Do you know anyone who doesn’t need a daily dose of happiness? With today’s troubles, we probably need a double dose! At least 1 in 3 people you know aren’t happy with their life.
Have you heard of the happiness chemicals? We’re going to tell you all about them and how you can become happier!
Happiness Chemicals
Your brain is responsible for releasing happy hormones and neurotransmitters which make you feel good! There are four main happiness chemicals:
1. Dopamine: Dopamine promotes the desire to learn and gain knowledge, enables motivation, and gives people the determination they need to achieve their goals.
A deficiency in dopamine leads to feelings of self-doubt, demotivation, lack of energy, inability to focus, and nervousness. Dopamine also affects mood changes and results in a slow-down of work completion and procrastination.
To boost your dopamine levels you can try some of the following:
– Regular exercise
– Making a daily to-do list and completing it
– Setting long-term goals and working on achieving them
– Working on some creative activities like writing, playing music, arts & crafts
– Eating food high in tyrosine acid such as soybeans, salmon, tuna, beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, nuts, and dairy products.
– Meditation
2. Oxytocin: Oxytocin is also known as the lov hormone. It creates the feeling of trust and confidence that motivates people to build and sustain relationships. It encourages you to stick close to the people you trust and love, giving you feelings of calm and safety.
A deficiency in oxytocin brings about feelings of loneliness, tension, lack of enthusiasm, low energy or fatigue, insomnia, and a feeling of disconnect from relationships.
To boost your oxytocin levels you can try some of the following:
– Socialization
– Stretching and relaxations massages
– Listening to music
– Cold shower
– Meditation
3. Serotonin: Serotonin is the pleasure you feel when you experience social power, confidence or status. It plays a major role in accepting yourself and how confident you are in asserting yourself with your entourage.
A deficiency in this hormone makes people feel over sensitive and emotional where they might lose self-confidence and suffer from panic attacks or mood swings. Some of its symptoms are feelings of hopelessness, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and insomnia.
To boost your serotonin levels you can try some of the following:
– Regular exercise
– Sun exposure and walking outdoors in nature
– Stretching and relaxation massages
– Cold showers
4. Endorphins: Endorphins release a brief euphoria that masks physical pain. It is usually released as a response to any painful and stressful situation that triggers the release of endorphins in order to alleviate anxiety and depression.
A deficiency in endorphins creates a sense of constant anxiety, depression, fluctuating mood swings, physical aches and pains, restlessness and impulsive behavior.
To boost your endorphins levels you can do some of the following:
– Express instead of suppress! Laugh or cry your feelings out.
– Eat dark chocolate
– Take a walk in nature
– Exercise regularly
– Do some creative activities. Listening to music helps too.
– Stretching and massages to relax your body
– Meditation and yoga
A deficiency in any of these hormones can make you feel sad and anxious. Now that you know that, your happiness is in your hands! Remember, it’s long-term happiness that we aim to achieve. And don’t forget that happiness is contagious! The happier you are, the more happiness you spread. So come on, do your thing, get happy and spread some joy!
