I have just uploaded a series of files [click on "files" in menu on left, then
click the folder "changing your biochemistry" and go to the brainstorms.pdf
series of files]

These are some checklists to reveal brain chemical imbalance. They were useful
to me to monitor my moment to moment responses then day to day and long term
trends. By knowing what chemical I was low or excess in, I could adjust protein
and carbohydrate intake along with supplements such as 5htp tryptophan plus
carbs for serotonin and tyrosine and phenylaline plus protien for dopamine.

Some people and animals are more sensitive than others. Some may be shy, some
bold. This sensitivity can be a mixed blessing as can other conditions such as
ADD, mild autisim, mild mania, and OCD.

I've known a few people with bipolar and seen how isolating it can be. When on
the manic side, they can be so internally oriented that they drive people away
even when intending to be helpful, they are unable to listen or observe social
cues and overestimate their abilities. When down, they are uncomfortable to be
around.

I also recently had an on line encounter with someone who has Aspergers
syndrome, a mild type of autism that also interferes with interpreting social
cues. and again is very isolating but has some gifts as well.

Mike's mention of moving meditation - when still meditation is too difficult -
raised a question in my mind. I at times found that tai chi type or slow dance
type exercise was the best for calming me down without triggering me back into
arousal, I was rebounding into panic attacks with heavier exercise. My question
is how much this might be a sensory integrating process?

I've heard of physical therapists recommending specific types of
crawling and also someone who had exercises that basically involved walking in
circles, spiral, figure eights etc. We've found with our dogs that tweaking
heeling performance with such doodling in a relaxed manner results in a calmer
dog that still begs to be the one selected for the dance.

Using very animated praise and sessions rarely seems to result in a better
balanced dog. they get free time to get excited and goofy but when there is a
certain level of arousal the critical brain shuts down and we head them off
before they hit that threshold.

Hyperarousal, that sure seems like the bane of the modern world. The book
"Adrenal fatigue, 21st Century Syndrome"
UK and Europe:
http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890572152/sunflowerheal-21
Canada:
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890572152/pathofhealing-20
USA and other Countries:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890572152/pigdiseaseinform

...has a checklist that fits far too many people we know and symptoms we've had
when we were sucked into dramas.

Mike's mention of inner stillness in children reminded me of a program where
American familes with no experience in camping went to remote places to spend a
week with a family there. Every single American child we saw went through
arousal withdrawal. Tantrums, tears, anger, nausea, boredom, whining, manic
dashing about trying to find something to do.

The local children were playing quietly with guinea pigs, using mud and sticks
like tinker toys, had games and activities that they could laugh with or
entertain themselves for hours with. They could get up and engage in a soccer
game and be animated but could calm down to a quiet alertness seldom seen in
American children.

People do the same with dogs. The single biggest root cause of behavior probelms
we've seen with dogs is peopling pumping up their dogs with play! play! play!
They want a happy dog, that's fine, we like dogs who are enthusiastic also. But
we want them to stay sane and civilized. There's a fine line between fun, fear
and a fight.

Dopamine is a focus, reward and pleasure chemical.
Serotonin is calming.
Noradrenaline (NA) is arousing.

When NA stays high but dopamine and serotonin drop, often there is a desire to
get that reward again but the body is tapped out. Often people and animals try
harder to get it back and the result is arousal without the brakes, focus or
reward, then out pop fear or anger. Too much fun can be as hazardous as too much
hardship.

It helped me, to remember that my emotions, cognition and behavior were due to
internal chemistry. I was not helpless and it wasn't due to being a wimp or
scaredy cat. I could alter my diet, what types of behavior I engaged in and what
environment I put myself in and also alter my internal behavior, cogntion, self
talk, and refuse to get sucked into drama.

When at times I still get into states of prolonged arousal, as when I took Kayce
and Callista to the airport and the car broke down on the freeway after a week
of other high stimulating activities, I know what I can do to recover and that
when I am wired and over reactive, what the cause was.

When I do feel tweaky, and at times that is now due to hormone fluctuations,
progesterone cream helps a lot but my body is still oscillating to some degree,
I can remind myself and my husband that my biochemistry is off right now and
perhaps don't expect me to be the most tolerant or focused today.

And when HE is out of sorts, I remember that he is not truly an insenstive male
chauvanist, that he is out of alignment at the moment!

I wouldn't trade being highly sensitive for being 'normally' sensitive. The
"normals" miss way too much! But the pit of depression and chains of anxiety can
be debilitating states. Learning how to cope has been invaluable.

Julie