Dr Tian Dayton on addiction and emotional sobriety.
Relationship Trauma Repair (RTR)
Daily Affirmations
- Truth And Beauty
Today I realize that truth and beauty are at one with a Higher Power. There is so much more beauty in this world than I am able to take in. There are skies and meadows, oceans and rugged hills, animals, birds and people. Truth is everywhere in the symmetry of nature, in the perfection of [...]
- The Dream of Perfection
One of the surest paths toward feelings of inadequacy and an inability to move forward in life is to set unrealistic goals for myself. That is, to have standards that represent “getting there” that are so high that I always fall short. More likely, the effect of these overly high standards will be to keep [...]
- Where Am I In Nature?
Today I accept my true place in the nature of things. I am neither nothing nor am I everything. I am a connecting link between the earth and the heavens. I have the natures of both a beast and a saint. I am capable of greatness or meanness. I am all of this, wide and [...]
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Walking on Eggshells
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
Signs of Emotional Sobriety
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Dr Tian Dayton on the signs of emotional sobriety.
Growing Up in a Family That Hurts
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Dr Tian Dayton on the effects childhood trauma and how to address emotional post trauma stress.
Achieving Emotional Sobriety: Achieving Life in Emotional Balance
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Natural Highs – Attaining that “Feel Good” State the Natural Way
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Natural Highs
Attaining that “Feel Good” State the Natural Way: Finding Emotional Sobriety
Our thoughts, emotions and our behavior ALL effect our body chemistry. Just climbing out of bed in the morning and getting into a hot shower or bath, for example, elevates our levels of serotonin “nature’s natural anti depressant” and makes it easier for us to get into a positive frame of mind. In fact, extensive research studies reveal that taking a brisk walk four times a week can be as effective in managing depression as medication.
It is remarkably easy, actually, to attain that “feel good” state if we just adopt a few good habits and keep them going. Here’s a little about what these “natural antidepressants” can do for us:
Serotonin keeps our moods balanced and up beat. It calms anxiety and improves our sleep.
Touching releases oxytocin, that bonding chemical that mediates emotional closeness. It paradoxically helps us to feel close and connected AND to set boundaries.
Hot baths or showers give us a shot of prolactin (and serotonin) which is associated with that serene state that nursing mothers enjoy.
These are nature’s mood stabilizers; they act in the brain and body in the same way that anti depressants act; they help us manage our moods.
When we don’t make use of the medicine chest nature put inside of us to calm and soothe ourselves, we may want to turn to synthetic or artificial solutions to feel better and regulate our emotions. We might grab a substance like alcohol, drugs, or food to unwind or de-stress. Or maybe we turn to addictive behaviors like gambling or sexual acting out to jump start that high feeling. To pacify ourselves or settle shattered nerves.
Emotional sobriety is about establishing a routine of healthy activities that elevate our moods naturally.
Serotonin management amounts to paying attention to all of those little things that make us feel good and systematically building them into our daily routines. Walking to work, exercising with a friend, taking time to relax and just be, breathing…all allow us to calm down the natural way. We know intuitively that certain activities just make us feel good…that pampering ourselves with relaxation, massage, pleasant surroundings, good food, friendly company or listening to music…all open that secret door into our sense of well being. Even thinking positive thoughts throughout the day releases serotonin into our bodies and elevates our immune functioning; we can sense it. When we intentionally make these sorts of activities and intentions part of our daily lives, we’re managing our moods the natural way and taking care of our mental (and physical) health. So that instead of engaging in synthetic mood managers that may be unhealthy or even self destructive, we can depend on those that are sustainable and natural to stay in balance and to achieve and maintain emotional sobriety.