Mastering Neuroplasticity for Optimal Brain Health
Originally published on Medium.com
Changing the way you think can change the way you drink
“Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reorganize and adapt from the result of experience.”
I decided to give up alcohol for three months after the Christmas holidays back in 2021 to rewire my brain.
The longer one goes without alcohol, the more chance one can recover from the substance if it's stopped for some time.
Astonishingly, the average adult brain weighs approximately 3 pounds and has roughly 100 billion neurons. Each neuron houses two extensions, a dendrite and an axon.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit messages from the two extensions to the synapse interface, making communication in the brain possible.
In addition, due to synaptic pruning, synapses that are not used will eventually disconnect. In contrast, those used will build stronger connections and help you rewire your mind for more fulfilled experiences.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt due to its flexibility.
When you implement new experiences into your life, you create new connections and reorganize new pathways.
A consistent approach to this will make it harder to fall into old habits.
Allowing ample time for the brain to rewire may lead to a decreased desire for alcohol consumption or even a complete lack of interest in it.
Beliefs reside in the subconscious
It's actually our beliefs that select our genes that select our behaviour. We are not helpless slaves to our genetic or family history — The Biology of Belief.
Over time, we pick up belief patterns in our environment, which reside in the subconscious mind. To alter our beliefs, we must acknowledge them.
It will take time, dedication, and new experiences, but it is possible.
Beliefs around alcohol may be:
Life is boring without alcohol.
Alcohol helps me relax after a long day.
Everybody drinks.
It helps with falling asleep.
I'm better at socializing.
In actuality:
Drinking causes more anxiety — and fuels stress. (Financial debt destroys relationships and causes embarrassment).
Not everyone drinks as much as you think.
Linked to several cancers.
Messes with the circadian rhythm.
Life is boring, which equals less drama.
Changing your perception and belief patterns about alcohol will enable you to attract new expansive experiences without drinking.
Mindful meditation
Practicing meditation techniques can help slow down the thought process and anxiety that is linked to wanting to drink alcohol.
By focusing on the breath and breathing into the heart center, you can provide the body with space and balance.
It's important not to judge yourself and to observe your thoughts. Allow them to float by and write them down to better understand them after your practice.
Find a quiet space and set the ambiance with essential oils, candles or anything that makes you feel comfortable.
Practice 5 to 10 minutes a day.
It's okay that your mind wanders.
Focus on your breath, and use counting techniques such as 1,2,3,4, inhale, hold for 6 counts, and exhale the breath for a count of 8.
Repeating this mindful meditation practice can build new neuron connections. Neurons are cells in the brain that process information and are responsible for how we feel, think, and act.
It is becoming more well-known that the benefits of meditation can change our brain structure, known as neuroplasticity.
Practicing mindfulness meditation will help prevent your mind from wandering, staying stuck in the past, or worrying about the future.
Still, ultimately, it's a tool to help replace your drinking patterns.
Science is an incredible source of information when you want to understand how the brain works.
The complex and incredible brain is a human computer; to maintain it, you have to work on it and remove old material to replace it with updated information.
Furthermore, by mastering neuroplasticity for optimal brain health, you can begin to transform your life and your drinking habits.
