Dopamine and Friends: The Happy Chemicals in our Brain

Most of us have heard the word Dopamine or Serotonin. They’re often used in popular culture, or described as ‘The Happy Chemicals’. While this is mostly accurate, there are four neurotransmitters (chemical substances) released in the brain that are responsible for the experience of happiness or any other positive emotion. 

Even those familiar with the Dopamine and Serotonin often use them interchangeably, even though they are activated in entirely different activities and circumstances. 

We’re all in the pursuit of happiness in one way or another. One of the core reasons why people begin to try and improve their lives and themselves is so that they can be happier and experience a greater quality of being. 

Knowing about the four chemicals that produce the happiness sensation in the body can almost act as a formula to get your result!

DOSE

Here are the four chemicals that play an integral role in the experience of happiness. 

• Dopamine
• Oxytocin
• Serotonin
• Endorphins

Dopamine

Dopamine is released in the brain everytime you expect a reward or experience pleasure. This means a bite out of a pizza slice immediately releases dopamine which allows you to enjoy it so much. 

But dopamine doesn’t just stop there. It also has a powerful effect on making you want to take another bite of the pizza, and another, and another. That’s why dopamine is integrally involved in addictions. 

Dopamine can also be linked to motivation. Your brain begins to only want to do the activities that will release the most dopamine. So if eating a pizza releases more dopamine than a salad, that’s why it’s so tough to eat healthy. Similarly, watching a youtube video or scrolling through instagram also gives instant gratification: release of dopamine in the brain. Doing your work or assignments are lower dopamine releasing activities (at first!) which can unmotivate you.

But dopamine isn’t the end-all. We don’t need to blindly listen to this chemical. In fact, if you choose to eat that salad and do your work, you’ll experience an even higher level of dopamine much later after accomplishment: and be proud of yourself too!

Why is it connected to happiness? Dopamine lets you enjoy the good things in life. In cases of mental illnesses like depression, and substance abuse; brains that have severely low levels of dopamine experience anhedonia which is the inability to feel pleasure of any kind. They no longer have the motivation or desire to eat or move or do anything.

Oxytocin

Known as the love drug or even the ‘cuddle hormone’, oxytocin is released with physical contact with loved ones, even if you’re petting your dog! Oxytocin levels in a person can also have a link to how much love they received as children from their parents. People with low oxytocin levels have shown tendencies to feel hostile and suspicious of other people in their environment. 

Oxytocin is integral in our brain’s perception of the social relationships we’ve formed. In a study, a group of men were given a dose of oxytocin and asked to describe their relationship with their mothers. The men who already had a secure and good relationship with their mothers were able to recollect instances and examples of how caring and understanding she was. 

However, men who didn’t have a good relationship with their mothers were able to explain in detail how she wasn’t caring enough or didn’t love him as much as she should have. 

Oxytocin helps us identify and articulate our feelings about all social relationships. In another study dutch students given a dose of oxytocin, they displayed strong preference for Dutch names and aversion to Arab and German names. Oxytocin helps us identify with our group and feel a strong connection and sense of belonging with them. This also means a sense of animosity towards those that don’t ‘belong’. 

So how does oxytocin relate to happiness? You know that feeling when you’re with a friend and laughing uncontrollably about something? That moment can feel like true joy and happiness, and it’s all because of the release of oxytocin. In fact when people say ‘Laughter is the best medicine’, they’re not entirely wrong!

Serotonin

When most people use the term Dopamine for happiness, they actually are referring to serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for mood stabilising, and the feeling of well-being and well, happiness!

But Serotonin does more than this. Common belief is that Serotonin is only in the brain, when actually more than 70% of serotonin receptors are in the digestive tract. Serotonin is closely involved in how regular your bowel movements are, nausea, blood clotting and sleep. In short, the optimal levels of serotonin will ensure smooth bodily functioning. 

Too less serotonin in the body can make the person experience depression amongst other mental illnesses, including suicidal tendencies. 

High levels of serotonin doesn’t equal more happy: nerve cell dysfunctioning and high blood pressure, diarrhea and fever can be some of the symptoms as you’re on the brink of serotonin syndrome. 

Most recreational drugs increase levels of serotonin in the body, which is why people experience the incredible ‘high’ and happiness while on them. A good case in point is MDMA, which increases serotonin levels drastically for the high and subsequently depletes resources for the next day or two. That’s why the ‘downer’ of MDMA is said to be so awful: even nicknamed ‘Suicidal Tuesdays’ for what happens to people after rolling on Molly on the weekend. 

But even apart from illegal drugs, serotonin can be regulated to a great extent by the regular healthy individual. Exercising and being active can help regulate the serotonin in the body, as well as spending time in nature and practicing meditation. Getting sun exposure is a big factor: since Vitamin D levels and Serotonin are closely related!

Endorphins

Next time somebody tells you about a runner’s high, they’re really talking about the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are also more popular in pop culture, commonly linked to exercise.

They also are the body’s natural painkillers. In fact, endorphins have a very similar effect to opioids! They work similarly, relieving pain and flooding the body with a feel-good sensation. 

Endorphins take around 30 minutes to be activated. So while any form of exercise is good for you (including taking the stairs instead of the elevator), if it’s endorphins you’re after, you’ll want a good work-out session. 

Many people experiencing mild forms of mental illness as well as periods of low feelings benefit enormously from pursuing a sport or physical activity. 

For bonus chemicals: don’t just exercise, exercise with friends and sunshine! Then you’ve tick marked all four D.O.S.E and have hacked the code for happiness.