Missed our Instagram Series on Happiness Chemicals?
See the posts here!
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We covered all of the happiness chemicals in our Insta Series named D.O.S.E ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ DOPAMINE This chemical enables motivation, learning and pleasure. Dopamine gives you the determination to accomplish goals, desires and needs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ OXYTOCIN This chemical encourages you to build loving relationships. Oxytocin gives the feeling of trust, and plays a role in bonding. It is known as the "Love Hormone" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ SEROTONIN This chemical encourages you to feel significant among your peers. Serotonin helps you feel calm and accepting of yourself with the people around you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ENDORPHIN This chemical releases a brief euphoria to mask pain or anxiety. Often the only known happiness chemical, endorphin is actually only triggered as a response to pain or stress to provide temporarily alleviate anxiety and depression. |
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D.O.S.E Part 2:
All about Dopamine! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this post we talked about the brain chemical dopamine. As touched on in the first post, dopamine is the chemical which enables motivation, learning and pleasure. Dopamine gives you the determination to accomplish goals, desires and needs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When dopamine is running low, you will find you procrastinate more and lose the ability to focus. This lack of motivation can lead to anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What can you do? For a natural dopamine boost, take part in meditation and exercise as well as use the creative part of your brain to set goals and make to do lists. Making music and art can also help boost dopamine! |
D.O.S.E Part 3:
All about Oxytocin! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this post we talked about the brain chemical oxytocin. As explained in Part 1, Oxytocin is the chemical which enables encourages you to build loving relationships. Oxytocin gives the feeling of trust, and plays a role in bonding. It is known as the "Love Hormone". ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When oxytocin is running low, you will find you may feel lonely or out of touch with your loved ones. Oxytocin deficiency also is responsible for feelings of anxiety and can even cause insomnia! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What can you do? The number one way to naturally boost oxytocin, is to hug! But if you're not a hugger, you can increase your oxytocin levels just by socialising with your friends and loved ones, listening to music, or most interestingly - by taking a cold shower! |
D.O.S.E Part 4:
All about Serotonin! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this post we talked about the brain chemical serotonin. As explained in Part 1, Serotonin is the chemical which enables you to feel significant. Serotonin allows you to accept yourself with the people around you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When serotonin is running low, you may be overly sensitive and feel like you aren't good enough, or you may experience mood swings for seemingly no reason. Serotonin deficiency also is responsible for feelings of anxiety and social phobia! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What can you do? Having a cold shower or going for a swim can help boost serotonin levels by waking up your skin receptors, which causes increased activity to the brain. Fresh air and sunshine is also helpful in naturally increasing serotonin. |
D.O.S.E Part 5:
All about Endorphins! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This week we are talking about the brain chemical endorphins. As explained in Part 1, Endorphins are the chemical which release a brief euphoria to help mask anxiety . Endorphins allows you calm yourself as you prepare to combat the situation. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When endorphins are running low, you may be feel depressed or experience anxiety and panic attacks. Endorphin deficiency can also be responsible for mood swings, insomnia, impulsive behaviour and even some aches and pains! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What can you do? Laughing or crying it out is really effective in generating the endorphins needed to feel better about a situation. Creating music and art, or meditating is also proven to help increase endorphins. Best of all, eating foods such as dark chocolate or spicy foods is a really fun way to get those missing feel good chemicals! |
