Whether you are a reflective person or not, from time to time, you perhaps do think about what makes you happy. Although there’s nothing to beat our lived personal experience in this regard, it might be helpful to know a bit of the chemistry behind our moods.
There are four hormones that play essential role in our feelings of happiness. These are dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins.
Dopamine is the feel-good hormone. It’s also called the reward or the pleasure chemical. The brain releases it every time we set up a goal and achieve it.
It increase our mood, sense of optimism and quality of sleep. Low levels of serotonin are associated with anxiety, depression and OCD. Interestingly, while the other three hormones are produced by the brain, most of serotonin is produced in the gut. Clearly, a healthy microbiome is crucial for this. Healthy and balanced diet, walking in nature, sunshine, massage and meditation support the production of serotonin.
Another factor that affects serotonin levels is our sense of our social standing.
Enough social comparisons, made only easier and simple by social media, can often outcome in lower levels of serotonin and feelings of dissatisfaction.
The third one, oxytocin, is the love chemical. It gives us the feeling of safety and belonging and enhances trust and empathy. It increases with love, touch, holding hands, hugging, intimacy, letting people in our life, trusting others as well as with being loving to pets and animals.
Whether the goal is completing small chores or achieving big business targets. The brain also produces dopamine from acts of pleasure – eating a good meal, exercising, shopping, listening to music.
Lastly, endorphins are the pain reducer. They serve as the naturally produced painkillers in the body. Besides lowering pain, they help reduce stress and enhance a feeling of well-being. Active movement, laughter, stress relief, art, music, dark chocolate and meditation support the release of endorphins. Low levels of this hormone can lead to anxiety, body aches and sleep issues.
This is merely an introduction to the chemical play in our brain. But it offers many takeaways, such as: balanced living and doing everything in moderation; regular exercise, active movement through the day as sedentary living is the new smoking; time in the sun and in nature; healthy and nutritious diet, good digestion; adequate sleep.
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Whether you are a reflective person or not, from time to time, you perhaps do think about what makes you happy. Although there’s nothing to beat our lived personal experience in this regard, it might be helpful to know a bit of the chemistry behind our moods.
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