"I've eaten the sun, so my tongue has been burned of the taste." This is a lyric from the song, "Down in a Hole", by the band, Alice in Chains, whose original lead vocalist, Layne Staley, died of a heroin overdose in 2002. I have always liked this line, because I believe it eloquently captures how the drugs of abuse dampen the pleasure center and pleasure pathways of the brain, as they become less responsive to pleasurable feelings over time. Not only does this require the use of greater amounts of the substance to achieve the same effect ,but the normal things in life that we find to be rewarding and pleasurable, such as food, sex, and relationships with others, are no longer strong enough to stimulate the brain's pleasure center and pathways. Thus, a major factor that maintains one's addiction is the inability to derive pleasure from anything other than one's drug of choice, due to biological changes in the brain that are caused by repeated substance use. This phenomenon has also been observed in other addictions, such as sex, food, and gambling. It also plays a major role in maintaining early sobriety, because it may take months, for some even longer, for the pleasure center and associated pathways of the brain to function as they had before the addiction, leaving one to feel as if he or she will never feel good again, perhaps even inducing depression. This experience, known as post-acute withdrawal, is often a major obstacle in maintaining sobriety, which can lead to relapse in an attempt to find happiness or pleasure once again. The good news, as I alluded to earlier, is that the brain will "heal" over time, but this process can be facilitated by finding novel and healthy experiences, that do not involve substance use, or other potentially destructive behaviors. It is also important to reconnect with hobbies or activities that were experienced as rewarding and pleasurable before the substance use began.
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Narberth,
PA Therapist
Dr. Marc L. Feldman
610-675-5517
FAX: 484-709-1676
[email protected]
Professional Endorsements
"Dr Marc Feldman is an outstanding clinician and collaborator. He is kind, non-judgmental, reliable, and goes above and beyond for his patients. I would highly recommend his services to a loved one looking for compassionate, evidence-based, and holistic addiction treatment".
--Dr. Michael Ascher,
MD.
"Dr. Feldman is an exceptional psychologist and well-respected colleague whom I had the pleasure to work with at the Keystone Center. Dr. Feldman's sensitivity to his clients' needs is only matched by his professionalism in providing them the best possible services. He is compassionate, warm, and genuine-- several of the most important ingrediants of a psychologist. It is for these reasons that I-- without reservation-- recommend his services".
-- Dr. Chad Coren,
Psy.D., CAADC
"I have known Dr. Feldman since 2010 and we have collaborated on some complicated cases. Dr. Feldman has always provided his patients with exceptional care, has great insight into understanding the challenges faced by them and readily collaborates with physician providers. His expertise has helped many patients find their way in life again. He is a compassionate, warm and very experienced clinician as his patients have come to know."
--Dr. Mohamed Dattu,
MD
"I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Feldman as a peer and a colleague. Dr. Feldman is a psychologist who is truly invested in the well-being of his clients. His combination of empathy and professionalism allows him to connect with his clients in a unique and therapeutic manner. Dr. Feldman uses a variety of psychological techniques to individualize the therapeutic process according to the needs of the client. He is an excellent clinician who has been able to reach even significantly resistent clientele in order to help them achieve their goals".
-- Dr. Emily Chaffin,
Psy.D.
"As a criminal defense attorney, I often work with individuals who have substance abuse problems that have either resulted in, or played a role in their criminal charges. I refer many of these individuals to Dr. Feldman, because I am confident that they will receive competent and effective treatment, and that they will not be judged for their substance use or legal problems. I also practice family law, and have referred couples to Dr. Feldman in order to address the issues that have either caused them to seek legal counsel, or to work on problems that were created by their legal situation."