Love the stuff on the dopamine adrenaline connection. And I'm wondering if people who do well living with what is considered high stress (a minority of Type A people) somehow have a protective chemical connection somewhere in there.
I suspect that what happens is that people who are really suffering the ill-effects of too much stress inevitably make stress itself into "the enemy." A worldview of this nature supports their healing. But when stress levels are not so destructive, I think this modifies to believe that stress and resilience are in balance, and that if the stress side is too high, it's a problem. Another great piece, Gary. Thank you
I experience myself as, very likely, one of those people. I feel it as excitement, passion, energy, drive. It may have me working until 3 in the morning (when I'm an early-to-bed) person. That's why I'm wondering, is there something different from typical Type-A in the chemical mix.
One thing that comes to mind is that Huberman talks about how some people have learned to generate their own dopamine by rewarding themselves for effort rather than for "reaching the finishing line". Long distance runners do this. Maybe you have tapped into something like this. In my Habenula post I talk about how I always worked for the getting to the finishing line and didn't enjoy the journey, so this is the opposite effect, which perpertually left me disappointed.
Feb 19, 2023·edited Feb 19, 2023Liked by Gary Sharpe
This makes perfect sense to me. Working is a high for me. Thinking, writing, pulling visuals together, working with a client - so much of the time, a high. Teaching - it was a high. I remember, before I got tenure (and so the pay was way way lower, and the hours way way higher), I could even teach (lecture and discussion) for 9 hours a day and end up on a high.
I have also experienced the stress of stuff hanging over me - way too much to do and so on. Very different.
What you talk about is different still - only one carrot, and that at the end of what could be a huge project. Not much dopamine!!!!
And while some 'look' like they are thriving on stress - because they are people who are 'successful' and productive with high standards who are dutiful, loyal, and responsible - they do their work with tenacity and precision and produce quality results consistently. All looks great - but they actually are 'coping' too well with stress- in order to keep up the good work.
Feb 19, 2023·edited Feb 19, 2023Liked by Gary Sharpe
Very thoughtful piece. It makes me want to learn more about pregnenolone, the balance of dopamine vs. serotonin, gut health and dopamine, and SIBO and SIFO, the list goes on and on! Not enough hours in the day. *edit* Also the copper-iron metabolism.
Gary, this is something i think about too; as well as how to connect the dots for people about trauma, brain damage (neuro-degeneration) and the biochemistry of self-regulation. Thank you for tackling bigger conversations!
This is very interesting Gary/--thank you. I think you are saying that Parkinson’s tells us that we need to live lives with less stress; perhaps embracing simpler ways of living, doing things that enrich the soul rather than gratify the ego. But it's not easy. I've had extraordinary amounts of stress in the last few years and my PD has considerably worsened as a result. Sometimes it feels as if the wretched pills are being converted straight into adrenaline. Life, the world we live in, family members, other people, work – all of these can rapidly produce adrenaline. So can many seemingly enjoyable things such as watching the Olympics! So the million dollar question is how do we suppress the adrenaline response? Do you have any practical advice? Thank you so much for this.
I love it, thank you, Gary. There is a fascinating connection between the brain and body’s master regulatory signaling system for homeostasis, the endocannabinoid system (ECS), and Dopamine. ECS deficiency and Dopamine replenishment would therefore certainly seem to have an important relationship.
Gary, you and Lilian are doing some great work in this area, making important connections.
Since everything begins in the mental field, it is imperative for anyone suffering to first listen to their thoughts, then do their psycho-spiritual work so they can create more health-affirming thoughts which lead to better actions and better results. But I'm preaching to the choir here, haha.🤗
Love the stuff on the dopamine adrenaline connection. And I'm wondering if people who do well living with what is considered high stress (a minority of Type A people) somehow have a protective chemical connection somewhere in there.
Interesting thought. Some people do seem to thrive on stress, but I would be cautious about this eventually catching up.
