All of our feelings and
emotions are a result of chemical reactions taking place in our bodies. These
reactions are responsible for making us feel both negative and positive
feelings, like love and happiness (Gupta, 2015) .
There are four happy hormones: endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.
Endorphin
Endorphin is our
body's natural painkiller that is produced as a response to certain
stimuli, especially stress, fear or pain, and try to block pain and control
emotions. (Gupta, 2015; Scheve). They not only block pain, but they are also responsible for our feelings of
pleasure. It's widely believed that these feelings of pleasure exist to let us
know when we've had enough of a good thing - like food, sex or even
companionship - and also to encourage us to go after that good thing to feel
the associated pleasure and sense of satisfaction (Scheve) . In order to
increase your endorphin levels, you should exercise, have sex, laugh as much as
you can, eat spicy food and do everything else that you enjoy (Narins, 2014) .
Serotonin
Serotonin is the key hormone of happiness, since it regulates
and stabilizes mood, prevents depression and irritation as well as it makes you
happy and sociable (Gupta, 2015) . The hormone also helps to heal wounds, stimulate nausea
and maintain bone health (Scaccia, 2017) . In depression cases, patients take
pills of serotonin as a way of raising its levels and providing a sense of
happiness to the brain and body, even if it is fake. In order to increase your
serotonin levels, you should exercise, spend time in the sun so your body can produce Vitamin D (which triggers the release
of serotonin), consume foods that contain tryptophan (a substance
that your body converts to serotonin), think happy thoughts and laugh (Gupta, 2015) .
Endorphin and serotonin work
together to reach a common goal. Their relationship is identical to the one of
an accelerator
and a brake. Endorphins encourage us to go after what makes us feel pleasure
and happy while serotonin tells us when it is enough and help us to calm down
and relax so we do not stress out, for instance (Estética Viva; Scheve).
Dopamine
Dopamine acts
as a messenger between brain cells, which helps
control the brain's reward and
pleasure centres by regulating movement, emotional responses, and it is important for many of our
daily behaviours (Brookshire, 2017; Dopamine).
The hormone plays a role in how we move, what we eat, how we learn and even
whether we become addicted to drugs (Brookshire,
2017). It is released during
pleasurable situations and stimulates one to seek out the pleasurable activity
or occupation. This means that food, sex, and several drugs of abuse are also
stimulants of dopamine release in the brain (Manda, 2017) .
Dopamine deficiency results in Parkinson's Disease and higher prone to addiction (Dopamine) . In order to increase your dopamine
levels, you should set daily or monthly goals to keep yourself motivated,
set exercise goals and eat foods that are rich in
protein (Gupta, 2015) .
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is often referred to as the “love hormone” because it
is released in large amounts during hugging, sexual intercourse, orgasm and
childbirth. It also increases feelings of love and trust. Two of the
benefits of oxytocin is to treat disorders like depression and anxiety (Gupta,
2015; MacGill, 2017).
Oxytocin
not only affects physically, but it also effects psychologically. It influences
social behaviour and emotions, for instance, bonding behaviour, the creation of
group memories, and social recognition (MacGill, 2017). In order to increase
your oxytocin levels, you should hug the people you love, touch a fluffy pet,
cry to release stress hormones and exercise (Pulsipher, 2017) .
What are the limitations of these hormones?
Hormones are effective, but they do have their
limitations. The effects of endorphins are only temporary. If you have had a
fight with someone, for example, exercising will make you feel better for a
while, but until you sort out the fight, your unhappiness will keep returning.
Oxytocin is a great way to build a relationship, but common-sense dictates that you can't love and trust everyone you
meet, giving rise to envy, prejudice, and possible aggression. Too much dopamine is unhealthy since it can
cause addictions. (Gupta, 2015; MacGill, 2017).
References
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Science News for Students:
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-what-dopamine
Dopamine. (s.d.). Retrieved December 27, 2017, from Psychology
Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/dopamine
Estética Viva. (n.d.). As
Hormonas que Regem o Humor. Retrieved December 27, 2017, from Sapolifestyle:
http://lifestyle.sapo.pt/saude/saude-e-medicina/artigos/as-hormonas-que-regem-o-humor
Gupta, S. (January 18, 2015). The Hormones Of Happiness And How To
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https://www.indiatimes.com/health/healthyliving/the-hormones-of-happiness-and-how-to-increase-them-242282.html
MacGill, M. (September 4, 2017). What is the link between love and
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275795.php
Manda, A. (August 31, 2017). Dopamine Functions. Retrieved December
27, 2017, from News-Medical:
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx
Martin,
Alex. (n.d.). Original Cartoon (online image). Retrieved December 27, 2017, from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how-we-do-it/201505/oxytocin-the-multitasking-love-hormone
Narins, E. (August 21, 2014). 11 Ways to Instantly Boost Your
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http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a30333/ways-to-boost-your-endorphins/
Pulsipher, C. (February 2, 2017). 13 Ways to Boost Your Oxytocin Levels
(The Love Hormone). Retrieved December 27, 2017, from Sun Warrior:
https://sunwarrior.com/healthhub/13-ways-to-boost-your-oxytocin-levels-the-love-hormone
Scaccia, A. (May 18, 2017). Serotonin: What You Need to Know. Retrieved
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