In an age of overindulgence, there is so much that might enslave us to addictive behavior. It might be YouTube or gaming, pornography or procrastination, sex, or substance abuse, or simply your iPhone. Too many feel trapped and powerless while becoming even more unhappy.

Dr. Anna Lembke, Director of Addiction Medicine at Stanford University has written a nationally recognized book, “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.” This is probably the most significant lecture this year for those who feel trapped and for those who want to create truly positive habits. If we know the neurological mechanism, we will be better able to attain balance and more supportive of others in their struggles.

“Lembke says that her patients who are struggling with substance abuse often believe their addictions are fueled by depression, anxiety, and insomnia. But she maintains that the reverse is often true: Addictions can become the cause of pain — not the relief from it. That’s because the behavior triggers, among other things, an initial response of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which floods the brain with pleasure. But once the dopamine wears off, a person is often left feeling worse than before.”

“They start out using the drug in order to feel good or in order to experience less pain,” Lembke says. “Over time, with repeated exposure, that drug works less and less well. But they find themselves unable to stop, because when they’re not using, then they’re in a state of a dopamine deficit.”

- Terry Gross, Shots, Heath Notes From NPR.