I suspect that what happens is that people who are really suffering the ill-effects of too much stress inevitably make stress itself into "the enemy." A worldview of this nature supports their healing. But when stress levels are not so destructive, I think this modifies to believe that stress and resilience are in balance, and that if the stress side is too high, it's a problem. Another great piece, Gary. Thank you
I experience myself as, very likely, one of those people. I feel it as excitement, passion, energy, drive. It may have me working until 3 in the morning (when I'm an early-to-bed) person. That's why I'm wondering, is there something different from typical Type-A in the chemical mix.
One thing that comes to mind is that Huberman talks about how some people have learned to generate their own dopamine by rewarding themselves for effort rather than for "reaching the finishing line". Long distance runners do this. Maybe you have tapped into something like this. In my Habenula post I talk about how I always worked for the getting to the finishing line and didn't enjoy the journey, so this is the opposite effect, which perpertually left me disappointed.
This makes perfect sense to me. Working is a high for me. Thinking, writing, pulling visuals together, working with a client - so much of the time, a high. Teaching - it was a high. I remember, before I got tenure (and so the pay was way way lower, and the hours way way higher), I could even teach (lecture and discussion) for 9 hours a day and end up on a high.
I have also experienced the stress of stuff hanging over me - way too much to do and so on. Very different.
What you talk about is different still - only one carrot, and that at the end of what could be a huge project. Not much dopamine!!!!
Writing the short comment I just made - it's a mini high for me. Yes, yes, it goes inside me.
And while some 'look' like they are thriving on stress - because they are people who are 'successful' and productive with high standards who are dutiful, loyal, and responsible - they do their work with tenacity and precision and produce quality results consistently. All looks great - but they actually are 'coping' too well with stress- in order to keep up the good work.
Great post Gary.
Thanks for the education and insight. I will pass it on.
Very thoughtful piece. It makes me want to learn more about pregnenolone, the balance of dopamine vs. serotonin, gut health and dopamine, and SIBO and SIFO, the list goes on and on! Not enough hours in the day. *edit* Also the copper-iron metabolism.
I have written much more on these themes on my Parkinson's oriented website. in case you get time to browse :-) https://www.outthinkingparkinsons.com/
Gary, this is something i think about too; as well as how to connect the dots for people about trauma, brain damage (neuro-degeneration) and the biochemistry of self-regulation. Thank you for tackling bigger conversations!
Thank you, just subscribed to your stack.
Thank you so much. So much to learn!
This is very interesting Gary/--thank you. I think you are saying that Parkinson’s tells us that we need to live lives with less stress; perhaps embracing simpler ways of living, doing things that enrich the soul rather than gratify the ego. But it's not easy. I've had extraordinary amounts of stress in the last few years and my PD has considerably worsened as a result. Sometimes it feels as if the wretched pills are being converted straight into adrenaline. Life, the world we live in, family members, other people, work – all of these can rapidly produce adrenaline. So can many seemingly enjoyable things such as watching the Olympics! So the million dollar question is how do we suppress the adrenaline response? Do you have any practical advice? Thank you so much for this.
Yes, I think you have summed up the answer very well in your second sentance. Here is my own "master list" of things we can do to help ourselves https://garysharpe.substack.com/p/the-antidote-to-suffering-in-the?utm_source=publication-search Also for the best practical advice see Lilian's Sjoeberg's "The HOPE Shortcut" substack if you haven't already, including a book she has just released https://garysharpe.substack.com/p/new-book-with-a-more-hopeful-message
I love it, thank you, Gary. There is a fascinating connection between the brain and body’s master regulatory signaling system for homeostasis, the endocannabinoid system (ECS), and Dopamine. ECS deficiency and Dopamine replenishment would therefore certainly seem to have an important relationship.
Yes I wrote a review about the connections between the ECS and dopamine https://www.outthinkingparkinsons.com/articles/endocannabinoid-system
Gary, you and Lilian are doing some great work in this area, making important connections.
Since everything begins in the mental field, it is imperative for anyone suffering to first listen to their thoughts, then do their psycho-spiritual work so they can create more health-affirming thoughts which lead to better actions and better results. But I'm preaching to the choir here, haha.🤗