What Is Happiness?

Happiness is a state of emotional well-being, often expressed when we’re having a good time with friends or family, or even in a moment of joy. The two chemicals that have important roles in working behind the feeling of joy are serotonin and dopamine. It's time to see how these two brain chemicals make our moments of happiness that much brighter.

The Role of Neurotransmitters in Our Brains

Let’s start here. What are neurotransmitters? They are our body's chemical messengers. They carry messages from one nerve cell across to the next nerve, muscle, or gland cell. serotonin and dopamine are both neurotransmitters, but they work differently. 

Starting with Serotonin, mostly known as the “feel good” hormone, this hormone helps in regulating our mood, sleep, hunger, and body temperature. When serotonin is at an average level, you may feel focused, calm, and fairly happy. On the other end of that, if they are low, digestion might be affected, along with a lack of concentration and a low mood. 

Dopamine, on the other hand, is sometimes referred to as the “pleasure" hormone, as it is released after we do something that makes us feel good, as a reward, allowing us to stay motivated in learning and processing new information. If dopamine levels are low, there may be a lack of motivation, low concentration, feeling hopeless, and bouts of anxiety.

Serotonin and Dopamine, a Two-Person Play

Serotonin and dopamine are two different neurotransmitters, but one without the other is always a cause for concern. Think of it as a factory with no quality checkers. A factory needs a quality checker to see if their product is worth placing on store shelves, mainly to see if it will bring someone convenience in their daily life. A person with low levels of either serotonin or dopamine can broadly affect their daily functioning or even survival. Providing a balanced space within ourselves is always a key to quality in life.

Ways to Boost Serotonin and Dopamine

Photo by  NEOM Team  on  Unsplash

Medication is one of the ways to boost serotonin and dopamine levels. However, these are some strategies that might help to increase both dopamine and serotonin naturally:

1. Diet: Having a balanced diet is clear-cut, eating more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can boost serotonin levels. 

2. Exercise: Going for a jog or simply exercising when you're feeling low increases your mood, keeping you motivated.

3. Get some sun: Go out and enjoy a good walk. Sunlight boosts neurotransmitter levels in our brains.

4. Do something you love: engage in a hobby, meditate, socialize, anything that makes you feel better is always a good place to start.

Happiness, although a simple emotion, is an important factor in our lives. As humans, we need it to get through our days, stay on track with what we want to achieve, and keep our goals in mind. It is important to reflect, understand where we might be struggling, and reconnect with something that keeps us motivated. Going through the notions of how our brains work is a single step in the stairway that leads us to an endless world of honing our knowledge and taking control of it. 

For professional support, talk to a mental health expert at Heart It Out today!