purple berries…

your “rat park”

my friend shared with me about some crazy scientists and their experiment. they started with rats and put them in a standard boring rat cage along with a choice between water and a water/heroine mix. the rat got use to the heroine and made regular trips to his “hit”. the rats would seldom if not at all visit the water spigot.

imagethen the rats had their world rocked; they were moved to “rat park”. rat park had everything a rat could desire; cheese, betting, companionship, rat wheels and anything else that would allow a rat to experience happiness. the rats were given the same choice of liquid refreshments between the water and the water/heroine mix. the rats no longer went for the heroin bottle. the rat park and water satisfied the rat’s desire.

q: what would you put in your “rat park” to keep you happy and satisfied and not wanting more? what holds you back from filling your rat park with those items and ideas?

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About bipolarsojourner

i have struggled with episodic depression for years. i then received a diagnosis of being bipolar, only to find out i didn’t. ends up my psychiatrist really meant to say that multiple bouts of depression are often best treated like bipolar. i had already started this blog as bipolar sojourner and didn't want to switch it over. i am documenting my journeys through my depression jungle.

6 thoughts on “your “rat park”

  1. bipolarsojourner Post author

    k, i’m not going to ask you questions without answering hem myself.

    my rat park is filled more with concepts that things. things can’t bring true satisfaction without having my life working well. my rat park would have:

    intimacy-being able to share what’s going on safely and without reprisal
    self worth
    self belief
    trusted and trusting
    connections (thanks. even when i lived in crapland, you gave me connection)
    nature
    exercise
    mental challenge
    respect
    joy inducing time.
    sex (okay, call me human)
    recreation

    i’m a little jealous of the rats; they got dropped into their idyllic world. i would have to work hard for some of these and in the depth of despair, some of these are a sheer impossibly. making rat park comes down to work for me. the work is the make these things happen and if they are happening, hang on to them just as long as I can.

    Reply
  2. Anxious Mom

    Can I just steal your rat park?

    If I can function in my rat park without depression and anxiety issues, get a little mental stimulation, then I’d be pretty content with everything in my current human park.

    Reply
    1. bipolarsojourner Post author

      my rat park has biiiiiiiiiig taaallllllll fences so no one can get in,

      hum, maybe that’s one of the problems. those fences don’t let anyone in which leads to isolation and lack of connection. i guess in the spirit of pink floyd, “tear down the wall! tear down the wall!”

      Reply

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