ISO Dopamine Hits Through COVID-19

Coronovirus, or COVID-19, had been steadily dripping into our news media since early January 2020. In February it hit my former town of Seattle and now cases have been confirmed in all 50 states. It is a worldwide pandemic. Bike races cancelled. Europe in lockdown. Americans are required to stay at home. Schools and universities are closed. Restaurants and cafes are closed or only available for take out. Everyone will know how many women color their hair. The new normal includes 24/7 updates from local, state, and federal governments on what we should do as responsible citizens to “flatten the curve” of the virus’ impact on health care system. The steady drip of fear and unknown is especially hard on those who have been told not to come to work and are looking in the face of having no income.

Many are finding relief on social media by sharing stories of hope, goodness, the absurdity of being human, and a dose of belly aching laughter. More than ever, social media channels are threading together our commonality of surviving each day. These posts make us discover how much alike we are, rather than different. When everything around us is dire, we look to social media for a hit of dopamine:

“GIFs, memes, posts, and tweets that delight us or make us smile, releasing feelings of pleasure, cause our brains to release dopamine,” Ms. Riordan told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Friday. “Dopamine release is an evolutionary signal to keep seeking more of that thing — and we get lost in pages upon pages of GIFs, memes, tweets (whatever your social media pleasure) — looking for that dopamine release.” - Monica Riordan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3/20/2020

I wanted to capture some of my favorite posts to remember what chuckles have been giving us that dopamine response to get through this time.

 

GettoworkGeorge

 

The Secret Life of Pets

3/29/2020

Organized Sports R Over

3/29/2020

 

Olive and Mabel’s eating competition

3/27/2020

Again with the toilet paper

3/19/2020

 

“Yinz went and turned the whole world into Century III Mall”

3/25/2020

 

“I’m fuckin’ Geppetto”

3/24/2020

I was just saying that I have no idea what day it is

3/24/2020

 

We’re lost if Karamo’s down

3/24/2020

Brilliant

3/23/2020

 

OMG Pittsburgh’s hays baby bald eagles live from their nest

3/22/2020

BaldEagleCam.PNG
 

Wait for it….bless these cops for putting a smile out there

3/22/2020

Oh Italy stay classy

3/22/2020

 

Mom’s got the moves! And dad LOL

3/21/2020

Hamster nibbles all day every day

3/21/2020

 

That cat!

3/21/2020

Haven’t laughed to hard all week…need a longer director’s cut

3/20/2020

 

Social distancing from other cyclists for…..ever

3/20/20

Ooof truth

3/20/2020

 

same

3/18/20

Something’s in my eye

3/19/2020

 

I hope this guy gets a billion dollars. And tenure. And that’s just for his tie

3/18/20

Wasn’t kidding

3/18/20

 

Penguins. We need regular doses of Rockhopper Penguins

3/16/20

I’ve watched this hand puppet 10,000 times, it will save us

3/16/20

 

Writer Deb Harkness sums what we’re about to embark on in one photo

3/9/20

Everything revolves around toilet paper

3/15/20

Mental HealthJill Greco BodnarCOVID-19