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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:32:42 AM »\ | /
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With over 100,000 posts and 2 million pageviews, the Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board has become a valuable resource for people learning about and dealing with narcissistic spouses/partners, boyfriends/girlfriends, parents, siblings, adult children, bosses, and co-workers--as well as other sources of "voicelessness."
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:31:12 AM »I have to ask AI
The Neurochemistry of Physical Play
When you engage in activities like skimboarding or wrestling with a dog, your brain isn't just "having fun"; it is performing a complex biological maintenance routine:
BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor): Physical play acts like "Miracle-Gro" for the brain. It stimulates the growth of new neurons and strengthens connections in the prefrontal cortex, which is the area responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation.
The "Endocannabinoid" Rush: While people often credit endorphins, the "runner's high" or the joy of a trampoline park is often driven by endocannabinoids. These are naturally occurring chemicals that reduce pain and promote a sense of calm and well-being.
Dopamine and Novelty: Play requires reacting to unpredictable movements (a wave, a dog’s lunge, the bounce of a mat). This constant novelty keeps dopamine firing, which keeps you present and "in the zone."
Why Physical Play Relieves Stress Better
Stress usually triggers the Sympathetic Nervous System (the "fight or flight" response). In modern life, we often get stuck in this state without a physical outlet.
Completing the Stress Cycle: Physical play allows the body to "use up" the adrenaline and cortisol that build up during daily stress. It signals to the brain that the "threat" has been dealt with physically, allowing you to return to a Parasympathetic (rest and digest) state.
The Cerebellum Connection: The cerebellum, located at the base of the brain, is primarily responsible for motor control and balance. However, recent research shows it also plays a role in processing emotions. By engaging the cerebellum through balance-heavy activities like skimboarding, you may be inadvertently "quieting" the emotional centers of the brain that hold onto anxiety.
Vagal Tone: Wrestling or jumping can stimulate the vagus nerve, which is the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system. High vagal tone is associated with lower inflammation and better recovery from stress—especially helpful when your body is already physically taxed or sore.
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1. BDNF and the "Miracle-Gro" Effect
The term "Miracle-Gro for the brain" was popularized by Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Source: Ratey, J. J. (2008). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.
Play Specifics: Research by Sergio Pellis (The Playful Brain) demonstrates that "rough and tumble" play specifically reshapes the prefrontal cortex, enhancing executive function and emotional regulation.
2. The Endocannabinoid Rush (Runner's High)
Recent neuroscience has shifted the credit for the "exercise high" from endorphins to endocannabinoids (specifically anandamide), because endorphins are too large to easily cross the blood-brain barrier.
Source: Fuss, J., et al. (2015). "A runner's high depends on cannabinoid receptors in mice." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Source: Siebers, M., et al. (2021). "Exercise-induced euphoria and anxiolysis do not depend on endogenous opioids in humans." Psychoneuroendocrinology.
3. Completing the Stress Cycle
The concept that physical activity "completes" the biological stress response was developed by researchers looking at how animals shed stress after a threat.
Source: Nagoski, E., & Nagoski, A. (2019). Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.
4. The Cerebellum and Emotion
While once thought to only handle balance, the cerebellum's role in emotion is a major focus in modern research.
Source: Schmahmann, J. D. (2004). "The cerebellum and cognition: Evidence from functional imaging studies." The Cerebellum.
5. Vagal Tone and Physical Play
The Vagus Nerve is the "brake pedal" for your heart and stress levels.
Source: Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:26:44 AM »I rarely play as I'm not very athletic or social but when I think about it the main forms of play that I recall are:
- trampoline park
- dog wrestling
- skimboarding
If I think of anything else I will put it down. I don't play that much. But frankly it seems to me playing is a physical practice at least it is for me.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:21:43 AM »__ __
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:13:43 AM »Sigh... yeah I know. I was shocked B's surgery was actually scheduled so soon. And insurance approved, no less.
I've tried to explain what's been going wrong to myself. And about the only thing I'm sure about is that AI/technology is gumming up what USED to work fine. Way too many reminders about appointments - text, email & phone call for instance. I mean, is anyone that brain dead that they need bi-weekly reminders for a month before an appt? Or maybe that's distracted, instead?
PLAY is a good thing. But there are so many different forms of it and different people gravitate to different kinds of things. Figuring out what is fun for you - when you've not indulged the urge for awhile - is the key. For instance, I don't think shopping is fun - a thrift store is an absolute nightmare for me. Or big concerts. We're allowed to not like what other people think is fun. I think I'd like a wildflower hike and botanical drawing session - which would bore some people to tears.
