Other Ways to Satisfy the Dopamine Demands
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I feel it too, Bella.
A bunch of years ago, I slipped climbing some granite ledges on the shoreline of one of the lakes when we were on a family camping trip. I was wearing hiking sandles (the only footwear I had for the trip) and ended up pulling up the nail of my big toe.
Couldn't wear the sandles any more so I spent a week in bare feet. I was slow - but made it everywhere. What an experience.
I still go barefoot every once in a while - to re experience that connection with mother earth. Less often now because I don't have a car so don't get away to "safe" places very often. But there is something very true to your words.
Another couple I thought of last night:
Yoga. I haven't practised in a very long time but was thinking of gently moving in that direction now that I can move my upper body a bit more. I can see that working - especially if I set up a special place - I'm thinking in my studio which is always a favoured space.
Incense. I have a friend who burns it frequently. I love them so if I burn the same incense I might have the sense of being around a loved one
Meditation. Again - not something I practise - but maybe I should start?
Lovemaking. (or self lovemaking for those of us living without a partner). That would bring about a pretty fine dopamine high! Imagine saying to your partner...I'm feeling really stressed - binge attack ahead - love me now baby
Singing. I'm a terrible singer - but I love singing. Used to carry lyric sheets with me when I was walking...maybe that is a practise I could renew.
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Meditation
Found this while looking for some meditation tips. Several soundtracks in this article. Seems like a reasonable place to start.
Does anyone have any links they have found particularly good?2 -
I don't do enough of all of those Laurie! And yes, all resonate with me.
I'm also a terrible singer, but that doesn't stop me singing along to all my records. I also sing when I'm walking - often hymns or carols, because I love them despite being irreligious.
Have you thought of dance? And I don't just mean bopping around the room, I mean really sensual dance? I can only do this when I'm unobserved, because even in front of my husband of 32 years I feel too inhibited, so then it's not so effective. Total uninhibition is key for this to work. I put on some really sensual music, dim the lights, wear something non-constricting and really get my groove on. I go the whole hog - think Jamie Lee Curtis sliding up and down the four-poster-bed frame in True Lies - running my hands over my body, bumping and grinding. Sometimes it makes me burst out laughing because I feel like such an idiot - it's sad but true that you can feel inhibited and embarrassed even in your own head! - but sometimes I really can lose myself in the sensuousness of the movement. It's freeing and life-affirming.
I've also been checking out belly dancing videos on Youtube to see if I can have a bash at that. As I have lots of bellies I may as well make good use of them! I'm not very good at shimmying and sashaying at the moment, but watch this space!3 -
I've been moving in that direction....had a sore lower back for a few days as testament to how sincere my moves were. Definitely going there. SLOWLY. I really do think incorporating some of these in our daily lives - not just in those moments - will reduce the need to overeat in any form it takes. But challenging to break life long habits!
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Would crafting help?
I’m not at all arty or crafty (words are my thing) but this summer I taught myself to crochet by following YouTube videos.
I made a blanket in moorland colours first, then an Eastern Jewels blanket, then a pair of mittens and lastly some Christmas decorations. It made me feel closer to my mom, as she was a lifelong knitter and crocheter. I just wish I’d asked her to teach me...
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When you’re crocheting you can’t eat!3 -
Oh my goodness what beautiful crochet work! I can’t believe you taught yourself and jumped right into such intricate patterns.
I’m a knitter. Over the past two years I’ve made hats for chemotherapy patients, immigrant settlements, homeless shelters and needy school kids. Must have knitted up over a hundred hats along with baby blankets and sweaters for crisis pregnant girls.
When your hands are busy you can’t eat - gets the yarns all sticky and messy otherwise. Doing complicated patterns keeps my mind off food too.
