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Dr. Dana Leigh Lyons, DTCM's avatar

Wow. Thank you for reposting this one, Dee. That image and its far-reaching implications will stay with me a while! Offers whole new meaning to the phrase "running into the fire one last time." Very grateful that, when it comes to alcohol, I've stopped being the lizard! Now, if only I could learn that lesson in other areas of my life...

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

Right? That darned amygdala 😉

thanks Dana. It was after this essay that I realized “whoa I can simply write about things I see everyday.” Life presents me with an endless array of subjects to write about.

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Running into the fire of our anger no more. May we soar up in the sky and nod, and see the everything from a grander perspective ❤️ one that is graciously accepting of polar opposites.

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

💯 thanks Paolo

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Nice! I also enjoyed Ben's lizard piece.

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John Gerber's avatar

Enjoy your mental meanderings

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Donna McArthur's avatar

Thanks for sharing this post Dee, it was a great read and I missed it the first time round because I wasn't here yet. I love the cardinal lizard analogy. Let's be like a cardinal, although I do admit that today I feel like Lizzy, running straight into that darn fire🤣!

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

We all do at times. That’s why the observation was so palpable 🙏

Thank you for reading this time around Donna!

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Michele Maize's avatar

The science behind what alcohol does to our brains is upsetting but I am glad that I know now! You've done so well here, congrats! :)

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

Thank you Michele 🙏

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Sober since 2015 and loving it ❤️

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

🙏💪🏻

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Wow! I would love to tap into my bird mind rather than the other ❤️

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Joshua Doležal's avatar

Love this, Dee. Some of my academic research was in neuroscience, and I’ve been interested to see some challenges to the old triune brain model, which claimed that the reptilian brain was added onto with evolution. I always liked that idea of three interlocking yet potentially opposing parts of the brain. And I never wanted my reptilian core to override my neocortex, which is what happens in trauma or toxic work environments. But I think the brain is even more complex than that. See if this piques your interest: https://bigthink.com/the-well/the-evolution-of-the-human-brain/

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

Josh when I started watching I realized I’ve seen her piece before. I don’t disagree that the brain is more complex than the long-accepted triune brain theory. And I certainly don’t believe we have an actual lizard brain. Where I was going with the essay played on the simple idea of impulse and impulse control: really the core of addictive behavior. The amygdala and dopamine receptors and the emotion vs rational thought stuff is too complex to be siphoned down to the idea of a lizard brain. I was stunned to find out recently that the gut microbiome has more dopamine receptors in it than does the brain.

I found the visual example that day with the lizard and the bird to be compelling in its simple metaphorical value for sure!

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Dee Rambeau's avatar

Cool. Can’t wait to read it Josh. Thank you!

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