How do you feel right now? Happy or sad, bored or excited? Or maybe you just feel normal, like how you feel most of the time. Whatever your mood and emotional state at the moment, it’s not something that you’ve chosen, but rather something that is determined by the various chemicals and hormones that are getting released in your brain. Of course, this doesn’t make your frustration over a traffic jam or your happiness when going out with friends any less real. It’s just that realizing what determines your emotional state isn’t random, and it isn’t some voodoo magic, but rather something tangible that can be controlled… somewhat.
Yes, if chemicals in the brain control how you feel at any given time, one way to go about it is to simply inject the pleasant ones into your body to feel better. Morphine addicts do that and… well, you probably already know why this isn’t a great option. Then again, you don’t really need to inject morphine into yourself when your body is already perfectly capable of releasing chemicals that have a very similar effect on the brain. Those chemicals are called endorphins and in addition to serving as natural painkillers for the body, they also play a significant role in mood regulation, as their release causes you to feel good, both physically and mentally. But then what can you do to stimulate their release? Quite a few things actually - from eating chocolate to various types of physical activities, there are many things that can cause the release of endorphins, and the best of them will be briefly explored in the following lines.
Food
Food, in general, is linked to the release of a number of feel-good neurotransmitters, including endorphins. And while which types of food will trigger the biggest endorphins release largely depends on a person’s own preferences, there are certain foods that are generally known to have a greater effect in that department.
Chocolate (and other sweet treats) are, unsurprisingly, capable of causing a big release of endorphins in the brain. However, it’s not recommended to use this as your main way of stimulating this chemical’s release. Sugar, in general, can be highly addictive precisely because it causes such a strong synthesis of feel-good chemicals. Therefore, it’s not a very good idea to rely on sweet foods as your go-to mood regulation mechanism, since they are generally bad for your body.
Spicy foods, such as chili peppers, are also known to cause a significant release of endorphins, and while those also need to be consumed in moderation, it’s much less likely to become addicted to them.
Then again, as already mentioned, as long as you like a particular food, eating it will uplift your mood precisely because of the release of endorphins stimulated by it.
Exercise
A much healthier and more sustainable way of getting that endorphins hit, exercising (or another type of physical activity) can also be very effective for regulating your mood. Granted, it can be difficult and even intimidating to get started, but if you manage to stay consistent with it over a moderate period of time, you’ll soon realize that this is one of your most effective mechanisms for balancing your mood and coping with stress.
Laughter
Laughter, especially when among friends or family, is a very strong stimulant for endorphins release. The biological purpose and mechanics of laughter are still largely an enigma to us, yet it’s proven this physical reaction is responsible for the feel-good chemicals to be released in the brain.
Obviously, you cannot force yourself to laugh in a genuine way, yet you can place yourself in a situation where it’s likely that something will make you laugh. Anything from watching a good comedy (especially when together with other people) or going to a stand-up comedy show are good ways to get more laughter in your life.
Physical intimacy
Physical closeness with one’s intimate partner is probably one of the strongest endorphin stimulants there is. It’s not surprising why people, in general, crave such closeness and why they may end up feeling miserable, frustrated, or even angry when they aren’t able to get it. Cuddling, kissing, and especially having sex are all responsible for a very strong hit of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, all of which are known to regulate our moods and are linked to making us feel good.
It must be said, though, that being intimate with another person needs to happen organically and doing it just for the sake of it won’t really provide the same benefits. Additionally, being with the mindset that you must obtain such closeness at all costs is likely to lead to a lot of frustration, resentment, lack of confidence, and even anger issues. It’s actually a problem that lots of people today have and one that’s tricky to address. If you’ve ever felt in a similar way or know someone who is struggling with such negative feelings, talking to a therapist, joining an anger management online program, or a support group of people who have the same issue might be a good idea to realize that there’s more to life than blindly chasing physical intimacy.
A favorite hobby
Finally and, again, not surprisingly, indulging in your favorite hobby or pastime activity can be a major stimulant for the release of happy chemicals in the brain. Whether it be hiking, going to the cinema, gaming, playing a music instrument, or simply listening to your favorite band, as long as you enjoy the activity, this means that it causes endorphins to be released in your brain.
The key here is to pick a hobby or pastime that can also be beneficial to you in other ways or, at least, one that doesn’t cause harm to other aspects of your life. For instance, photography or reading are much more beneficial activities compared to going out every weekend and consuming copious amounts of alcohol until first light, which is why it’s important to consider carefully what you choose to be your go-to way of making yourself feel better.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the role of chemicals and hormones in our brain can help us take control of our mood and emotional state. While we may not have direct control over the release of these chemicals, there are ways to stimulate the release of endorphins, which play a significant role in regulating our mood. Engaging in activities like eating certain foods, exercising, laughing, experiencing physical intimacy, and indulging in favorite hobbies can all contribute to the release of endorphins and improve our overall well-being. However, it's important to approach these activities in moderation and choose ones that are beneficial and do not cause harm to other aspects of our lives. By incorporating these strategies into our daily routines, we can empower ourselves to regulate our mood in a healthy and sustainable way. Remember, taking care of our emotional well-being is an ongoing process that requires self-awareness and a commitment to making positive choices.
