4 Happy Brain Chemicals You need to know for Better Mental Health

If you want to boost your mental health, then these you must know these 4 Happy Brain Chemicals!

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As, I am constantly learning about our body and mental health, Learning about these four happy brain chemicals was really interesting!

This is why I want to share it with you!

There are these chemicals, or you can say Feel-good hormones, that are released when we perform a certain function, and make us feel good!

When struggling with mental health and feeling down, These happy brain chemicals can be extremely helpful!

So…

Table of Contents

What are the 4 happy chemicals?

Dopamine – Allows us to feel satisfaction, pleasure, and motivation
Serotonin – Helps regulate our mood
Oxytocin – “feel-good” emotion activated through affection
Endorphins – relieve pain and improve a sense of wellbeing

If you are feeling a bit confused or think it is too Scientific, don’t worry

These hormones are released through really simple activities in our daily life! Using these hormones to our advantage consciously can help you boost your mental health!

Some of the most common and simple activities that release these hormones are

Exercise
Giving back
Spending time with loved ones
Meditation
food

We will get into detail about what each chemical does and how we can use them to feel good and improve our mental health!

Please note: These hormones are not a Cure for depression or anxiety but an additional step to help in boosting your mental health!

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What are Happy Brain Chemicals?

Happy Brain Chemicals are basically hormones that act as neurotransmitters, that sends signals to our brain for performing a specific function.

Happy Brain chemicals refer to hormones that regulate our mood

We may know Dopamine a really popular hormone associated with the feeling of reward and pleasure

there are three more Hormones that play an important role in how we fee

Dopamine
Serotonin
Oxytocin
Endorphins

How to use Hormones for Better Mental health

It is very simple to use them for boosting our mental health

These hormones are released through our action

When we perform a negative or unhealthy action, our brain elects a negative mood

Whereas when we perform a healthy function, our brain elects a positive mood!

So all you need to do is perform these healthy functions or habits to experience these happy brain chemicals!

Different healthy function or habits releases different hormones! We will now take a deeper look at

Dopamine: The Reward Chemical

Dopamine is associated with feelings of reward and satisfaction along with learning, motivation, and memory.

When you feel good after you achieved something, it’s because you have a release of dopamine in the brain.

Too much Dopamine in different areas of the brain can cause hallucinations and delusions

Whereas Too little Dopamine can make for a lack of focus, and depressive thoughts and may be responsible for ADHD

Hence, A balanced Dopamine is essential and should be aimed for!

Some ways to Boost Dopamine is

Completing a small task: As we all know dopamine is associated with reward, By completing a small task we feel rewarded
Trying something new, When we try something new, there is a feeling of reward or motivation attached to it
Listening to music
Doing something you enjoy such as a hobby

Serotonin: The Mood Stabilizer

Serotonin affects everything from your emotions to your body and motor skills! It is one chemical associated with Positive moods or feelings

Too much Serotonin causes Serotonin syndrome which is usually caused due to Medications, supplements, and other substances that increase serotonin levels in your body

Too little Serotonin is common and associated with feelings of depression and anxiety

Some ways to Boost Serotonin are-

Getting Sunlight! This is why we feel winter or season depression due to less or no Sunlight
Some research says meditation can improve serotonin levels as it reduces stress and beings optimism in life
A healthy diet such as Eggs, Pineapples, Nuts, seeds, Cheese, and tofu helps in boosting serotonin
Going outside

Oxytocin: The Love Hormone

Oxytocin known as the love hormone promotes trust, bond, and empathy, it is released during activities like hugging, breastfeeding, and orgasm.

Too much Oxytocin can lead to oversensitivity to the emotions of others.

Too little Oxytocin can lead to low empathy and irritability

Some ways to Boost Oxytocin are-

Showing both romantic and platonic affection can boost oxytocin
Massage or hug
Meeting your friends that help you build bonds and connection
Doing something nice or kind to others also boosts oxytocin

Endorphins: The Pain Reliever

Endorphins reduce pain by increasing pleasure. They’re released during pleasurable activities such as exercise, massage, eating, and sex too.

As for now, I have not found if and what effects too many endorphins lead to!

Too little Endorphins can lead to depression, anxiety, body aches

\Some ways to boost Endorphins are –

Exercise: If you ever wonder why you feel good after working out is because it boosts your endorphins!
Yoga and meditation are a form of exercise and boosts endorphins
Laughing! Watching comedy movies or laughing with friends and family as well
Eating dark chocolate
Creating art

Final Thoughts

So these were 4 happy brain chemicals that are essential in our life and it’s crazy how easily and in a healthy way we can achieve them!

When feeling down trying out all these different ways can help you better your mood!

Always aim to look for natural ways to reach a healthy balance of these happy hormones!

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