In our everyday lives, we hear people talk about how they are in a good or bad mood or even how a situation has ruined their moods. Relationships, stress from assignments and many other situations affect the moods of people. But there is a scientific explanation for certain moods we exhibit during certain periods of time. These moods are as a result of chemicals in the body known as neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers released by neurons to activate receptors at a target cell by transfer of signals from the nerves. They communicate with areas of our brains when they are released and determine our moods. Chemicals released as a result of them being triggered depending on the situations we find ourselves in include serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and oxytocin.
Serotonin ensures a person is happy and in a stable condition. When released, it can stimulate appetite and help regulate sleep. People who usually go outside get exposed to the sun and this is a major way which the body boosts its serotonin production. It also cures depression and anxiety and makes one always exuberant for any activity. In lower levels, it can lead to unnecessary panic, unnecessary worry and depression. It is usually produced by the intestine and central nervous system neurons.
Dopamine communicates with the front part of the brain to simulate a congratulatory sense of pleasure and inner satisfaction. It motivates one to even do better after a great performance and it is usually boosted by having enough sleep and engaging in the most preferred activities. In excess, it might make one very aggressive and in lower levels, it might lead to a state of mental instability.
Ever experienced a situation where you try to run back inside when a teacher is coming back to class? Your speed seemed to have increased all of a sudden and you do not feel any pain when you crush your knees against a desk. However, you feel the pain when you finally settle down and take a deep breath. That is adrenaline in its full effects. It is released in the adrenal glands and brainstem usually during what is termed “fight and flight situations”. Profuse sweating, faster rate of heartbeat and heavy breathing are some natural body changes that accompany its release. It is released to help the body react in the fastest way to ensure its safety in the midst of risky situations.
The last but not the least is oxytocin. This is responsible for a lot of relationship break ups or trust and strong bonds in relationships. Children are very much attached to their mothers because they are released by the mother during natal activities such as breastfeeding. It is boosted by hugging, social gestures and even having sex. It is produced mainly in the hypothalamus before being released into parts of the central nervous system to influence our moods.
These are the various ways which the body determine our moods. These chemicals can be artificially boosted in the body to help us perform certain functions or cure certain states of the minds through exercise, therapy and even through certain drugs.
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