On Impulses & Compulsion & Healthy Living

[mlerules]

I've generally considered giving into impulses a positive act rather than a negative one, perhaps with (misplaced?) pride that they're not particularly "bad/negative" impulses. Usually this comes up in response to "where shall we Toad Rip next?" or "what kind of food do you want for the next meal" with an answer of "the coast/mountains" or eggies, Injun, Thai, BBQ, whatEVER "feels right."

Now I'm realizing that Bad/Unhealthy Behaviors (whether drinking, eating ('specially crap/too much), working out, or whatEVER - mebbe even doing art?) are those we engage in to mask feelings, to drown out badness/negative emotions, done to "make us feel better," used as a coping mechanism (rather than facing/confronting whatever's up - feelings/emotions). Heck, even napping/sleeping could be this...

I remember declaring my choice of addictions as "caffeine" years ago. It really didn't happen - as I figured it wouldn't - but I figured 'twas an easier one to deal with than many others. I don't drink it that often...although I seem to be drinking it more and more...and not just as a drug when Toad Ripping either nowadays. I usually stick to tea when at home/Hive-ish. Tea doesn't seem to have the same effect on me (either when I drink it or stop drinking it after a few days of daily imbibing).

Much food (and drink ;-) for thought...

Comments

Oh napping/sleeping

[magickalmom.livejournal.com]

Goddess how I know this to be true. When my depression gets to a point when it begins to physically manifest... it manifests in the need to sleep. The kind of sleep/exhaustion that hits and no matter what you do, you still fall back asleep. For me it is so hard to question myself as to whether I am avoiding dealing with some emotion by sleeping or is it that something truly is going on with my body (like my anemia). Its hard to differentiate and typically takes a lot of quite meditation and reflection before I am able to untangle the web.

Thank you for sharing and giving me more food for thought in my own recovery process. *loves*

BTW- If you ever just want to tea and you are passing through town, I'd love to take you to the Mandolin Cafe.

Will you be northward this weekend?

Re: Oh napping/sleeping

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

You've mentioned Mandolin Cafe several times recently and I've been wanting to check it out - and it's always good to see you, so we'll figure it out.

This weekend I'm only making it as far North as Ft Lewis. I'm gonna show up Sat morning to help shift fae_raven from HBE to Tacoma. Methinks you folks'll be up at CopperMoon or thereabouts, so I'll miss you this time around. Soon though!

[ladydrakaina.livejournal.com]

I know that I NEED a project of some sort going all the time, I get really really twitchy and anxious if I don't, and I have acknowledged that this is a sort of coping mechanism which helps me continue to feel useful and like there is a reason to wake up while I'm unemployed without external things setting my schedule. I'm not sure if this is unhealthy avoidance of issues, or a reasonable thing to do to occupy time while looking for a job, possibly some of both, I know I can get wrapped up enough in projects that I neglect the job search... So I'd agree with you that it has the potential to be a bad choice, definitely something worth considering.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're aware of pitfalls (getting wrapped up in a project/many projects such that you neglect the job search) as well as the benefits (feeling useful and keeping occupied and not getting too twitchy ;-).

Oh, yeah, re: project we talked about some at Game Noc recently: I've got a t-shirt into quilt project (MEF) in mind for you, if'n you're interested. Happy to occupy your time 'n' energy some (and help w/the income in the process). :-)

[darthsunshine.livejournal.com]

We humans (largely counting on my own experience here, but I figure it extrapolates) are very good at using pretty much anything as a distraction. *nods* But the flip side is also true, and we can use those same anythings to bring us back to whatever we're experiencing now, in the present moment.

I'm reminded of having disconcerting experience of recognizing that I was using the same behavior/activity on two consecutive days: the first day to achieve one result, and the next day to achieve a different result that was the exact opposite of the previous day's result. (Of course, in that particular case, both results I was looking for were distractions. But I could also use--and have also used--the same behavior/activity to be present.) We're funny critters. :)

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Okay, now you've fed me much food for thought - thx.