Addictive behaviors are one of the disorders that can be caused by imbalances in neurotransmitter levels. The solution is to get the body the nutrients it needs to restore proper neurotransmitter function and prevent neurotransmitter depletion as much as possible – this is often referred to as amino acid therapy.
There are many factors that can cause neurotransmitter dysfunction, not all of which are under your control. However, taking control of those that you can, such as what you eat, how you handle stress and choosing to give your body the nurturing and support it needs on a daily basis will minimize the need for and amount of properly balanced amino acids required to achieve optimal neurotransmitter function; this will allow you to overcome any of these deficits and live your life the way you want. The order in which you address your specific causes of imbalance is completely up to you; however, most people find that using amino acid therapy to achieve proper neurotransmitter function makes the process much easier. An analogy may help:
Think of your brain as a bucket that we are trying to fill with neurotransmitters. All of the causes of neurotransmitter imbalance are like holes in the bucket. Properly administered amino acid therapy is like pouring water (neurotransmitters) into that bucket.
We can keep the bucket full by constantly putting in more water; however, this is a lot of work (and can get expensive). It makes more sense to try and plug as many of the holes as possible so we can put in less and less water over time to keep the bucket topped off.
The same is true with amino acid therapy. We often use amino acid therapy to fill the brain with neurotransmitters so that people can experience relief from their symptoms. Once this occurs, they will have freed up an incredible amount of energy and motivation because they no longer have to deal with whatever those symptoms were. We then direct that energy towards identifying and addressing each cause of imbalance, in essence, plugging up the holes. This will allow a person to take less amino acids over time while remaining symptom free. Eventually, this can also lead to elimination for the need of amino acid therapy.
The first step in working with amino acid therapy is to speak with a trained health care professional so you can get started. Once your neurotransmitter function has improved, you will be craving and urge-free, which allows you to regain control of your decisions and frees up the energy and space you need to address any remaining underlying causes of imbalance.