Your brain is an extremely complicated organ. Even the best neuroscientists in the world don't truly understand how it operates or what it's capable of. The world's most powerful computers are no match for the raw processing power of the human brain, and nor can they rival it for storage capacity. To all intents and purposes, your brain is actually you. It's in your brain that your thoughts and opinions form, your emotions are generated, and your memories are stored for safekeeping. The rest of your body is essentially a vehicle being piloted by your brain!
Because we're so reliant on our brain when it comes to our moods, motivations, and emotions, it can sometimes be frustrating when it makes us feel sad or worn down for no apparent reason. Sometimes your brain feels a little bit like a Playtech slots, generating random results based on random inputs. We all understand how online slots work – some days you win and some days you lose, even if the actions you took on those days were basically the same! What if you were somehow able to take control of the odds of success at an online slots website? What if you were able to control your brain's output and thereby control your mood?
We're here to tell you that what we've just described is entirely possible. Your brain might be a complicated organ, but its processes are still mostly electrical and chemical. We know what makes us feel happy, and we know what makes us feel sad. We also know how to persuade our brains to make more of the chemicals that make us feel happy without resorting to artificial stimulants – so read on and find out how you can convince your brain to be kinder to you!
There are four naturally-occurring hormones within your brain that govern your mood – oxytocin, serotonin, endorphin, and dopamine. Let’s address them one at a time.
Oxytocin
Rather charmingly, oxytocin is sometimes known as the ‘cuddle hormone’ because it's released when we have close physical contact with other people. It isn't only reserved for lovers, though – we also get a dose of oxytocin when we cuddle or spend time with our pets! You'll find plenty of oxytocin in the body of a mother who's just given birth. The hormone not only helps the uterus to contract but also helps the new mother to bond with their child in the moments immediately after delivery has taken place. Any physical intimacy will boost your oxytocin levels, which is why a hug can make all the difference in the world when you're feeling down. Hugging just anybody won't work, though – there has to be an emotional intimacy as well as a physical one. You can generate oxytocin just by being around and close to the people you trust and care the most about. That might make it the most wonderful hormone of all!
Serotonin
The connection between serotonin and happiness is so well known that, for many years, some doctors believed that depression was down to nothing more than a lack of serotonin in the brain. We now know that isn’t the case, but it's still true to say that without enough serotonin, we won't feel great. In actuality, serotonin is far more complex a hormone than a simple mood booster. The health of your bones is reliant on serotonin. If your serotonin levels aren't right, you'll struggle to do many things, ranging from getting enough sleep to digesting your food properly. If your confidence levels are low, so will your serotonin level. That creates a catch 22 situation because it's hard to bring your serotonin level back up when you're not feeling confident. Try changing your exercise routine, or setting yourself small, easy-to-achieve daily goals and then ensuring you follow through with them. As your confidence grows, so will your natural serotonin levels.
Endorphin
Just as serotonin is associated with happiness, endorphin is associated with exercise. That's down to a fundamental misunderstanding of how the hormone works – it's just as closely connected with your happiness as serotonin is. When your endorphin levels are at a peak, you feel almost super-human. You can run faster and jump higher. You become physically stronger and more resistant to pain. Many of the properties that are usually attributed to adrenaline can actually be attributed to endorphin. The good news when it comes to endorphin is that almost every way to boost it is fun. Eating dark chocolate gets your endorphins flowing, as does the simple act of laughing at something or someone. Perhaps laughter truly is the best medicine after all. Now we think about it, this is probably where that expression came from!
Dopamine
There's a reason that many different types of drugs are known as ‘dope,' and it's that they mimic the effect of dopamine within the human body. That feeling of excitement and achievement you get when you complete a difficult task or obtain something you've worked hard for is all dopamine. The prospect of getting a ‘dopamine hit' is often what persuades your brain to stick with a task that it isn't enjoying. On the other hand, if your dopamine levels drop, motivation becomes an issue. Sugar and caffeine have both been proven to boost dopamine levels, but we don't recommend them as a long-term solution. Setting goals and working toward them should be all it takes you to persuade your brain to release enough to get you through the day. The more you achieve, the more dopamine you'll receive. It's a reward hormone!
Motivating yourself to do anything at all is difficult when you’re feeling down in the dumps, but if you try to bear in mind that a hug or a detailed plan for the day is often all it takes to shift a bad mood, it makes things a lot easier. Don’t be afraid to call on the ones you love whenever you need them if you’re not feeling yourself. Remember that you can’t get dopamine hits if you don’t have clearly defined goals. Laugh a lot – it’s good for you! We don’t need to put anything artificial into our bodies at all to make ourselves feel better – we just have to create the correct conditions for these hormones to thrive.
