99Relapses Podcast- Episode #20 Part I- The Addicted Brain (Structure)

Hi, I’m James Egidio your host of the 99Relapses podcast. The podcast that moves you from recovery to discovery through the grace and mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This is episode number 20 part one The Addicted Brain Structure. In this episode and in the next three episodes following.

I will discuss the addicted brain structure and function. The subject of the brain and the human brain is a subject that I am very passionate about discussing since I have more than 22 years of experience as a medical practice manager and owner, as well as an extensive background in biology.

The reason why I’m devoting time to the subject of the addicted brain structure and function for two reasons. Number one it’s to illustrate God’s amazing creation at the human body and the human brain. And number two, it’s important to know on a basic level, of course, the structure and function of the addicted brain.

God designed our body and our organ systems in the body. That is the lungs, circulatory system, digestive system, skin, nervous system and the brain to work interdependently together in sync.

If you’d been listening to the previous 99Relapses podcast, episodes and episode number two. I mentioned that addictions can potentially lead to both physical and mental ailments. And our brain is what controls our emotions and behaviors. In fact. Addiction and especially an out of control addiction has a profound impact on our brain and on our emotions which is what I’ll be talking about in the next three episodes. Including this one. When you discuss addiction, nothing’s more important and complex than the human brain with its vast network of neurons, and synapses and all these Structures it’s a very complex science. The science of neurology But just to put things in perspective, I just want to share with Some facts about the brain that are very interesting. And that is

number one 60% of the human brain is made up of fat, and that fat is a lipid that coats the wiring of the brain in order to optimally transmit the impulse, the nerve impulses and that fat is called the myelin sheeth. That’s a fatty lipid substance called the myelin sheeth. And in fact, it’s actually healthy at times to eat animal fats in order to get the optimal amount of lipids in your body. To help. Build up. That coat that myelin sheath coat in moderation of course.

Number two. Your brain is not fully formed until about 25 years old. So in other words, When you’re An infant, adolescent and teenager, it’s not until you’re 25 years old, that your brain is fully formed.

Number three, your brains storage capacities considered virtually unlimited and this equates to about one quadrillion or 1000 trillion connections. And I mentioned those connections in that very first point. About that wiring system in your brain.

Number four. Brain information trial was up to about 268 miles per hour. That’s faster than an Indy race car

Number five. It’s a myth that you only use 10% of your brain you actually use a hundred percent of your brain, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even while you’re sleeping.

Number six, the human brain weighs, roughly three pounds.

Number seven. A piece of brain tissue, the size of a grain of sand contains roughly 100,000 neurons and 1 billion synapses. And I will talk about neurons and synapses in the next episode.

Number eight. The human brain. Can generate 23 Watts of power.

Just to put this in perspective, you could see how God has created an equipped us with a highly functional brain. A computer system housed inside of your skull. And what’s really amazing is that. Like no other mammalian species on the planet. only the human. Has the ability to comprehend, meditate and pray on God’s word and understand it like we do, there’s no other mammalian species that can understand God’s word.

In Genesis, it says. God created man in his likeness. So God created us so uniquely. That no two humans, including even identical twins have the same fingerprints. Ear tongue lip or print pattern that So that’s how unique God made us. There’s two Bible verses. That resonate with God’s creation of humans. And one comes from

Proverbs 20:12, which reads ears to hear and eyes to see. Both are gifts from the Lord.

And then in the book of Psalms 139:13-16 reads. You made the inner delicate parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous. How You watch me as I was being formed in utter seclusion as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. It’s such a beautiful verse. And resonates with so much of the power of God and how God created us and how you knitted us in our mother’s womb.

Please join me in the three episodes as I take a deeper dive into the structure and function of the addicted brain. Thank you for listening to this episode of the 99Relapses podcast. For past podcast episodes, episode’s show notes, episode, memory, versus as well as episode recovery, lessons and tools. Go to 99 relapses.org. That’s the number. 99 relapses.org. Also, if you’d like to make a prayer request for yourself, family or friend, please do not hesitate to email me your prayer request at 99 relapses.org and do not forget to like me on Facebook. As a side note, if you have an interesting story to share about how God has changed your life through addiction recovery. You’re an expert in the field of Christian addiction recovery. Have published Book. Have podcast, website, and would like to be featured as a guest on the 99 relapses podcast, please email me anytime at james@99relapses.org and I will respond within 24 to 48 hours thank you God Bless