Don't eat your toothbrush!

My dog ate his toothbrush.

It was on the counter, primed and ready for use, and it must have been knocked onto the floor somehow.  Because the next think I knew, I was hearing “crunch-crunch” sounds from the far corners of the living room.

On my way to investigate, I found bristles littering the floor.  And then there was Charlie, gleefully chewing his toothbrush—the head was already gone!

As soon as he saw me, he went into defensive position and gave a warning growl as if to say, “This delectable piece of goodness is mine!”  But considering the fact that he’s just a ball of fluff, I reached over and plucked the toothbrush away.  In characteristic Charlie fashion, he immediately forgot what he was growling about and returned to his normal happy state.

Who, me?

 Maybe it was the fact that the toothpaste was peanut butter flavored, but Charlie obviously considered brushing to be not nearly good enough.  Perhaps he thought, “If rubbing this on my teeth is good for me, then chewing it must be better!”

Okay, I could be anthropomorphizing him a little too much…

But I can relate.  If a little exercise is good, then a lot must be better—and I end up sore and regretting it.  If a little journaling and delving into my emotions is good, then a lot must be better—and I end up overwhelmed with feelings that I am not yet ready to deal with all at once. 

I actually found a term for this:  Hormesis (from Greek hórmēsis "rapid motion, eagerness,") is the term for generally favorable biological responses to low exposures to toxins and other stressors.  Or so say my friends at Wikipedia.

This is why we spit out our toothpaste.  Because it’s toxic.  A little bit is good for our teeth, but read the label, and it tells you that if you suck the tube down for an afternoon snack, you should consult with your local poison control center.  And going so far as to eat the toothbrush is definitely taking it well into the unhealthy range.

Life is full of the usage of hormesis.  Tylenol and other medications are helpful in small dosages but will damage organs or kill you in large dosages.  Exercise in proper amounts will keep the body healthy but will damage muscles and connective tissues if done in excess.  Foods like alcohol and chocolate have been shown to have health benefits in small quantities but are dangerous and deadly in large quantities.  Cancer treatment relies heavily on hormesis.

The word Hormesis seems to be antithetical to its meaning.  How can something involving low exposures to stressors be related to rapid motion or eagerness?  This stumped me for awhile, then it occurred to me that it’s a lot like the therapy that I go through.  I have an eagerness for mental wellness, so I voluntarily expose myself to small doses of controlled stressors in order to achieve my goals.  I have learned that trying to deal with too many emotional stressors at once can be overwhelming, creates depression, and accomplishes little.  Dealing with little pieces at a time is manageable, gives me confidence, and achieves more.  Maybe some rapid motion towards wellness, even?

I’ve been told multiple times, when I’m feeling overwhelmed, that the process of healing is like “eating an elephant”—one bite at a time.  Looking at the entire process can be daunting, but working on one thing at a time is attainable.  I think this quote from Francis of Assisi is helpful: 

 Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

It’s encouraging and motivational to see results after so many baby bites have been taken! 

But not on my toothbrush…