Well-being hormones: what they are and how they affect us

Happiness, well-being and tranquility are states that the common bulk of mortals want to have. Many things can produce these feelings in us, whether they are material like a car or immaterial like having a good relationship. They are subjective emotions and subjective is also what generates them.

However, at the brain level it is possible to see certain biochemical processes that are activated when a person says they are happy and feel good. These are the biological foundation of something as subjective as well-being, caused by the activation and secretion of different types of hormones.

Next we will discover what they are the main wellness hormones, what problems it brings to have them at unregulated levels and how they can be increased.

• Related article: "Types of hormones and their functions in the human body"

Well-being hormones (and their effects on the human mind)

Everyone craves happiness and well-being. It is normal, we could well describe it as a human instinct. For some, well-being and happiness is achieved materially, through the accumulation of goods. For others, true happiness is found in immaterial and priceless things, such as family, finding love or enjoying an afternoon with friends. For the vast majority, it is a combination of both.

There is nothing in this world that gives happiness and well-being to absolutely all people because, as we can see, each one has their own idea of ​​where they are. However, we can say which substances are the ones that cause us these emotions. These are neurochemicals that affect every human brain more or less equally, regardless of what or who activated them. They are the chemicals that induce us to the subjective emotions of well-being: the well-being hormones.

The hormones are substances that are released by our body that induce physiological changes in it. Certain types of these hormones, many of them neurotransmitters, influence our mood and behavior.

The main well-being hormones are the following.

1. serotonin

If serotonin is known for anything, it is for being the hormone of happiness. In fact, it is this title that has led to many drugs, especially antidepressants, being designed to act on serotonin receptors in the brain. Adequate serotonin levels are associated with relaxation, contentment, increased concentration, and self-esteem.

Serotonin is not only related to happiness, but also to appetite. This hormone has among its functions that of creating the feeling of satiety and regulating bowel movements. For this reason, if it is at levels well below the optimum, it increases the desire to eat.

To produce this substance the body needs a key substance: tryptophan. This amino acid is obtained through the diet, eating foods that are rich in tryptophan such as chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, cereals, legumes, rice, milk and derivatives such as cheese.

Practicing sports increases the production of serotonin, so it is highly recommended to do frequent physical activity to stay not only in shape but also mentally well.

According to biological hypotheses about mental health, many disorders would be related to an alteration in serotonin levels. Having too little serotonin in the brain is related to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, irritability.

However, it is also worth mentioning that an excess of serotonin is dangerous. An abrupt increase in its production, caused for example by the abuse of antidepressants, can cause it to accumulate in the brain, with very negative consequences for health.

Too much serotonin causes serotonin syndrome, an extremely dangerous condition whose symptoms are as follows.

• Nervousness

• Disorientation

• Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure

• Dilated pupils

• Lack of muscle coordination and muscle spasms

• Muscular stiffness

• heavy sweating

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• tremors

• Goosebumps

• You may be interested in: "Serotonin: 6 effects of this hormone on your body and mind"

2. dopamine

If we had a podium of the well-being hormones, the gold would be for serotonin, while the silver would be for dopamine. Better known as the reward hormone, dopamine produces pleasure and makes us feel good, in addition to playing an important role in memory. The production of this hormone motivates us to repeat behaviors that we like.

Low levels of the hormone dopamine have been linked to some health problems., the best known being Parkinson's disease, a medical condition in which dopaminergic neurons die. Other problems associated with low dopamine levels are depression, social anxiety, problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.

Dopamine levels can be increased through diet, mostly by eating fruits and vegetables. Any food that has antioxidants is a good ally to have adequate levels of dopamine because this substance is very susceptible to free radicals, elements that antioxidants they fight. Foods such as eggs, chocolate and nuts also help to have optimal dopamine levels.

But as with everything it is not advisable to go overboard with dopamine. Having high concentrations of this substance has been linked to problems in various areas of the brain, as well as being associated with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

• Related article: "Dopamine: 7 essential functions of this neurotransmitter"

3. oxytocin

Known as the love hormone, oxytocin is associated with increased confidence, social skills, and building social bonds. When we fall in love, the levels of two hormones, dopamine and oxytocin, increase.. Love makes dopamine skyrocketing, while oxytocin makes that love last forever. many years, helping to create emotional bonds that are strengthened by being in contact with the the rest.

What oxytocin is well known for is playing a strong role in bonding mother-son, in addition to fostering empathy, sociability and the feeling of belonging to a group social. Produces tranquility, reduces anxiety and stress and generates a feeling of confidence.

Some research has suggested that the effects of oxytocin on the brain are similar to those produced by alcohol. Both substances affect various regions of the brain and share being able to increase sociability, loss of fear of failure, greater confidence and changes in appetite. In addition, high levels of alcohol and oxytocin lead to violent behavior.

Oxytocin can be stimulated mostly by physical contact. It can also be increased by hearing words of encouragement, listening to others, practicing meditation, exercising, and even crying, as emotions are released. Oxytocin is also linked to orgasm, in both men and women.

Low oxytocin levels have been linked to depression. It has also been seen that, in women, oxytocin deficiency could cause lactation problems, while in men, high levels of this substance could cause benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of this part of the male body that causes problems urinals.

• You may be interested in: "What is oxytocin and what functions does this hormone perform?"

4. endorphins

The endorphins They are well known for their analgesic effect. Its name comes to mean "endogenous morphine" or "self-produced morphine" and it is about substances released by the brain capable of modulating and reducing physical pain. They are hormones that produce euphoria, happiness, well-being and carelessness..

In situations of great stress, endorphins are capable of completely eliminating pain for a certain period of time. For example, in an extreme survival situation such as having an accident and breaking several bones, if we saw that we have to help someone around us, our brain would release endorphins to cancel the pain and be able to help others the rest.

Endorphins are especially produced when we exercise, such as running, cycling and, in general, cardiovascular training activities.

5. Other feel-good hormones

The main well-being hormones are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins, as we have just seen. However, there are also other substances that, although not so directly, provide us with well-being and happiness, either because they are present at low levels or because their alteration harms our state psychic.

5.1. cortisol

Cortisol is known to be the stress hormone, so it may come as a surprise to see it on this list. At optimal levels, that is, low, it makes us have controlled stress and anxiety levels, giving us the necessary and sufficient energy to stay active throughout the day. In case it is increased, it will cause us a lot of stress, increasing the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, including social phobia and panic attacks.

5.2. Melatonin

Melatonin is a substance that regulates the cycles of sleep and wakefulness, slows down the premature aging of cells and protects the nervous system. This substance, obtained through solar radiation, if found at low levels in our body, will cause insomnia and fatigue, which will reduce our well-being.

• Related article: "Melatonin: the hormone that controls sleep and seasonal rhythms"

5.3. Adrenalin

While not a feel-good hormone by itself, adrenaline It serves to receive the necessary motivation to overcome any obstacle and adversity that we may encounter., enjoy human relationships and be more productive. Presenting this substance at very low levels has been associated with depression and lack of motivation.