The Hormones of Happiness - By Maria Manuel Patrício


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

Brookshire, B. (17 de January de 2017). Explainer: What is dopamine? Retrieved December 27, 2017, from 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 Increase Them. Retrieved December 27, 2017, from India Times: 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 oxytocin? Retrieved December 27, 2017, from Medical News Today: 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 Endorphins. Retrieved December 27, 2017, from Cosmopolitan: 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 December 27, 2017, from Health Line: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin#functions
Scheve, T. (s.d.). What are endorphins? Retrieved December 27, 2017, from How Stuff Works: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/endorphins.htm
(Untitled illustration of a face). Retrieved December 27, 2017, from: https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SebastienSamson/20171113/309468/Compulsion_Loops__Dopamine_in_Games_and_Gamification.php
(Untitled illustration of a sun). Retrieved December 27, 2017, from: https://www.thebalance.com/best-websites-to-download-free-sun-clip-art-1356299

By Maria Manuel Patrício, January 4, 2017.

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