the neurochemical balance in the brain. According to Dr. Riaz, “Addiction strongly affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that regulate mood, reward, and impulse control. Chronic stress and trauma cause changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that create a biochemical environment that increases the probability of addiction.”

“However, despite the complexity, addiction may be reversed through the power of community and connection. There is a strong potential for neuroplasticity; the ability of the brain to rewire itself leads to the healing of damaged pathways. It is important to mention that recovery is not always linear, and healing progresses sequentially and does not equate to perfection.”

Additional Information For You 

According to Dr. Saba Riaz:

Personal Connection

As a PhD in biochemistry, I have a deep understanding of the neurochemical processes related to addiction and have gained substantial insight into the impact of addiction on individuals’ lives. 

My understanding was overwhelmingly shaped by an experience I had through the observation of a young boy, Asif, the son of my employee, who was severely affected by addiction. 

Addiction is not only a biological issue; it is also heavily influenced by emotional and social factors. Stress and trauma can disrupt brain chemistry, increasing a person's vulnerability to addiction. Fortunately, recovery is achievable. 

In my experience with Asif, I saw that healing begins with human connection. A feeling of belonging and the strength of community can rewire the brain and rebuild self-worth, aiding in the fight against addiction. When Asif’s mother collapsed from exhaustion while caring for him, Asif realized that addiction had not only harmed him but also the person he loved most, who had been fighting for him for years. 

Moved by his struggle and his mother's plight, we provided emotional support and financial assistance to aid his recovery. It wasn't easy, but Asif made the effort. With time, community support, and the love Asif later discovered in his marriage, he gradually returned to his everyday life. Asif is a decent, employed, healthy young man living a proud life today. 

This experience demonstrates that healing begins when someone cares for you, when you feel connected, when you feel valued, and when you have a purpose in life. 

Witnessing Asif’s recovery journey has shown me that, while the path to recovery is complicated and lacks guarantees, the potential for change is always present. Repair is much greater than we realize. An important question arises: What is needed to heal, and what role do we play as individuals and society?

When recovery becomes personal, a comprehensive approach is needed that can rebalance both mind and body and cannot be controlled by the simple act of abstaining from substances. Biochemically, addiction transforms the brain’s neurochemistry, especially in the areas responsible for mood regulation and reward processing. 

Therefore, we must look for the underlying causes of the imbalance, such as trauma, stress, or mental health challenges, before addressing the actual recovery. Additionally, rebuilding neural pathways and implementing healthy coping mechanisms have become crucial. This process heals the brain’s chemistry and helps achieve a more resilient, sustainable, and fulfilling life pattern. 

1. Personal Growth and Self-Awareness:

• Understanding Triggers: When we talk about recovery, the first step is to understand and identify triggers—those circumstances, emotions, and feelings that cause cravings and relapse. These triggers usually activate the brain's reward centers, causing an automatic drive to use the substance. Here, what is necessary is to break the cycle of addiction, which can be done by learning to recognize these triggers and allowing the individuals to adjust their brain activity. 

• Developing Coping Mechanisms: Stress, emotions, and life challenges can be managed by developing effective coping mechanisms as essential components. Cortisol is a hormone that is associated with stress and anxiety, and it can be controlled by habits that calm your brain even when you are stressed. Healthier coping strategies, such as social support, movement (like yoga or walking), and deep breathing, can help mitigate these effects. It helps your brain regain emotional balance over time.

• Building Self-Esteem: Confronting complex emotions and past mistakes, accompanied by recovery, can be a big blow to self-esteem. Biochemically, the balance of neurotransmitters, i.e., serotonin and dopamine, is linked to self-esteem as they regulate our sense of happiness and reward. Therefore, recovery depends on emotional healing, which involves cultivating self-compassion and self-worth, thereby restoring neurochemicals that reinforce long-term recovery and foster a positive self-image. 

• Setting Boundaries: Sustainable recovery demands establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries with others. These boundaries help protect the individual from toxic relationships or environments that might trigger relapse. Oxytocin is released during healthy relationships to promote trust and bonding, which are integral to healing. Both emotionally and biochemically, recovery is supported by growing positive social connections and distancing oneself from harmful ones.

• Taking Responsibility: A significant step in recovery is accepting responsibility for one’s actions and understanding the impact of those actions on oneself and others. On a biochemical level, accepting responsibility activates the regions of the brain linked to impulse control and decision-making. This supports emotional maturity and strengthens the neural pathways that regulate decision-making, impulse control, and self-regulation.

  
  

2. Addressing Underlying Issues:

• Mental Health: Struggles like depression, anxiety, or mood swings can make the healing journey feel even harder. These challenges often mess with how the brain works, especially the parts that help us stay emotionally stable. However, things can shift when individuals receive the proper support, such as therapy, medication, or a combination of both. It helps bring the brain back into balance, making recovery feel steadier and less likely to fall off track.

• Trauma:  When someone goes through trauma, whether as a kid or an adult, it deepens a wound that cannot be cured. These experiences affect the brain, how the brain handles stress, which makes it harder to cop with addiction, and it leads to a slip back into old habits. Therapies can address traumas through techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or body-centered practices, such as somatic healing, which help facilitate healing. 

