Excessive fear is one of the main reasons why people with dependency initially find solace in a drink or drug.

 This comfort may be related to reduction in immune activity and altered dendritic spine numbers in the amygdala and frontal lobes which are rich in opioid receptors.
However, with continued use of alcohol or drugs, the anti-inflammatory effect converts to a pro-inflammatory effect and inflammation of the amygdala or amygdalitis. Fear escalates and more alcohol or drugs are required to achieve the desired effect. Eventually alcohol and drugs cause fear although the patient without insight will not realise this.
Progressive alcohol-drug amygdalitis may be yet another way of looking at the fear-based illness of dependency.
It is interesting neurologists now researching the effect of meditation on the brain have discovered that meditation reduces amygdala activity and increases frontal lobe activity on functional MRI scanning. This may explain the beneficial effects of meditation on fear.

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