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fearless: DOPAMINE

fearless 2.0

By fearless 2.0
in #109: 9/11/2022

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fearless 2.0

fearless 2.0

Posted
Posted

Hi,

Im back! ( and sincerely hope to stay longer than last time...)

 

giphy.gif

 

why dopamine, you ask?

 

 

During summer I have stopped consuming alcohol and will have 100 days as a non drinker this week. While researching on the topic of addictive behavior I got into listening to HubermanLab Podcasts which are introductions into brain science. I realised that through years of taking strong medication and also my mental health history my dopamine houshold it pretty out of whack. ( my original diagnosis as a college student was schizophrenia, ten years ago they changed that into bipolar, this year the diagnosis was changed to having depressive phases .. Im doing so much better!)

 

while trying to quit smoking as well I was prescribed Wellbutrin, an antidepressive drug that lets the brain have more dopamine and helps you with the quitting process. And it felt glorious! I was energized, motivated and everything seemed just a bit lighter. Unfortunately taking this medication long term doesnt help with natural dopamine production at all, and when you stop talking it, you will feel not so great. I have stopped taking Wellbutrin after 10 days because I didnt manage to quit smoking. (I tried 3 times this summer.)

 

the following actions are good for naturally producing a healthy amount of dopamine:

 

PROTOCOL:

 

walking/dogwalks

I  am injured for the 1284658th time ,but if I walk slow and with short steps Im not in pain. I will do the mini challenge with my pup and although it will be raining constantly for weeks starting Wednesday I will go out there and try to walk as much as I can. I wont count my steps or kilometers, I just want the intrinsic joy of moving outside with my dogs butt in front of me. walk every day. ( already doing 4k a day regularly) If you can, walk twice a day.

 

cold showers in the morning 

Apparently the shock of cold water gives you a boost of dopamine which is not only short term, but lasts quite a while. I will shower with warm water and before getting out I will use very cold water on my body... shrieking and trembling is what I want.

 

keep eating keto

if you cut out sugar its good for your brain and dopamine production. I have eaten keto for years now (with breaks)  and will just keep doing so. Also Ive lost 8kg this year and would love to get down some more.

 

intermittent fasting

gives your brain a bit of dopamine and is very good in combination with keto. I will not eat before noon and gradually reduce my eating window.

 

enjoy the hard work/process

I learned that if you focus on hard tasks like writing, you can learn to enjoy the process more than reaching your goal. It has to be a feeling of intrinsic work. Lets you produce dopamine while doing hard things! what's not to love!  Im prepping for NANOWRIMO again and have to write the concept for a training for social workers on mental health, which I am hired to do twice in October. I can sit down on my free days to write.

 

enjoy your coffee

Hubermann found, coffee is helping the brain develop more receptors for dopamine, which means: coffee is something I can drink and enjoy, knowing its actually doing my brain a favor. and as I take a break from smoking cessation for now I will have very happy moments with coffee and cigarettes.

 

 

this protocol will be done daily except for the process of writing, which I can do on my free days ( Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday). 

 

If this strategy is too much for me to tackle at once, Im allowed to take it down a notch. Ive been pushing myself hard all summer and feel its completely fine if I only manage to do some of this stuff. But Im definitely will be pushing myself a bit.

 

 

giphy.gif

  • Like 5
  • That's Metal 4

be fearlessly yourself! :onthego:

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fearless 2.0

fearless 2.0

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Posted

evening check in:

coffee was had

fasting didnt happen ( breakfast at 11 instead of 12)

food was strict keto

2 walks about 1,5 hours taken together

no shower, let alone cold shower had

weight was lost

 

feeling very unmotivated and low. was told thats normal after getting off Wellbutrin. Have to wait it out. Walking hurt, but I enjoyed it anyway. had to run some errands for sick neighbor and didnt have time to write yet. will do a couple of words after writing here.

 

will check your threads tomorrow morning! ❤️

have a chill evening you heroes!

 

 

  • Like 5

be fearlessly yourself! :onthego:

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MaeradCase

MaeradCase

Posted
Posted
On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

During summer I have stopped consuming alcohol and will have 100 days as a non drinker this week. While researching on the topic of addictive behavior I got into listening to HubermanLab Podcasts which are introductions into brain science.