I think it’s time I explored doing 🧶 crochet now.2 -
Yooly it's so easy! It looks so complicated, so I was astonished how easy it is! And I honestly don't have a crafty cell in my body, so if I can do it, anyone can. I understand that knitting is considerably harder (I can't knit, so I'm just going by what I've heard.) There are so many tutorials for absolute beginners on Youtube (I was such a beginner that I didn't even know how to make a slip knot, but within a day I'd started a blanket.)
The work was so satisfying - almost addictive!2 -
Bella_Figura wrote: »Yooly it's so easy! It looks so complicated, so I was astonished how easy it is! And I honestly don't have a crafty cell in my body, so if I can do it, anyone can. I understand that knitting is considerably harder (I can't knit, so I'm just going by what I've heard.) There are so many tutorials for absolute beginners on Youtube (I was such a beginner that I didn't even know how to make a slip knot, but within a day I'd started a blanket.)
The work was so satisfying - almost addictive!
Thanks for the encouragement ❣️ I’ll definitely check out YouTube.1 -
I quilt and piece quilts but it is starting to hurt my fingers…..I kinit in spurts like non stop for a year and then not for four or five years lol1
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I learned to embroidary and cross stitch when I was younger, and I do sew my own curtains, clothes, toys for my niece and nephew, etc. I can do a crochet chain but that's about it
Crochet never really inspired me, but I did want to learn to knit. Sadly, I'm left handed and could not find anyone to show me, and I tried learning from books, but that didn't work out either. Now I have carpel tunnel and can't do much hand crafting like that these days - my hands go numb when I hold the needles (including the cross stitch). But at least I can still sew with the sewing machine! Though I wish they had more variety of patterns and that the stupid patterns actually were in line with ready made clothing so I had a truth sense of what size to buy and didn't have to do so much work these days to fit the pattern! I don't have much training on pattern fitting, so each one is a shot in the dark to get it right - and material is dab-blamed expensive, too much so to screw it up trying to get the pattern to fit right! 2 -
Bella - those blankets are extraordinary! I so love the first one, I am close to looking around for some yarn...
Yooly - sticky & messy yarn had me in stitches!1 -
Oh I'm so glad you like the first one! It was that pattern and colour scheme that made me want to crochet in the first place, because I loved it so! Everyone I know prefers the second one, but I much much prefer the first one!
Here's the yarn pack and instructions if you want to make one yourself!
https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/attic24-moorland-cal-stylecraft-special-dk?___SID=S
https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/moorland-stripe-blanket.html
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Thank you, Bella! I bought a bunch of yarn last year with the plans to make dickies for us all - since I couldn't find any robust enough ones to buy. But I didn't do them. Maybe this will inspire me - a new blanket and dickies for all next year!1
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No No No. Nobody sensitive here. Nice blankies. But no touchy dickies m'ok?!?!?!?!
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especially robust dickies1
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A friend of mine who lives on the other side of the country - closer to your world, PAV, on Vancouver Island - has recently seriously returned to music and started conservatory style piano lessons.
Two weeks later and she is on the phone so very excited about all the healthy foods in her fridge and how her GERD has improved so much since she has been eating well - excited about maybe being able to lose the weight she's gained over the past few years.
hhmmm.....coincidence?
Chicken or egg scenario?
1. Did the finger dancing start satisfying those dopamine urges?
2. Did an unrelated bit of feeling good and strong bring about the urge to return to music followed by the strength to tackle weight loss?
I'm thinking number 1.3 -
Yep, I'm inclined to agree! I'd better dig out my mandolin.....2
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Yikes!….I sold my flute years ago!1
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Okay Connie - go get yourself a new flute and I'll tackle my out of tune piano and we'll form a larger losers band. Anyone else care to join us???2
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I also have a cahon - it makea a fantastic NEAT side table!2
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Well that could be some fun too - once my shoulder is all healed up! Definitely takes up much less space than a piano. But I must defer to you, Connie, since your flute is absent.2
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Got rid of our piano, too….we do have a violin around here some place!….Aliyah has a keyboard!….gosh all we need is a set of drums!2
