The Brain Chemicals That Make You Happy
God has blessed us with chemicals in our body that aids in our physiology. Throughout the body, various types of hormones and chemicals contribute to our body’s functions and processes. Examples include Estrogen found in the female reproductive system, Cortisol helps to control stress, and Melatonin helps with our sleep cycle.
Knowing the brain chemicals and hormones responsible for healthy mental and emotional well-being is imperative regarding our psychological health.
How Our Upbringing Induces Certain Chemicals And Hormones
It all starts in childhood and how our upbringing contributes to our psychological health. The father-child relationship is significant, and the more positive the relationship, the healthy a child will grow up and become.
During childhood, our relationship with our parents and environment help induce certain chemicals and hormones which help in our brain development and, in turn, our self-esteem.
A person can be brought up in an environment that forces the body to induce chemicals such as Cortisol and Adrenaline, or they may be brought up in an environment that causes the body to secrete Oxytocin and Serotonin.
What Does The Bonding Process Do?
The bonding process between parent and child helps to induce the child’s ‘happy chemicals’ – these chemicals help with the child’s psychological development (mental, cognitive, and emotional) from baby to toddler, to adolescence to adulthood.
These chemicals are called Oxytocin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Serotonin.
When parents show affection to their children, these chemicals are quickly released and are needed for healthy brain development. Examples of activities parents can do with their children include
- Spending quality time with the child.
- Showing lots of affection to the child
- Building trust.
- Instructing them in The Lord.
- Disciplining them when needed.
- Healthy affirmation to build healthy self-esteem.
- Doing activities with the child.
- Communication
- Lots of laughter
When you involve your children in bonding activities, the chemicals released are neurotransmitters that tell other parts of the body what to do – each chemical has its function. So let’s talk about each chemical.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by the Hypothalamus, a smaller brain region that helps a person feel pleasure. The brain releases Dopamine when a person does things that they feel good about or when they complete a task. As a result, Dopamine helps with a person’s movement and motivation.
Benefits of Dopamine
It makes a person feel good
It makes one excited about life
It causes a person to feel more motivated
It makes a person productive, sociable, and empathetic
It stimulates creativity
It makes a person confident in themselves
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced when a person feels satisfied, important, affirmed, or acknowledged. This chemical helps to regulate sleep, appetite, and mood. In addition, Serotonin is a natural mood booster; for example, when someone likes your picture and gives you a positive compliment on social media and you suddenly become happy – that is a boost of Serotonin rushing through your body.
Benefits of Serotonin
It creates a better sleep cycle
It helps to regulate a person’s mood
It creates a feeling of overall happiness
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the Hypothalamus and released by the Pituitary gland that produces the feeling of love and connection. When parents have their baby, their Oxytocin level rises to help them bond with their baby.
Benefits Of Oxytocin
It helps to regulate emotional responses
It helps with positive social behaviors
It helps to build trust and empathy
It helps to build bonding cues
It helps with positive communication
It helps with positive social interaction
Endorphins
Endorphins are opioid peptides produced by the Hypothalamus and Pituitary glands that operate as neurotransmitters. They trigger positive feelings when a person does something enjoyable like laughing or exercising. In addition, they act as a natural pain reliever and create a euphoric feeling.
Benefits For Endorphins
It creates a sense of well-being
It keeps us in a state of pleasure (no pain)
It increases a person’s self-confidence
It raises a person’s self-esteem
It creates overall happiness
It helps a person with stress management
As adults, there are things we can do to induce these happy chemicals in our brains. Although we live in a stressful world, we are still responsible for our mental and emotional well-being.
