Since young, we know drugs are bad...
We are taught that if we take drugs, we will get addicted and it's going to be expensive and it will probably ruin our lives cos we will spend most of our time and effort and money trying to get our next fix of our choice of poison.
Some of us might do light consumption of certain types of substances, like alcohol or tobacco. It helps us get happy.
We hear of withdrawal symptoms, cos... after someone takes drugs, they get HIGH and when the drug wears off, they feel normal, but since the contrast between high and normal is so great, they feel like they are down... So they can't wait to get HIGH again.
Blah blah blah... we've heard of all these right?
And we've been so proud of ourselves thinking that we don't do drugs, we don't get addicted. Drugs aren't cool... etc etc....
BUT....
Dopamine is what we normally think of as the happiness drug. However, that’s a big misconception. Dopamine is actually involved more with anticipation than the actual “happiness” feeling. Nicole describes it as a striving emotion
Oxytocin is the neurochemical that has allowed us to become social creatures. It makes us feel empathy which helps us feel close and bonded to others when it’s released.
If you’re in a good mood, you’ve got serotonin to thank. And if you’re in a bad mood, you’ve got serotonin to blame. It’s a regulator. Interestingly, Nicole explains, 80 percent of serotonin exists in the gut, and is governed by your state of hunger (yes, this is why you’re hangry).
Endorphins are responsible for masking pain or discomfort, which explains their association with the “fight or flight” response. When it comes to designing happiness, endorphins help you “power through.” Nicole, for example, is an avid runner. Endorphins allow her to push farther and harder as she works towards distance goals.
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/activate-chemicals-gamify-happiness-nicole-lazzaro/
Most of us don't know that our bodies produce these chemicals, which can also be drugs, which cause us to feel happy or sad or a range of other emotions due to the presence of it, the lack of it, or just reduced or elevated levels of it.
And... we all know the effects of withdrawal symptoms right? We just want MORE of the drug.
Who doesn't want to feel happy all the time?
But like any other drugs, we need more to feel happy if we keep triggering it with the same substance right?
People need more heroin, cocaine, etc to get the same high after awhile...
And guess how we sponsor our addiction to these drugs? Well... we buy them.
WE ALL DO. You, me, EVERYBODY.
It just depends on how much of the drug we buy. Some people can get the drug for free, some pay high prices for the drug, some need more of the drug than others to get the same levels of HIGH.
Want some examples?
Someone training for a marathon, body building, weight loss... He/She can train hard, succeed and get high on these drugs. It's free, and they are happy when they have achieved their goals.
Some people love fast food, they don't need much to be happy, they just love their junk food. Chips, chocolates, McDonalds, KFC... They love it.
Not too expensive, pretty unhealthy, but... well... up to them.
Then there's those who love their luxury items.
I know of someone. When she first started working, she bought $300 items... then slowly, she upgraded to $800, then $1500, then $3000, then $5000... This kind of behaviour isn't unheard of, actually, it's quite normal.
Do you think they really need or love the handbag?
Or do they like the feeling they get in anticipation of the item and the act of purchasing the item?
Or do they like their friends "wow-ing" at their purchase?
It's the drug at work. Not the handbag.
Remember what I said above?
"We are taught that if we take drugs, we will get addicted and it's going to be expensive and it will probably ruin our lives cos we will spend most of our time and effort and money trying to get our next fix of our choice of poison. "
A lot of people get addicted to their lifestyles and continue to work to fund their lifestyles.
Same same but different.
Do you think I'm happier or unhappier than the average person?
Do you think I'm happier or unhappier than a high spending consumer?
If you only eat one brand of chips over another cheaper brand, it's cause your brain is sending signals that one type is better than another. Your happiness changes due to what your brain tells you.
Now, I'm not saying to eat something not nice if you don't like it. It's just to be aware of what your brain tells you. Cos it's in our human nature to want nicer and better things, and that in itself is a fallacy cos there's no end to nicer and better things. Which is why I tend to like to stay within a balance of things or quality that is considered "good enough". But what is "good enough" is for yourself to determine and decide.
If you know someone who's addicted to a drug, what do you do? Well, we probably will ask them to kick the habit... BUT... what if that's not possible? Cos... well our bodies produce such drugs.
Well... it's like unhealthy food right? Eat in moderation.
If want to eat KFC, can... but don't eat everyday, maybe once a month?
If want to eat buffet, can... but maybe once a month or on special occasions?
If want to go on holidays, can... but once a year? Or can even go on short cheap vacations throughout the year?
The thing is, we need to know what is causing us to feel high or happy. And then assess if it's worth it.
If you feel it's worth it, then by all means go and do it. It's up to you to choose your own lifestyle.
Unfortunately, most people don't know that it's these chemicals that's controlling them. They think it's the item that makes them happy, that they strive for these levels of success via material goods or positions of power to make themselves feel happy.
By knowing that these chemicals are controlling our emotions, we are better able to handle them and control how it affects our lives.
For example, I don't feel happy spending money. When I walk around shops, I don't have any dying desire to buy something. The whole idea of spending actually doesn't make me happy.
Hoarding money/assets make me happy. I like to see the numbers grow.
Free stuff makes me happy. But that in itself could be an issue if I start hoarding stuff.
I like to eat. So I do go for nice meals once in a while. I struggle with my like for eating vs my dislike for spending.
So what are YOU going to do about YOUR drug addiction?
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