I’ve just come through two storms, back-to-back,
In the heat of the moment, no room to slack.
The fire was wild, the pressure was tight,
Yet somehow I danced in the thick of the fight.

The waves were high, intensity near,
But breaking through left a pulse crystal-clear.
From ashes and crisis, a strange kind of high,
A surge in my veins, like I could not die.

I thrive in the chaos, where others retreat,
The louder the storm, the stronger my beat.
I am the agent of order undone,
Forged in the madness — and damn, it’s fun.

— My chaotic way of solving crisis

Feeling the hit

I’ve just come through two major crises back-to-back. In the moment, the intensity was overwhelming — but once resolved, I felt an unmistakable high pulsing through my body.

It was as if my veins carried relief, pride, and raw energy all at once. And yet, I know the next crisis could bring me crashing down.
This cycle of highs and lows sparked my reflection on how dopamine shapes our response to crisis and resolution.

The High of Resolution

When a crisis hits, our bodies go into high alert. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol sharpen our focus, while dopamine fuels motivation to act.
In the thick of it, this cocktail gives us clarity and drive. When we succeed in resolving the crisis, dopamine surges.
That “high in the veins” is a reward signal — a rush that reinforces our ability to overcome challenges.

The Crash That Follows

But every high has a low. Once the crisis passes and dopamine levels drop, the body downshifts.
Fatigue, irritability, or emptiness can follow. This crash isn’t weakness — it’s biology rebalancing.
Yet, repeated cycles of crisis and resolution can condition the brain to crave intensity, creating a dangerous loop.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

  • The Good: Rising to the challenge builds resilience. Each resolved crisis strengthens confidence and skill.
  • The Bad: Dopamine cycles are costly. The crash can drain energy and mood.
  • The Ugly: Relying on crisis as a primary source of purpose risks burnout and emotional volatility.

Finding Balance

To manage the cycle more sustainably:

  • Deliberate recovery: Schedule downtime to let the nervous system reset.
  • Anchor rewards: Celebrate small wins outside of crisis moments.
  • Awareness practice: Recognize the pattern — knowing a crash is coming makes it easier to ride out.

Crisis will always bring intensity, but balance comes from learning to cultivate steady sources of energy and reward outside of chaos.