The mind, body and spirit are not separate entities. However, in order to understand the battle you are facing, you must understand what happens biologically in the brain.
The Neuron
The neuron is the basic unit of the neurologic system. It is composed of a body, axon (the "arm" of the neuron that reaches out to interact with other neurons and body parts), and neurotransmitters (the chemical substances of the neuron that transmit signals from one nerve to another or to a body part). The synapse is the cleft between one neuron and another body part (or neuron) where neurotransmitters are released to pass the nerve signal on to other cells. Neuroreceptors, the receptors on the receiving cell which bind neurotransmitters, are sensitive to other circulating hormones in the blood and brain. Nerves do not synapse with just one other nerve or cell type either. They may interact with 200-200,000 other cell types or neurons. Considering that there are an estimated 1 trillion neurons in the brain, there are innumerable synapses present, which represents an incomprehensible and unmappable electrical system to send and receive information. Add to this that neurons may contain multiple neurotransmitters, may stimulate, inhibit, or facilitate the subsequent neuron's activity, and provides feedback information to the signalling neuron, the complexity is infinite in nature, and any explanation can only be described as oversimplification. However, the biology of addiction is important to address as it gives explanation and helps answer "how" and "why" questions, which provides for us who are addicted more knowledge of our enemies battle plan, thus facilitating our plan of attack.
Equilibrium and Stress
The body lives in a delicate balance. If there is one neuron or transmitter that is affected, due to its large number of connections to other neurons and systems in the body, it ultimately affects the entire ecosystem, which is that person. This is the process of reverberation. The body also has to maintain equilibrium, and when it is thrown off, the result is stress. Stress includes both the alarm responses that signal disequilibrium and the coping mechanisms that seek restoration of equilibrium. Neurons respond to imbalances through three primary responses: feedback, habituation, and adaptation. These are also the three neurological dynamics of attachment which lead to addiction.
Feedback
This is the first line of defense against stress, the reaction to imbalance. It involves a cell receiving feedback regarding its activity by other cells. It can occur in one of three ways: overactive cells may be inhibited, under-active cells may be stimulated, and cells that are doing well may be facilitated. Our brains are wired primarily for action, so to maintain its balance, a near-constant inhibitory influence is exerted over it. We are not just reactors, but rather initiators, constantly creating.
Habituation
Technically, this refers only to the process by which nerve cells become less sensitive and responsive to repeated stimuli. It is the neurological cause of tolerance. Immediate habituation occurs when cells force their receptors to not accept signals from sending cells. This is exemplified best by our near-constant ignorance of background noise. Because it takes a lot of energy and resources to suppress the transmission of unwanted stimuli, the body has a secondary habituation response. In this response, it actually destroys its own receptors so it can no longer be over-stimulated. This is actual physical change in the nerve, designed to protect the equilibrium of the system.
Adaptation
This is a new normality that is established when feedback and habituation no longer work. It is the process of attachment. If attempts at habituation have failed, the receiving cells will increase their responsiveness. They join in the process rather than continuing to try to tune out, which produces stress. If this lasts a prolonged period of time, the rest of the system must adapt to it. When complete, the stress goes away because all systems have been reset to a new equilibrium. This is actual physical change within and between nerves and other cells. Subsequently, you are attached to whatever makes things normal for you at that time. We are very adaptable, but this has also made us very prone to attachments. When a new attachment forms, a new normality is born. With each new normality, addiction exists.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is the result of adaptation. Because the body has established a new balance based on the new environment provided by the addictive behavior, when that addictive behavior is stopped, the body reacts with stress. Usually this stress is the exact opposite of the effects of the addictive behavior due to the neuroadaptive response of the the neurons involved. Thus, for example, sedative withdrawal causes agitation. Nicotine withdrawal causes somnolence. Stimulant withdrawal causes somnolence and fatigue. Withdrawal from attention causes uneasiness and attention seeking behavior.
Non-substance Addictions
These addictions behave in a very similar manner to chemical addictions. Whether it be a specific routine, a special someone, or a certain image that you are addicted to, lack of that addictive substance leads to withdrawal presenting as irritability, grouchiness, and a sense that something is wrong. The symptoms may not be as severe, but the process of the addiction is the same. However, because personal things such as people and identity issues are so deeply ingrained in who we are, withdrawal of those substances of addiction can deeply affect a person's sense of meaning and self hood.
Multi-system involvement
Addictions affect multiple systems. The body adapts to defend against the initial imbalance, fails, and re adapts to a new normality, causing its subsequent system to go through the same process until all systems are affected. This is how addictions come to rule our lives. They are never a single problem. It has become a way of life. Thus, braking an addiction requires changes in multiple areas of life. Multi-system involvement is also responsible for the temporary experience of freedom when a person's environment changes. When the triggers of addictive behavior, the associations, are withdrawn, there is less stimulus to perform the addictive behavior. When on a mountain without your usual societal influences and triggers, one's addiction may not seem so tough. However, when one returns to society all associations are triggered afresh.
Permanence
Addictions and associations become so entrenched that we don't forget them. They lay at bay in the deep psyche of man. Thus, the potential for attachments exists forever in us, even after breaking the habit of acting upon them. The permanence of addiction is ready to come back to us with only the slightest encouragement. We never completely overcome our attachments. From a psychological standpoint, this means we can never become so well adjusted that we can stop being vigilant. From a neurological standpoint, it means the cells of our best-intentioned systems can never eradicate the countless other systems that have been addicted.
Summary
Our bodies and nervous system are wired for attachments. We are highly adaptable, but our adaptability makes us prone to attachments. Our bodies are also designed to work in an equilibrium, a balance. Things that upset that balance and result in stress cause our systems to adapt and re-establish a new balance of normality. This is the neurologic process of addiction, and it involves feedback, habituation (the cause of tolerance), and adaptation (the cause of withdrawal). Addictions never involve just one area of life. They become life because they affect all areas of life through associations and various attachments. Our addictions and associations are permanent. They are always lurking in the background, ready to make themselves known at the first impulse. The brain does not forget. But hope does remain alive for freedom and peace.
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