Show Notes
The Pros and Cons of Hormonal Addiction. And how to recognize them, use them to your advantage, and not be victimized.
View Full Transcript
Episode Transcript
Great Day to everyone. How is everyone doing out there? I hope you are enjoying your creation of life.
Well, as promised, here is Episode ten, Hormonal Addiction.
Our bodies and minds can be misleading tricksters; this is self-evident regarding any addiction.
We are often not attached or addicted to the person, place, or thing. The hold on us is the hormonal secretions caused by our interaction with the "person, place, or thing."
There is a saying, "If you want to get over Sally, go out with Susan." Of course, I don't condone this particular action, but it does give rise to a great point.
Replacing one attachment for another will always be problematic. It's like removing your left hand from the fire only to replace it with the right hand. "From the Frying pan to the fire" is an adage.
So let's get back to hormonal addiction. Let us start with relationships. It doesn't matter what kind of relationship because each type causes the release of a hormone.
For instance, after childbirth, a dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone hormones in your body may contribute to postpartum depression. Some women are not affected after delivery, while others are severely stricken. Another consideration is that having the baby in the womb would give rise to Dopamine, the "feel good" hormone. The birth could cause a certain feeling of separation anxiety. Anxiety contributes to the release of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress messenger to our bodies.
Now this is where it gets interesting. Our minds and bodies will often become addicted to the excess or lack of hormonal stimulation. Problems with drugs like cocaine and Crystal meth come from Hormanal addiction. Crystal Meth is a form of the stimulant drug methamphetamine that, when smoked, can rapidly achieve high concentrations in the brain. Methamphetamine causes the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin and activates the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
Incidentally, this was part of the rations for the German troops under Hitler. These troops would be fearless and could perform seemingly super-human feats of endurance and atrocities without emotional or physical impedance.
There was no regard for the horrendous physiological damage to the user.
We all know at least one person that always seems to be angry. Whatever the situation, anger and sometimes violence is the go-to answer for everything. And if the case doesn't support such action, they will think and talk themselves into a frenzy, so they will have an excuse for being upset.
Anger causes the adrenal glands to flood the body with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. The anger feeds the addiction to adrenaline and cortisol. I'm sure we have all heard the term "Adrenalin Junkie." As you become angry, your body's muscles tense up. Inside your brain, neurotransmitter chemicals known as catecholamines are released, causing you to experience a burst of energy lasting up to several minutes. This burst of energy is behind the common angry desire to take immediate protective or physical action.
However, there is another side to this particular coin. We or we know others that worry about everything. And again, if there is nothing in the immediate present, then the past or future becomes the focus, even though neither exists in the present tense. Fear, excitement, and anxiety are other emotions that trigger adrenaline and cortisol secretions.
Of course, hormonal addiction is an equal opportunity employer. Enter the "Feel Good" hormones. What are the four feel-good hormones? Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. You will often hear the term neurotransmitters. Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin are neurotransmitters, which means they carry messages across the spaces between nerve cells.
Attachments to the hormones mentioned above can be equally addictive. A person may believe they cannot live without another person. Logically this cannot be true. The hormonal secretions from the social, mental, and physical interactions smite the addicted person.
There are many ways that the "feel good" hormones will show themselves. Materialism, money, cars, clothes, jewelry, homes, food, drink, and many other things can become a detriment.
No, I am not saying to go without certain things. Because what would we do with the money?
I will not be like a sensationalistic news station or a negative fear-mongering person.
I want you to be aware. But I am also here to help. Here are some invaluable tips and tricks. Of course, we will not try to reinvent the wheel or attempt to swim up the river of millions of years of evolution. I will introduce you to a boat, paddle, and life jacket.
We will, of course, have to revisit our mindset. We won't have to go beyond the easy, so don't panic.
Take time to look at the simple beauty of life. Observe a sunset, your child's smile, and the smell of your favorite meal.
Cultivate meaningful and fulfilling relationships with several people that make you feel good about being you. If you part company with someone, you will be less apt to go off the deep end.
If you learn to appreciate the wonderful free things in life, you will not become addicted to material things because you already feel great without them.
We are an incredible wonderment. We are amazed and captivated by manufactured devices without recognizing our bodies are the most amazing machines known to man.
There are organic technological marvels all around us. Take time with yourself. Learn how to be content with your own company. Be still and quiet. Give yourself time to breathe. Periodically Release yourself from the bondage of screens.
Take a walk in the park and enjoy the fascination of an organic existence. Or stand outside and look into the day or night skies.
And before you know it, your hormones will be the friends they were designed to be. And not the enemies we have made them.
I hope you have enjoyed our time together as much as I have. I wish you the best in all you do. I may never meet you face to face, but I sincerely want you to have a pleasing and satisfying life.
So my friends, until next time. If you decide to join me again, we will explore self-esteem and the pros and cons of too little and too much.
And as always:
Please remember to Love Yourself. You are Not Alone. You are relevant and worthy.
How About that?
