please explain

This is an article I found and it kind of explains what I mean:

Merely a Taste of Beer Can Trigger a Rush of Chemical Pleasure in the Brain
New research shows just a sip can cause the potent neurotransmitter dopamine to flood the brain

A group of researchers led by David Kareken of Indiana University came to the finding, published today in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, by giving tiny amounts of beer to 49 adult men and tracking changes in their brain chemistry with a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, which measures levels of various molecules in the brain. They chose participants with varying levels of typical alcohol consumption—from heavy drinkers to near-teetotalers—and even tested them with the beer they reported that they drank most frequently. Because they used an automated system to spray just 15 milliliters (about half an ounce) of beer on each participant’s tongue over the course of 15 minutes, they could be sure that any changes in brain chemistry wouldn’t be due to intoxication.

The effect was significant. When the men tasted the beer, their brains released much higher levels of dopamine within minutes, compared to when the same test was conducted on the subjects at other times with both water and Gatorade. They were also asked to rate how much they “craved” a beer at several points during the experiment, and perhaps less surprisingly, their cravings were generally much higher after tasting beer than Gatorade or water.

Interestingly, the amount of dopamine release per person wasn’t random. People who had a family history of alcoholism (as reported on a survey) showed notably higher dopamine levels after tasting beer as compared to others. But participants who were heavy drinkers but didn’t have the family history had merely average dopamine levels.

The researchers believe this could be a clue as to why some people are predisposed towards alcoholism—and why it’s more difficult for them stay on the wagon if they’re trying to quit. The immediate release of dopamine from just a taste of beer would likely serve as a powerful mechanism that drives their cravings, and a tendency towards experiencing this burst of pleasure might be genetically inheritable. This could be part of the reason that people with a family history of alcoholism are twice as likely to experience alcoholism themselves.

Previous work has shown that in people with alcoholic tendencies, stimuli that are merely associated with drinking (such as the smell and sight of a alcoholic drinks or a bar) can trigger dopamine release in the brain. This work shows that for an unlucky group predisposed to suffering from alcoholism, bursts of dopamine can occur even if they’re not heavy drinkers—and it only takes a sip for the pattern to start.




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Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-n ... 5C5yVEY.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

for some reason i got confused and thought that the "ah moment" was when you realized you didnt want to drink any longer.

Oh, well that would be my AHA moment!

The light bulb came on with TSM was about week 14.

I still had cravings, but I could do a couple of AF days without a problem.

I would still have days when I wanted to continue drinking, but I could stop.

I found out early on that any more than 3 glasses of wine I would get a nal over, and I would want to finish the bottle.

As I continue down this TSM path, those days where I want to finish the bottle are fewer and farther apart (maybe once every 2 weeks).

That is why you will see people say the rollercoaster of TSM, for there will be good days and bad days.

I think my bad days are mainly caused by habit now, for I am on my 2nd AF day and I have no desire to drink.

Everyone is different though, for I would have loved to have progress like Ocean (for who wouldn't), but I didn't drink like Ocean. So, he and I are even different from that aspect.

You are going to beat this, for you are doing everything that you can.

Keep the faith,

Jaba

ha! yes the AHA moment. ha!
and what does white-knuckling mean?

White knuckling:

Is that feeling when you cannot have a drink and you are tense, angry, fidgety, crawling out of your skin, ready to climb the wall unless you get a drink. A lot of people would call it anxiety, and when getting sober people will go on anti-anxiety meds.

How do you feel when you have to be fasting for a blood test?

I just googled it, and realized it is a rehab/AA term .

Per merriam-webster:

White Knuckling:

showing, experiencing, or causing very strong feelings of fear, anxiety, etc.

marked by, causing, or experiencing tense nervousness <a white–knuckle ride on a roller coaster>

I hope that helps

Jaba

that does help, thanks and what is the honeymoon phase?

Honeymoon:

Is when you feel the medicine working in the beginning.

This is from the frequently asked questions section:

7. What is the honeymoon period?

This period of time, usually 4-8 days, at the beginning of TSM treatment where alcohol cravings dramatically decreases or completely disappears. This is a short term effect of TSM, that should be taken as a good sign. The honeymoon period is an indication that you are responding favorably to Naltrexone. The downside is that this effect is very short lived and you will quickly return to Pre-TSM drinking levels.

i had that when i tried nal for the first time a year or so ago. but since restarting i havent really felt that way.

i hope your migraine is feeling better. i use zomig when i get them.

Forwardthinking,

What is zomig?

I used to get these migraines anytime I would go off the nal. (one of the reasons I feel better on the nal. then off), but that stopped when I started having more AF days than drinking days. BUT, idiot me went on vacation and took nal almost everyday...I should have known better, for now it almost feels like I am having withdrawal symptoms from caffeine or speed...not a good head ache, for nothing work but time.

Thanks for asking.

Jaba