When We Do Things That Are Healthy for Our Body and Mind, the Brain Makes a Chemical Called

Quitting

VO: Our brain is a very important part of us. It helps us make decisions that keep us strong, healthy and happy.

When we do things that are healthy for our body and mind, the brain makes a chemical called dopamine.

Dopamine makes our brain feel good, and that makes us feel good. That’s why, when we eat healthy food, we feel good. That’s why, when we do exercise, we feel good. And that’s why when we learn something new, we feel good.

Dopamine rewards the brain for making healthy and smart choices; choices that help us feel good and survive.

But there are also unhealthy things we can do that feed dopamine in the brain. Smoking cigarettes is one of them.

When you smoke a cigarette, the brain makes a lot more dopamine; more than it needs. This can make you feel real good for a short time. It may even help you concentrate, give you more energy and make you feel happy.

But if you smoke cigarettes for a long time, the brain starts to think it needs even more dopamine to make you feel good. This means you want to keep smoking, and only another cigarette will make you feel better. This is how you get addicted to cigarettes. And cigarettes can make you sick; real sick. They can even kill you.

Addiction is a powerful thing. It can take over the brain and force you to make unhealthy decisions. That’s why we need to help our brain make healthy decisions and be happy, without being tricked by drugs like in cigarettes.

But the brain needs your help.

There are lots of ways the brain can remember how to be happy without cigarettes. Things like nicotine patches, exercise, and eating healthy food all help the brain beat addiction because they help the brain make dopamine, without the use of cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs.

Beating addiction is one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. You’ll have to keep making hard choices every single day. And that may mean you have to stay away from places and people that make you want to smoke, even if they are your mates or family.

It can take a long time to give up unhealthy addictions. But in the end, you and your brain will be happier and stronger. You have the choice to beat addiction.