Breaking Addiction
Dependence rewires the brain's reward system until craving, tolerance, and withdrawal keep behaviour on repeat long after the pleasure has faded.
This collection covers the neurobiology behind that grip, from sugar and the brain to withdrawal syndrome, and what lasting recovery asks of it. Claims here are traced to peer-reviewed research, with popular recovery lore graded against the evidence.
newest 7 Aug 2026
Most read here · Glossary term
Tolerance: Definition and the Receptor-Downregulation Mechanism of Diminishing Returns →
Editor's Pick · Breaking Addiction
Sugar and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Why You Cant Stop at One
The neuroscience of sugar addiction: how sugar hijacks dopamine, reshapes reward circuits, and what the strongest evidence says about breaking the cycle.
Deep dive · 18 Jun 2026
A route through this shelf
Reading order
Measure yourself
Addiction Patterns Check: Which Behaviours Have the Strongest Hold on You?Get a baseline before you change anything. 20 questions; scored on real dimensions.
Read the evidence
Sugar and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Why You Cant Stop at OneThe full argument, chapter by chapter.
Apply it
90-Day Breaking Addiction Protocol: The Neuroscience-Based Recovery SystemA written method to run: 12 weeks.
The complete shelf, unpaginated
Holdings
Deep Dives
Long-form investigations with full bibliographies.Guides
Structured, chaptered field manuals.
Protocols
Multi-week programmes with a written method.
Assessments
Scored self-assessments with real question banks.
Glossary
Defined terms, each with its own entry.
Withdrawal Syndrome: Definition and the Neurobiology of DependenceWithdrawal syndrome is the aversive rebound that emerges when a dependent substance is discontinued. Learn the neurobiology and how to reduce severity.Glossary term · 18 Jun 2026- Tolerance: Definition and the Receptor-Downregulation Mechanism of Diminishing ReturnsTolerance is the progressive reduction in a drug's effect with repeated use, driven by receptor downregulation, with stakes for addiction and overdose.Glossary term · 18 Jun 2026
Craving: Definition and the Neurobiological Distinction From DesireCraving: an intense motivational state from sensitised dopamine circuits. Understand the wanting/liking distinction and why cues trigger addictive urges.Glossary term · 18 Jun 2026
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Most read on this shelf
- ToleranceGlossary term
- Sugar and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Why You Cant Stop at OneDeep dive
- 90-Day Breaking Addiction Protocol: The Neuroscience-Based Recovery SystemProtocol
- Withdrawal SyndromeGlossary term