As my clients can attest to, I often talk to them about self-care through pleasurable activities or hobbies. I encourage them to think about what used to put a smile on their face before they became depressed or plagued with stress, and tell them that they should try to include it in their life again. I tell them it's important to do this even if they aren't experiencing their usual positive reaction to it right away. I explain how our brains release dopamine when we do something pleasurable, and even if our hobby doesn't make us as happy as it used to, they're getting a small release of dopamine just doing it. Each tiny burst of dopamine then adds up to some non-medication anti-depressants. We talk about movies, music, crafts, nature walks, bike rides, reading, cooking, and even meditating, depending on what people prefer.
Sometimes this leads to a discussion on how getting into an activity can be like meditating, which is especially useful for those of us who don't do well with sitting in silence as a classic form of meditation. We talk about the concept of "flow" as first described by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (though never remember how to say his name correctly). An oversimplification of the flow concept may be that as we engage in a hobby or activity and get engrossed in it, the rest of the world takes a backseat and we are actually getting the benefits of meditation even though we aren't "meditating" in the traditional sense. It's a beautiful concept, and one that many clients admit having experienced. It's being mindful, peaceful, and focused through our activity, giving ourselves a dopamine boost to boot.
An article recently came out on CNN.com that actually supports these discussions with science! In March 2014 (updated January 2015), Jacque Wilson published the article "This is your brain on crafting" and discusses the research that supports the benefits of crafting on the brain, well-being, happiness and aging. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi and flow are mentioned, as is dopamine. It's interesting to note that the emphasis is on creative activities in this article, though reading and playing games are also mentioned as good for the brain.
Now you have an excuse to try that new recipe, new pattern, or new craft, beyond what I may suggest you do! Do it for you, do it for your brain, or do it for your family - you will all benefit from you feeling better.
Sometimes this leads to a discussion on how getting into an activity can be like meditating, which is especially useful for those of us who don't do well with sitting in silence as a classic form of meditation. We talk about the concept of "flow" as first described by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (though never remember how to say his name correctly). An oversimplification of the flow concept may be that as we engage in a hobby or activity and get engrossed in it, the rest of the world takes a backseat and we are actually getting the benefits of meditation even though we aren't "meditating" in the traditional sense. It's a beautiful concept, and one that many clients admit having experienced. It's being mindful, peaceful, and focused through our activity, giving ourselves a dopamine boost to boot.
An article recently came out on CNN.com that actually supports these discussions with science! In March 2014 (updated January 2015), Jacque Wilson published the article "This is your brain on crafting" and discusses the research that supports the benefits of crafting on the brain, well-being, happiness and aging. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi and flow are mentioned, as is dopamine. It's interesting to note that the emphasis is on creative activities in this article, though reading and playing games are also mentioned as good for the brain.
Now you have an excuse to try that new recipe, new pattern, or new craft, beyond what I may suggest you do! Do it for you, do it for your brain, or do it for your family - you will all benefit from you feeling better.
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