Hack Your Happy Chemicals

The happy chemicals, also known as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins or as often referred to as the DOSE chemicals.

By learning more about these we are better able to tap into them and use them to improve our mood and boost happiness.

Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter. It is known as the feel good hormone and is linked to feelings of happiness, pleasure and reward.

• Dopamine is a the arousal and stimulation neurotransmitter produced by the hypothalamus, a small region of the brain that helps you feel pleasure. It’s an important part in your reward system, meaning the brain releases dopamine when you do things that feel good or pleasurable (think sex, eating, pleasure and even creative thinking) or when you complete a task. Dopamine also helps with movement and motivation. Low dopamine levels lead to depression and mental health issues, but on the flip side, excess levels lead to a dependence whatever is causing the stimulation.
• How to activate it: being kind to yourself and others, sleep, exercise, music, setting goals and checking them off.

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland that produces feelings of love and connection. As a neurotransmitter it regulates stress responses and calms the nervous system.

• Oxytocin plays an essential role in childbirth, breastfeeding, and parent-child bonding and is also produced during sex. It is triggered by closeness and physical affection, hence why it’s the cuddle hormone. It can also help promote trust, empathy, and bonding in relationships.
• How to activate it: physical touch, showing love and affection, spending time with friends and loved ones, sharing a laugh, listening to music, spending time with pets.

Serotonin is a hormone that’s mainly produced by the gut and neurotransmitter produced when you feel satisfaction or importance.

• It plays a role in mood stabilization, sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, wellbeing, happiness, and memory. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.
• How to activate it: being kind to yourself and others, time outdoors, exercising, well balanced diet, meditation

Endorphins are both hormones and opioid peptides produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands that operate as neurotransmitters. They are considered the body’s natural pain killers and help to overcome pain, stress and discomfort.

• There are at least 20 different types of endorphins and they can be released when we’re under stress or in pain. The higher the endorphin level the more pain is reduced and we feel more relaxed, even euphoric at times. The euphoric feeling endorphins produce helps mask pain. They trigger positive feelings when you do something you enjoy such as having sex, laughing or exercising. Foods like chocolate and chilli helps with endorphin secretion.
• How to activate it: spend time outdoors, exercising (runners high), meditating, laughing.