• Relationship Issues: Our healing process is deeply connected to the people we surround ourselves with. Continuous tension with family, friends, or partners can initiate a lot of emotional pain that can lead to old bad habits. Setting boundaries, learning to communicate more effectively, and working through past relationship wounds help our brain release hormones like oxytocin, which strengthens our trust in others and makes these kinds of connections easier to recover from. 

3. Creating a Fulfilling Life:

• Finding Purpose: A meaningful aspect of recovery is experiencing a more profound sense of purpose in life. This process helps us concentrate on our goals, engaging us in activities that give us inner peace. Dopamine is a biochemical messenger of our brain that is called a "reward" neurotransmitter. It helps individuals engage in meaningful activities that motivate them toward a fulfilling life. It creates a new, healthy neurological reward system.

• Building a Support System: Having people you can genuinely count on makes all the difference when trying to heal. Supportive relationships and a strong sense of community help you ride out the tough days and celebrate the good ones. When you feel connected to others, your brain releases oxytocin, the “feel-good” chemical that builds trust and helps you feel safe. The more supported you feel, the stronger you become in the face of stress and cravings. A solid support system doesn’t just lift your mood; it helps your brain work better and gives you a steady ground to stand on.

• Building a Support System: I’ve realized that having a strong support system isn’t just helpful in recovery, it’s everything. When you’re going through something as heavy as healing, the people around you help carry the weight. Even just a few right relationships can keep you grounded when the road gets bumpy. It releases oxytocin, a biochemical that fosters trust and creates bonds, contributing to emotional stability through trusted relationships. This strengthens a person by stabilizing brain chemistry. 

• Developing Healthy Habits: Old, destructive habits can be replaced with healthy ones; it’s a foundation of recovery. Building daily routines, like prioritizing physical and nutritional habits, helps counterbalance our brain's chemical imbalance, which is a major cause of addiction. When we exercise, our brain releases endorphins (serotonin and dopamine), which support mood regulation and help reduce stress. This allows our brain’s pathways to relapse, a strong foundation for recovery.

• Embracing Self-Care: Sustainable recovery relies on physical, emotional, and mental self-care. Simple things, like eating well, getting enough sleep, and making time for mindfulness, are key. On a biochemical level, these habits help lower stress and anxiety by balancing cortisol, while boosting mood with serotonin and dopamine. Self-care strengthens your body and mind, making you more resilient as you navigate recovery.

4. Relapse Prevention:

• Understanding Relapse: Relapse in recovery is common. Triggers like environmental factors, stress, or emotional challenges must be considered. Relapse is linked to the brain's reward center; the brain restores that behavior when under stress. Understanding these biochemical foundations is essential for managing relapse effectively.  

• Relapse Prevention Plan: Self-care is the most effective strategy for achieving recovery goals. This plan generally involves identifying triggers, managing cravings, and learning how to respond to high-risk situations. Sustainable recovery relies on physical, emotional, and mental self-care. Simple things, such as eating well, getting enough sleep, and making time for mindfulness, are key. These practices help lower stress and anxiety, which regulates cortisol, which, if released in large amounts, causes stress. Similarly, it regulates serotonin and dopamine levels, thereby boosting mood. 

• Seeking support: From a biochemist’s lens, I can’t stress enough how essential support is during moments of emotional struggle. It all matters whether it’s a heartfelt talk with a friend, leaning on family, opening up to a therapist, or finding connection in a support group. Isolation isn’t just emotionally challenging; it can trigger biochemical shifts that make relapse more likely. Social connection, on the other hand, does the opposite. It naturally boosts oxytocin, the hormone that promotes bonding and trust. This surge in oxytocin doesn’t just soothe loneliness; it helps calm the mind and makes one feel more balanced. This protective factor naturally helps the brain from falling back into the trap of addiction. 

Conclusively, when recovery becomes personal, it is viewed as a stepping stone in a continuing journey. By understanding the biochemical and emotional connections, individuals can use powerful strategies to keep moving forward. 

Your Call to Action:

1. Identify Your Triggers: Avoid situations or emotions that draw you toward old habits. Understanding the triggers is the first step in taking control of your recovery. The next time you feel drawn to those habits again, write down those patterns and create a strategy to deal with them. 

2. Build Your Support Network Establish positive behaviors that help you strengthen yourself by relying on your support system, whether a friend, family member, or support group. This support network is the best way to stay firm and maintain accountability. 

3. Embrace a New Routine: The key to sustaining recovery is one change in your routine that supports you mentally, physically, or emotionally. It could be a walk, a hobby, or a mindful practice.

4. Develop a Relapse Prevention Plan: Writing down and mapping your stressful situations and cravings helps you make efficient strategies, such as taking a break, resting properly, getting good, refreshing sleep, deep breathing, etc. These strategies help you cope with challenging situations. 

5. Seek Professional Support: Working with a therapist specializing in addiction recovery can be highly beneficial. Specialized people have invaluable personalized strategies. Seeking professional help makes our healing journey easier.

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Dr. Saba Riaz lives in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. She earned a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and an International MBA from the University for the Creative Arts. She is a recipient of the IUBMB Young Scientist Award. Dr. Riaz is an outstanding health and nutrition writer, blogger, and copywriter.

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