Sunday, April 13, 2008

Antidote to Overload: When We Opt Out of Life

"When you're dealing with a hundred [decisions] each morning you reach a point where you become distracted and less creative because you start to get impatient and irritable.
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You end up turning your back on opportunities simply because you're overloaded and it's too much to handle. And that bad feeling of 'I just can't take it anymore' leads to diminished efficiency, less open-mindedness and flexibility, and less ability to use your uniquely human capacities to their best advantage."
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-Dr. Edward Hallowell, ADHD specialist and researcher
http://www.wellofwisdom.com/human-nature/0/quotes-cat.html
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There are times when I know I have to leave the office and get some fresh air. These are times when I’ve not adequately protected myself from the barrage of work that at times comes my way. I sense the need to ‘release my mind’ and I go and find a gentle park with its green trees to convalesce.
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What does the above quote say about our typical approach to work and to life today? I often wonder how many of us, and how often, we breach our limits. It’s a healthy thing to desire and find release. I wonder how many don’t do this however. How many people stay on the adrenalin band wagon suppressing important neurotransmitters like serotonin? This is a dangerous cycle to get caught up on. Suppressing the release and normal function of serotonin for instance can have drastic effects on sleep and can also bring on mood disorders, for instance, depression.
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Of course, the major problem with the suppression of these important neurotransmitters is they make us search for artificial means of feeling good. Bring in alcohol and other drugs. See a cycle forming? Alcohol and other drugs don’t do anywhere near as good a job as the body’s natural chemicals and they also create other problems like addiction and they highlight social issues, not the least of which might be breaking the law to keep the habit going.
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There is nothing quite like never needing an artificial chemical to do a job the body can do for itself. We must learn coping strategies for life stressors. We need to find peace in the midst of our busy days. We need to recognise the danger signs in stress and anxiety and choose a natural form of coping over the artificial.
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Are you on the slippery slope?
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© Copyright 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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