Congrats on your success so far! And that sounds like a cool Podcast. :)

 

On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

the following actions are good for naturally producing a healthy amount of dopamine:

 

PROTOCOL:

 

walking/dogwalks

I  am injured for the 1284658th time ,but if I walk slow and with short steps Im not in pain. I will do the mini challenge with my pup and although it will be raining constantly for weeks starting Wednesday I will go out there and try to walk as much as I can. I wont count my steps or kilometers, I just want the intrinsic joy of moving outside with my dogs butt in front of me. walk every day. ( already doing 4k a day regularly) If you can, walk twice a day.

I think it's awesome you're looking for ways to naturally create the dopamine. These are pretty good suggestions altogether. :D

 

On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

cold showers in the morning 

Apparently the shock of cold water gives you a boost of dopamine which is not only short term, but lasts quite a while. I will shower with warm water and before getting out I will use very cold water on my body... shrieking and trembling is what I want.

😮 Really?!

 

On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

keep eating keto

if you cut out sugar its good for your brain and dopamine production. I have eaten keto for years now (with breaks)  and will just keep doing so. Also Ive lost 8kg this year and would love to get down some more.

 

intermittent fasting

gives your brain a bit of dopamine and is very good in combination with keto. I will not eat before noon and gradually reduce my eating window.

These aren't likely to show up on my radar, but I'm intrigued that they serve as more than just dietary tracks. 🤔

 

On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

enjoy the hard work/process

I learned that if you focus on hard tasks like writing, you can learn to enjoy the process more than reaching your goal. It has to be a feeling of intrinsic work. Lets you produce dopamine while doing hard things! what's not to love!  Im prepping for NANOWRIMO again and have to write the concept for a training for social workers on mental health, which I am hired to do twice in October. I can sit down on my free days to write.

Yay! Another person prepping for NaNoWriMo! I'm excited to try it out this year, and it's helping me to find other people on the forums gearing up for it! 😍

 

On 9/5/2022 at 3:50 PM, fearless 2.0 said:

If this strategy is too much for me to tackle at once, Im allowed to take it down a notch. Ive been pushing myself hard all summer and feel its completely fine if I only manage to do some of this stuff. But Im definitely will be pushing myself a bit.

 

 

giphy.gif

Good to mentally prepare to take a step back rather than give up altogether. :D These are really good challenges, and I wish you success in your pursuit of them! :)

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Rebel Pilot Gar

Rebel Pilot Gar

Posted
Posted

Super congrats on 100 days dry! What an accomplishment! Super proud of you ❤️
 

Celebration Yes GIF by Chippy the Dog

  • Like 1

Dry January | 2022 Reading Challenge

 

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality." - Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace

"I Find That Answer Vague And Unconvincing." - K-2SO, Rogue One

”Persistence without insight will lead to the same outcome.” [spoilers], The Book of Boba Fett

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Harriet

Harriet

Posted
Posted

It looks like an amazing plan, Fearless, and I'm excited. I also suspect there is something off about my dopamine--I think the internet is bad for us--but I cannot manage cold showers (I've tried). Good luck! I'll be back from Munich in a few days and will make a challenge, too.

  • Like 2

Let cheese and oxen and mead crowd out our secret desires for power and domination - Harriet the Viking

Just be bold, fluid and unapologetic, not small, hairy and indecisive - Harriet the Artist

You can absorb me! - Harriet the Contextless Guru

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fearless 2.0

fearless 2.0

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Posted
17 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

Congrats on your success so far! And that sounds like a cool Podcast. :)

 

I think it's awesome you're looking for ways to naturally create the dopamine. These are pretty good suggestions altogether. :D

 

😮 Really?!

 

These aren't likely to show up on my radar, but I'm intrigued that they serve as more than just dietary tracks. 🤔

 

Yay! Another person prepping for NaNoWriMo! I'm excited to try it out this year, and it's helping me to find other people on the forums gearing up for it! 😍

 

Good to mentally prepare to take a step back rather than give up altogether. :D These are really good challenges, and I wish you success in your pursuit of them! :)

Hey, thanks so much for taking the time to comment! ❤️

you can find me at NANOWRIMO as "Puja2.0" would love to be buddies! :) 

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be fearlessly yourself! :onthego:

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fearless 2.0

fearless 2.0

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11 hours ago, Harriet said:

It looks like an amazing plan, Fearless, and I'm excited. I also suspect there is something off about my dopamine--I think the internet is bad for us--but I cannot manage cold showers (I've tried). Good luck! I'll be back from Munich in a few days and will make a challenge, too.

Hi possum! cant wait for you to be back! :) 

  • Like 1

be fearlessly yourself! :onthego:

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