Thanks for validating that there are different kinds of play. - I think I sort of get down on myself if I don't play correctly as an adult. I don't really have fun too often. The last time I feel like I had fun was when I dragged a friend on a day road trip that was kinda fun. But was more fun was going to a trampoline park with my nephews many many years ago and let them beat me at nerf swords.
Being a consumer is something I'm burnt out on generally. I too don't always love shopping but I do like thrifting at times. Same on the big concerts I've definitely grown out the "being at the scene" experience. A wildflower hike sounds nice for sure. I would categorize a wildflower high as rejuvenating, peaceful, awe-inspiring. I wouldn't call it fun.
I feel like fun is when a person has uncontrollable smiling.
I love hiking and gardening and flowers it gives me like calm and peace but I don't think that is the felt-sense of fun.
Oh also playing tug of war with dogs is sometimes fun.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 11:01:39 AM »The text reminders must be super inexpensive so that is why they do it.
The reason I complain about it is because I worked for a healthcare system that made it a point to optimize everything continually and I didn't realize how good it was until I had to work through my current system which is more rural and I guess they likely just have a lot less money to work with so they don't pay staff to improve stuff.
I won't go on about it only that it's strange to me that every department and speciality requires another phone call.
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PLAY
For sure people like different things. Last night I was realizing the voicelessness account I use is connected to an inactive email. Also don't recall the passcode for the voicelessness account. Was trying to change user name and write down the password info but I started looking at the pages more closely again and noticed the emoji things that don't work then tested the font.
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♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ O ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
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The reason I complain about it is because I worked for a healthcare system that made it a point to optimize everything continually and I didn't realize how good it was until I had to work through my current system which is more rural and I guess they likely just have a lot less money to work with so they don't pay staff to improve stuff.
I won't go on about it only that it's strange to me that every department and speciality requires another phone call.
----------------------------------------------------
PLAY
For sure people like different things. Last night I was realizing the voicelessness account I use is connected to an inactive email. Also don't recall the passcode for the voicelessness account. Was trying to change user name and write down the password info but I started looking at the pages more closely again and noticed the emoji things that don't work then tested the font.
♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ O ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
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I
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by sKePTiKal on Today at 07:03:21 AM »Sigh... yeah I know. I was shocked B's surgery was actually scheduled so soon. And insurance approved, no less.
I've tried to explain what's been going wrong to myself. And about the only thing I'm sure about is that AI/technology is gumming up what USED to work fine. Way too many reminders about appointments - text, email & phone call for instance. I mean, is anyone that brain dead that they need bi-weekly reminders for a month before an appt? Or maybe that's distracted, instead?
PLAY is a good thing. But there are so many different forms of it and different people gravitate to different kinds of things. Figuring out what is fun for you - when you've not indulged the urge for awhile - is the key. For instance, I don't think shopping is fun - a thrift store is an absolute nightmare for me. Or big concerts. We're allowed to not like what other people think is fun. I think I'd like a wildflower hike and botanical drawing session - which would bore some people to tears.
I've tried to explain what's been going wrong to myself. And about the only thing I'm sure about is that AI/technology is gumming up what USED to work fine. Way too many reminders about appointments - text, email & phone call for instance. I mean, is anyone that brain dead that they need bi-weekly reminders for a month before an appt? Or maybe that's distracted, instead?
PLAY is a good thing. But there are so many different forms of it and different people gravitate to different kinds of things. Figuring out what is fun for you - when you've not indulged the urge for awhile - is the key. For instance, I don't think shopping is fun - a thrift store is an absolute nightmare for me. Or big concerts. We're allowed to not like what other people think is fun. I think I'd like a wildflower hike and botanical drawing session - which would bore some people to tears.
8
Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on Today at 12:25:47 AM »P
L
A
Y
P L A Y
PLAY
L
A
Y
P L A Y
PLAY
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Board Changes
« Last post by Meh on May 05, 2026, 11:40:48 PM »Q: The email associated with my voicelessness account is inactivated. Also I do not recall my password my computer has just been logging me in for years but I'm trying to record my passwords somewhere as a life maintenance thing.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Meh on May 05, 2026, 12:11:57 PM »Yikes Skeptical, six months is too long.
Takes a lot of effort, phone calls, persistence, stamina to do healthcare stuff.
Takes a lot of effort, phone calls, persistence, stamina to do healthcare stuff.