Little tasks and challenges preserve me transferring ahead.
I really like happening adventures and having distinctive experiences, however life with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has reined that in to a sure extent. After all, the pandemic has lots to reply for, too.
Along with ache, irritation and incapacity, RA imposes a surcharge on way of life. Expectations could must be modified. Adventures and experiences curtailed.
These of you who’ve been following my weblog know that when the pool closed in 2020, I started OND (Operation North Delta). I loved it a lot that I went on to stroll each residential road in White Rock (OWR), Tsawwassen (OT) and Ladner (OL).
Within the fall, I started Operation New Westminster (ONW). By my estimation, I’ve ten extra outings. Then I can take off my footwear for that individual journey.
I had the pleasure to be interviewed by Donna White for Bayview Journal: Marianna Paulson: The Auntie Stress of Anti-Stress.
Nevertheless, typically the challenge is nearer to residence.
Handi-work
For the previous few months, I yearned to choose up my knitting needles and work on my long-ago discarded knitting challenge. My fingers aren’t in nice form, so I assumed it finest to depart it alone.
Then, I had an epiphany. I haven’t got to work on it for hours at a time; I can do a row or three, then set it apart. I can apply the identical precept that I take advantage of after I go on my strolling tasks. Little by little, knit by purl, I can inch my manner by the challenge. I’ve no deadline to fulfill, simply the enjoyment and satisfaction I get from doing one thing with my fingers. One thing artistic and, ultimately, one thing helpful.
About These Molecules
As is usually the case, there’s a hyperlink between what I am studying and what I am writing. The Molecule of Extra primarily discusses the function dopamine performs in our reside.
“Creativity is a wonderful method to combine collectively dopamine and H&N [Here and Now molecules]… However there are extra strange types of creativity that anybody can follow, acts of creation that promote steadiness, fairly than dopaminergic dominance.
Woodworking, knitting, portray, adorning, and stitching are old style actions that do not get a lot consideration in our fashionable world- which is precisely the purpose. These actions do not require smartphone apps or high-speed web. They require brains and fingers working collectively to create one thing new. Our creativeness conceives the challenge. We develop a plan to hold it out. Then our fingers make it actual.” – Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Lengthy, p. 220
Right here and Now Neurotransmitters
H&N neurotransmitters embrace serotonin (the calming chemical), oxytocin (the love hormone), endorphins (mind’s model of morphine) and endocannabinoids (mind’s model of marijuana). H&N neurotransmitters contribute to emotions of pleasure, bliss and delight.
Dopamine
Dopamine (the anticipation molecule or feel-good neurotransmitter) enjoys the fun of the hunt, fairly than efficiently searching. Dopamine needs “extra” however can change into dissatisfied as soon as it has attained what it needs.
Nevertheless, when dopamine runs amok, it is a driver of addictive behaviours. It may well push folks into having affairs. It may well additionally clarify why some folks have issue appreciating what they’ve; there’s at all times one thing higher on the horizon.
Within the Dopamine Nation, Anna Lemke, MD, offers visuals that designate the shut relationship between ache and pleasure and what occurs on the dopamine “teeter-totter.”
“We have all skilled craving within the aftermath of enjoyment. Whether or not it is reaching for a second potato chip or clicking the hyperlink for one more spherical of video video games, it is pure to need to re-create these good emotions or attempt to not allow them to fade away. The straightforward answer is to maintain consuming, or taking part in, or watching, or studying. However there’s an issue with that.
With repeated publicity to the identical or comparable pleasure stimulus, the preliminary deviation to the facet of enjoyment will get shorter and the after-response to the facet of ache will get stronger and longer, a course of scientists name neuroadaptation. That’s, with repetition, our gremlins get larger, quicker, and extra quite a few, and we’d like extra of our drug of option to get the identical impact.
Needing extra of a substance to really feel pleasure, or experiencing much less pleasure at a given dose, is named tolerance. Tolerance is a vital issue within the growth of habit.” – Anna Lembke, p. 53
Discovering Pleasure
Eric Weiner discusses pleasure in a chapter fittingly known as “Methods to Take pleasure in,” in The Socrates Categorical (a pleasant ebook, by the best way). In essence, I imagine that this hints at a dopaminergic response.
He says:
“Past a sure level, Epicurus believed, pleasure can’t be elevated – simply as vibrant sky can’t get any brighter – however solely different.That new pair of footwear or good watch represents pleasure different, not elevated. But our whole client tradition relies on the belief that pleasure different equals pleasure elevated. This defective equation causes unnecessary struggling…
…The Epicureans, ensconced behind their backyard partitions, lived a easy life however one punctuated by lavish feasts. They knew that luxurious is finest loved intermittently, and welcomed no matter goodness got here their manner.Epicureanism is a philosophy of acceptance, and its shut cousin, gratitude. Once we settle for one thing, really settle for it, we will not assist however really feel gratitude.” – Eric Weiner, p. 110
By cultivating a wholesome feeling of appreciation you might be in your method to addressing and undressing your stress, as effectively.
What’s Up and Down with Dopamine, Anyway?
Dr. Andrew Huberman explains how dopamine inspired our forebears to depart the “consolation” of “residence” with a view to forage, collect and/or hunt. While you perceive this, I imagine that you’ve a greater deal with on how one can make higher use of it at present.
