In "Naked Lunch," William S. Burroughs explores the concept that pleasure can often stem from alleviating stress and tension. He argues that experiences of pleasure derived from substance use, referred to as 'junk,' provide a temporary escape from life's complexities and struggles. This reliance on drugs leads to a disconnection from essential processes in life, particularly affecting the hypothalamus, a crucial part of the brain that regulates emotions, energy, and sexual drive.

This disconnection implies a deeper psychological and physiological impact on the individual, as the use of substances not only dulls the pain of existence but also detaches a person from their true self and vitality. Burroughs presents a bleak perspective on addiction, suggesting it ultimately undermines a person's psychic energy and natural drives, highlighting a cycle of dependency that offers fleeting relief but ultimately leads to greater disconnection from life itself.