Why doesn’t that good feeling last?

A reader just reported to me that, after a few days of regularly massaging her masseter muscles (as per instructions here and here), she experienced “a 20 hour state of euphoria” during which time she “needed very little sleep, was completely pain free, and was giddy with joy.”

Wow!

And then the effect faded.

Self-massage rarely has such a strong effect (“giddy with joy” is really, really good). I normally associate such strong state-of-being changes with The Art of Bioenergetic Breathing. This effect is not surprising in principle — it’s like anything that feels like a refreshing change in state, from hot baths to tickle fights with your kids and other obvious examples of things that feel wonderfully different than the grind of work and chores — but the strength of the effect can be really amazing. People may feel dramatically rejuvenated for hours or days.

The trouble is, it inexorably fades: soon enough you’re back in your various human ruts and habits and you don’t feel so very refreshed any more. But this isn’t a bad thing. It’s just life!