When the Brain Becomes Vulnerable to Addiction

When the Brain Becomes Vulnerable to Addiction

Understanding Predisposition Without Treating it as Destiny

This resource explores how repeated self-medication can move beyond occasional coping and become increasingly reinforced. It considers learning, reward, repetition, cues, habits and vulnerability to addiction while avoiding simplistic explanations about dopamine or the idea that somebody’s brain is permanently “broken”.

It helps explain why a behaviour that began as a deliberate strategy for relief can gradually become more automatic and difficult to control.

Useful for: understanding the transition between coping and increasingly compulsive patterns, reducing blame and recognising when additional addiction support may be appropriate.

Space to Breathe Therapy