Last week we discussed how natural it is for developing brains to lead to moodiness (HERE). Now we will be examining some "moaning whores"!
What are Hormones and How Do They Affect Your Emotions?
Hormones not only determine which gender you are or identify with, they also control your body’s functions and tell your cells exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. They are chemical messengers which travel through your blood.
Hormones can also affect how you are feeling, and two of the happy hormones are dopamine and serotonin.
Dopamine controls body movements and emotional responses.
Without enough dopamine you can feel tired, demotivated, hopeless, depressed and sad, have trouble sleeping, and struggle to concentrate and focus.
Serotonin helps balance your mood, controls appetite and bowel movements, and helps your blood to clot when you have a wound.
Low serotonin levels cause poor memory, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, anxiety, and aggression.
How to Increase Dopamine and Serotonin Naturally
Do what you love! Have coffee with friends, dance, paint – doing what makes you happy creates more dopamine and serotonin, making you feel good.
- Eat certain foods: Some foods can increase dopamine such as dark chocolate, eggs, nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans), avocado pears, dairy products, bananas, spinach, yoghurt and pumpkin seeds.
- Get more light: Bright light like sunlight increases serotonin, so take a break from studies and go out into the sun.
- Have a good night’s rest: In the evening, dopamine production goes down, but in the morning your body produces large amounts of dopamine. Late nights disrupt this process, and dopamine levels in your body will go down, leaving you tired and unfocussed all day.
- Exercise: Even 30 minutes of exercise per week can increase serotonin levels in your brain.
So, if you are feeling tired, depressed, and unable to concentrate, take a break, go for a walk in the sunshine, do something fun, eat some dark chocolate, and go to bed early for a good night’s rest!
[This is the second in a series of three articles | Part 1: Moodiness | Part 3: Make Your Own Happy Chemicals]
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