We are all drug addicts.

 

I know, such a post, it's going to deteriorate my already-dismal job hunting process (social sciences arts student + current job market economy) in case my potential employers come around. I digress, again.

I am writing more of these because it seems a fair share of you guys enjoy this. It baffles me that people actually like reading my drunkened walls of texts. It's okay, I like writing them too - so let's get into today's topic:

To be honest, I tried writing on this a few months ago, but somehow it never materialized. There's no clear reason.. I got bored, I couldn't wrap the post properly, and I just didn't find that it was 'up to standard'. I am learning to let go of these inner restrictions and just type, and see where this takes me.

I don't mean the stereotypical sort that chomps on cocaine, glue-sniffing, deranged and shivering in an abandoned stairwell. You could be, well, that's your lifestyle choice... no judging here yo. Throw all stereotypical images out of the window. In this discussion, I mean... legal drugs, or drugs that don't even fall into the spectrum of legality, nor consciousness.

Alcohol is the obvious drug that most people engage in, probably in a more regular basis. It brings us a state of wooziness, to maybe just relax, to forget about unhappiness... by how Tove Lo would say, spending days locked in a haze. It can be a lovely feeling.. it can be not. You just need to find a way to work a good relationship with it. Do what you like.

On shisha, nicotine... I can't comment much on the latter because I haven't tried a cigarette ever. I can't see its appeal, but as with most things, gratification finds a home in different souls. I tried shisha a few months back in Melbourne, out of curiosity of what it feels like. I am trained to be curious as a Sociology major. Some key takeaways I had was that shisha was supposed to be way more harmful than cigarettes (didn't feel like it), and that the effects of shisha would kick in much faster if you are a non-smoker. How does it feel like to smoke shisha? I got a high, and interestingly, it feels exactly like the same high I got from alcohol. Except smoking shisha does look pretty badass. Considering its averse health effects, I probably won't do it again.

And maybe, caffeine? You can love the taste of coffee, but millions across the world down cups of strong caffeine, knock back cans of Redbulls, or pop caffeine pills to stay awake.

I remember when I first heard about how people could actually use paracetamol and cough syrups in other ways other than reducing fevers/headaches/coughs, it was such an enlightening revelation. Like discovering warped easter eggs in life. Not that I was going to try it, but then I started to understand how drugs can, and should, be seen in a different light.

I've finally reached the chapter I really want to talk about. The human body runs on drugs. All kinds of drugs. You put stuff in there to tweak the drug levels in your blood, or you simply do something. It's just the way the body works. And we're all humans. What we feel, how we react to circumstances, what we think, our moods - can all be swayed by the levels of these drugs in our bodies.

Confession - I am addicted to a couple of drugs: dopamine, adrenalin and oxytocin.

How do I not? I'm sure you must be, too. Or at least, I'll try to convince you to be equally addicted. These are happy drugs - and we are all on a chase for happiness, thrills, company. There ain't no stigma to all these drugs; there ain't no consciousness that these are drugs. These forms the foundation of what makes a basic fulfilling life.

Pump yourself up with dopamine: antioxidant-rich foods, sleep, exercise.

Get a frequent dose of adrenalin: challenge yourself to do something different and exciting once in a while, venture out of your comfort zone, do something out of the ordinary. Speak up on something you don't normally do, confront your fears.. be occasionally deviant.

It's even easier to gain access to oxytocin... from something as simple and free as hugs. It's one of the rare things that we will definitely receive when we give too.

xx till the next drunk-on-sleepiness rant.