The first one is that I like doing something that not everyone does. I'm not sure what that's called. Maybe it's competitive or I need to feel special or I like the attention I get when I tell someone I'm jumping in. The second reason could be similar to the first reason; I like the rush I get, not only from jumping into the water, but the rush i get weeks beforehand just thinking about jumping into the water. That's the dopamine rush that you get from physical or crazy activities, also called the runner's high. Brain people say that if you have a low dopamine level, your brain will cause you to desire activities that raise that level, whether it's running, jumping out of air planes, sex, alcohol, etc. Risky behavior increases dopamine levels. I know I have a low dopamine level and jumping in the lake is much better for me than drinking. Monday, February 28, 2011
Ice Cold Water, Dopamine and Polar Bears
A couple of weeks ago I did the Polar Plunge at Forest Lake. I was on the Como Zoo polar bear team raising money for Neil and Buzz, the new polar bears, and their exhibit. I wasn't going to do it again this year, because I'd already crossed it off my bucket list, but I couldn't pass it up. Someone asked me why I get excited about this, so I've been thinking about it for awhile. I'm still not sure, but I'm going to give you a couple of reasons I think I like jumping in the freezing cold water.
The first one is that I like doing something that not everyone does. I'm not sure what that's called. Maybe it's competitive or I need to feel special or I like the attention I get when I tell someone I'm jumping in. The second reason could be similar to the first reason; I like the rush I get, not only from jumping into the water, but the rush i get weeks beforehand just thinking about jumping into the water. That's the dopamine rush that you get from physical or crazy activities, also called the runner's high. Brain people say that if you have a low dopamine level, your brain will cause you to desire activities that raise that level, whether it's running, jumping out of air planes, sex, alcohol, etc. Risky behavior increases dopamine levels. I know I have a low dopamine level and jumping in the lake is much better for me than drinking.
I would like to say the third reason I jump is to raise money for the polar bears, but I'd be lying. I don't really care what we're raising money for, I just do it because I have to in order to jump in the lake. But I also want to say, "thank you" to those of you who saw my facebook post and pledged money for the polar bears. I saw Buzz and Neil in their new exhibit for the first time today. They looked very happy. I can see why they're so happy. They have their own plunge site they can jump into any time they want! Maybe a better fund raiser would be plunging into the ice cold water of the polar bear exhibit...WITH the polar bears. I think I'll pass that idea on to my friend. That could raise dopamine levels to an all time high! At least for a short period of time before you got whacked by the polar bears. They are pretty big!
The first one is that I like doing something that not everyone does. I'm not sure what that's called. Maybe it's competitive or I need to feel special or I like the attention I get when I tell someone I'm jumping in. The second reason could be similar to the first reason; I like the rush I get, not only from jumping into the water, but the rush i get weeks beforehand just thinking about jumping into the water. That's the dopamine rush that you get from physical or crazy activities, also called the runner's high. Brain people say that if you have a low dopamine level, your brain will cause you to desire activities that raise that level, whether it's running, jumping out of air planes, sex, alcohol, etc. Risky behavior increases dopamine levels. I know I have a low dopamine level and jumping in the lake is much better for me than drinking. 
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