marcelleWhen Self-Control Isn’t the Whole Story
You tell yourself: This is the last cookie.
Just one episode tonight.
I’ll start fresh Monday.
And yet… you don’t.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain habits feel impossible to break—whether it’s nightly wine, doom scrolling, or emotional eating—you’re not alone. And you’re not weak. You might be wired for it.
Addiction is no longer just a term for substance abuse. It includes behaviours that hijack your brain’s reward system and make change feel nearly impossible—even when your willpower is strong.
In this post, you’ll discover:
- What addiction really is (beyond drugs and alcohol)
- Why willpower alone often isn’t enough
- How your brain, stress, and genes are involved
- A self-reflection checklist to assess addictive patterns
- Real-life examples and healing options grounded in science
Let’s dive in.
What Is Addiction—Really?
Most of us imagine an addict as someone living on the fringe, struggling with drugs or alcohol. But addiction can take many forms, and its real definition goes deeper.
Clinical Perspective:
Addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory systems. It’s not just a matter of bad habits—it’s about neurochemical imbalances, learned behavior, and environmental triggers.
Dr. Marcelle’s Holistic Lens:
“Addiction is anything that hijacks your thoughts and alters your day. If it consumes your mind, drives your choices, and you feel compelled—you’re in addictive territory.”
This can include:
- Sugar and emotional eating
- Social media scrolling
- Excessive shopping or perfectionism
- Pornography, gambling, or workaholism
- Even toxic relationships
Real-Life Example:
Laura, 52, a teacher and mother of three, didn’t think she had an addiction. But every evening after work, she poured herself a glass (or three) of wine. It helped her “unwind.” Over time, it became non-negotiable. When she tried to stop, anxiety and cravings kicked in. It wasn’t about weakness. Her brain had rewired for this loop.
The Numbers Are Sobering (Especially for Women)
- 47% of adults report overeating with the inability to stop (Lancet Psychiatry, 2021)
- 63% increase in eating disorders since the pandemic (Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto)
- 20% of Canadians will experience an addiction in their lifetime (CAMH)
- 75% of North Americans are addicted to sugar (AddictionCenter.com)
- Women are particularly vulnerable to food, stress-induced, and relationship-based addictions
Could I Be Addicted? A Self-Reflection Checklist
Answer Yes or No:
- Do you often think about a certain habit, food, drink, or behaviour throughout the day?
- Do you plan your day around it?
- Have you tried to cut back but struggled?
- Do you feel guilt, shame, or secrecy about it?
- Does it interfere with relationships, work, or health?
- Does stopping create irritability, restlessness, or anxiety?
- Do you experience a short-term “high” followed by a crash or regret?
- Do you need more of it over time to feel the same effect?
If you answered “yes” to 3 or more, you may be experiencing a form of addictive behaviour. It’s more common than you think—and it’s not your fault.
The Brain’s Role: Learning, Dopamine, and the Loop
Addictions are not a sign of personal failure. They’re deeply embedded in your brain’s reward system, particularly involving a neurotransmitter called dopamine.
Here’s how it works:
- You engage in a behaviour (e.g. eating chocolate)
- Dopamine is released in the VTA (ventral tegmental area), making you feel good
- Your brain learns: That felt great! Let’s do it again.
- Eventually, your brain responds to the cue (not just the reward)
- Thinking about wine on Thursday night triggers dopamine
- You’re “rewarded” before you even drink
Real-Life Scenario:
You don’t even need the cookie. You just walk past the bakery, smell the sugar, and your brain is already lit up. The craving starts, and resisting it becomes a battle against your biology.
Is It a Learning Disorder?
Yes. In fact, studies show that addiction behaves like a powerful form of learned memory (Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2011).
The more we repeat a behaviour that leads to a dopamine surge, the more we “wire” that response into habit. It becomes automatic—like tying your shoes.
Sugar Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic
Sugar doesn’t just taste good—it activates a specific dopamine circuit in the brain’s dorsal striatum, creating compulsive desire.
- Studies show sugar can be more addictive than cocaine
- Eliminating dopamine-excitable cells in this area eliminates the craving response
- It’s not just preference—it’s neurochemical conditioning
The Genetics of Addiction: Are You Wired Differently?
Your genes can predispose you to addictive behaviours. For example:
- DRD2 (Reward Deficiency Gene): Up to 74.4% increased addiction risk
- DAT1: Enhances dopamine reuptake, creating higher addiction reinforcement
- COMT (GG variant): Clears dopamine too quickly, leading to low pleasure, high seeking
- MC4R & FTO: Linked to emotional overeating and snacking
- 5-HTTLPR & MAOA: Affect serotonin regulation, mood, and self-control
- FKBP5, NR3C2: Alter cortisol response, linking trauma and stress with addiction
But remember—genes are not destiny. Through epigenetics, lifestyle changes can turn risk genes off and promote resilience.
The Tipping Point: When It Becomes a Cycle
Addiction escalates when:
- Dopamine floods the brain too often
- The brain reduces dopamine receptors to protect itself
- You need more of the substance or behaviour for the same reward
- This fuels a downward spiral of impulsivity, poor decision-making, and loss of control
Chronic use also shrinks grey matter in your prefrontal cortex—the brain area that helps you say “no.”
What About Trauma and Stress?
Yes, trauma and stress are major triggers.
Mild stress? Can actually boost dopamine in a healthy way
Chronic or unpredictable stress? Disrupts dopamine + serotonin balance, deepens addictive loops
Unresolved trauma alters your stress genes and your brain’s wiring—especially in early life. This is where modalities like Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) shine.
Can Anyone Become Addicted?
Yes. But your genetics, upbringing, stress history, hormones, and emotional regulation skills all play a role in how quickly and intensely you’re affected.
In the next blog, you’ll learn how to break the cycle, rewire your brain, and reclaim your power—starting with small shifts that stick. From NET and trauma healing to gene-informed coaching and nutritional strategies, recovery is possible. And it’s not about willpower alone.
Want to Know What’s Driving Your Patterns?
If you see yourself in this post, I invite you to explore how your genes, imprints, and physiology may be influencing your health habits. Email me at infodrmarcelle@gmail.com.
References
- Addictioncenter.com: Sugar Addictions
- CAMH.ca: Mental Health and Addiction Statistics in Canada
- Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(2):
- Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2011;96:609-62
- Nat Neurosci. 2016;19:465-70
- Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2012;36;79-89
- Biol Psychiatry 2009: 66(2): 102-9
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684895/
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for personalized care from a qualified health practitioner.
Everyone’s health journey is unique—especially when it comes to addictions, genetics, and emotional wellbeing. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplementation, or mental health routine.
