Home | aba12Steps.org The visible behavior may be different but everything below the surface is roughly the same in all these addictions and food related behaviors.
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See also: Neurotransmitters and Nutrition | Jane Leu Rekas, LCSW
CMHIMP Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional Nutrition
Neurochemical Priorities by Condition
(Primary = most dysregulated; Secondary = supportive but not central)
ADHD
Primary: 🧠Dopamine
Secondary: Serotonin, Norepinephrine
Why:
ADHD is fundamentally about dopamine signaling, timing, and regulation
Not a lack of pleasure — a lack of motivation, initiation, and sustained effort
Most helpful supports:
Tiny task completion (dopamine comes from finishing)
Novelty, interest, urgency
Visual progress tracking
Movement before or during focus
Adequate protein & regular meals
Stimulant or non-stimulant meds (often essential)
⚠️ Caution:
Chasing dopamine via scrolling, sugar, or chaos worsens burnout and dysregulation.
Depression
Primary: 🌱 Serotonin
Secondary: Dopamine, Endorphins
Why:
Depression involves mood regulation, circadian rhythm, and emotional tone
Dopamine drops secondarily due to low energy and hopelessness
Most helpful supports:
Light exposure (especially morning)
Routine and predictability
Gentle movement (not “push harder”)
Regular sleep/wake times
Behavioral activation at low threshold
SSRIs/SNRIs when indicated
⚠️ Caution:
Forcing motivation before mood stabilizes can increase shame.
Trauma / PTSD / Dissociation
Primary: 🛡 Oxytocin + Endorphins
Secondary: Serotonin
Why:
Trauma disrupts safety, trust, and pain modulation
The nervous system is organized around threat, not reward
Most helpful supports:
Safe, attuned connection (human or animal)
Co-regulation before self-regulation
Deep pressure, rhythmic movement
Laughter after safety is established
Trauma-informed therapy (EMDR, IFS, SE, etc.)
⚠️ Caution:
Dopamine-seeking can feel destabilizing when safety isn’t present.
Chronic Illness / Chronic Pain
Primary: 🔥 Endorphins
Secondary: Serotonin, Oxytocin
Why:
Chronic pain and illness tax the body’s pain-buffering systems
Fatigue and inflammation affect mood and motivation secondarily
Most helpful supports:
Pacing (not boom-bust cycles)
Gentle, consistent movement
Pain-safe pleasure (music, warmth, humor)
Social connection that doesn’t demand energy
Multidisciplinary medical care
⚠️ Caution:
“Just exercise” advice often increases flares and guilt.
"The Solution in the Adult Children of Alcoholics / Dysfunctional Families (ACA and ACoA) program is to become your own loving parent. The Loving Parent Guidebook explores, in practical terms, how to build this healing resource into your life. The book provides guidance on creating the conditions to reclaim your inner child and reparent yourself with gentleness, humor, love, and respect."
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Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
ACA Meetings using the Loving Parent Guidebook:
In person ACA meetings in our area:
History short: https://youtube.com/shorts/luUuFAZXV68?si=wCDHfrDYp_93Kyed
Please share with others who might benefit.
PROFILE: Jane Rekas, LCSW, MSW - LifeStance Health updated
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA) defines a dysfunctional family as one in which emotional safety, consistency, and healthy boundaries were absent or unreliable. In these families, children often grew up adapting to chaos, emotional neglect, addiction, mental illness, or rigid control rather than being supported in developing a secure sense of self. ACA emphasizes that dysfunction is not limited to families affected by alcohol use; it also includes homes where feelings were minimized, needs were unmet, roles were distorted, or authentic expression was unsafe. As a result, many adult children carry survival-based patterns—such as hypervigilance, people-pleasing, emotional withdrawal, or self-criticism—into adulthood, often without recognizing their origins in early family dynamics.
The Problem | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
The Solution | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
Also consider: Grandchildren of Alcoholics: Another Generation of Co-Dependency by Ann W. Smith (1988-05-01): unknown author: Amazon.com: Books
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
ACA Meetings using the Loving Parent Guidebook:
In person ACA meetings in our area:
History short: https://youtube.com/shorts/luUuFAZXV68?si=wCDHfrDYp_93Kyed
Please share with others who might benefit.
PROFILE: Jane Rekas, LCSW, MSW - LifeStance Health updated
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ABOUT ME
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Jane Rekas, Master's in Social Work 1992, Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1997.
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