Happiness hormones & DO YOU 

The world’s best movement. Or perhaps it’s more of a concept or a way of life. If so, it must be the world’s most revolutionary concept or the world’s most important way of life.

Taking care of oneself, ‘doing me’, or ‘doing me first’ as it also means – rather than doing everything for everyone else – is one of the most important things we can possibly do. It boosts our self-esteem, makes us feel less lonely, and gives us a best friend for life: namely, ourselves. I’ve written about all of this in my previous article,‘The Psychology Behind DO YOU’.

I forgot about the biology

But I forgot to mention just how important DO YOU is to our biology. Humans are 98.8 per cent identical to chimpanzees, and it’s important to remember this because, in reality, we are sophisticated animals. We are organisms that react to stimuli. We’re driven by our instinct to survive, which is based on our ancestors’ instinct to survive. And all of this is governed by hormones.

The word ‘hormone’ is Greek and means ‘to arouse’, which is exactly what hormones do; in this way, they can control, amongst other things, your sleep, your appetite and your mood.

Hormones

And now it’s going to get a bit nerdy, so hang on tight: Hormones are the body’s signalling substances that send messages to different parts of the body. Hormones therefore act as a kind of chemical messenger, secreted bythe body’sglands and transported around the body via the bloodstream, instructing cells to carry out specific tasks. The word ‘hormone’ comes from Greek and means ‘to arouse’, which is exactly what hormones do; in this way, they can control, amongst other things, your sleep, your appetite and your mood. If you’re a woman, you may have noticed that around 9 days after the first day of your period, you become more outgoing, creative and productive, and/or you experience more sexual fantasies and a greater desire for sex. This happens because levels of the hormone oestradiol rise, causing a dramatic increase in the hormone luteinising hormone (LH), which ensures that ovulation takes place around the middle of the cycle. Studies show that in the period leading up to ovulation, hormones also alter our voice, skin tone and scent, and we generally dress more provocatively and flirt more. Studies show that men react to all these subtle changes, find us more attractive and feel a greater desire for sex. This makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, because in this way we increase the chances of each of us passing on our genes. After all, we are simply sophisticated chimpanzees.

When we do something good for ourselves (DO YOU), we can influence our brain through four incredibly powerful hormones: 

What does that have to do withDO YOU?

I love the English term DIY, which stands for ‘do it yourself’. And that’s exactly my point: not everyone needs anti-anxiety medication. We don’t need to feel down, anxious or lonely. The point is that we can do it ourselves, because we have the ability to influence our hormones. When we do something good for ourselves (DO YOU), we can influence our brain with four incredibly powerful hormones: 

Dopamine(the reward hormone): This hormone is released naturally when we complete a task, celebrate our small victories, eat a good meal, exercise, laugh, listen to music, have sex or take time for ourselves. In small amounts, it gives a feeling of pleasure; in larger amounts, a feeling of joy; and in even larger amounts, it gives a feeling of happiness. Dopamine is released when we take cocaine and when compulsive gamblers gamble, but we don’t need drugs or the high, because we can ensure that dopamine is released simply by being kind to ourselves.

Endorphins(the painkillers): These are released, amongst other things, when we exercise or have sex, when we laugh, read a good book or do something kind for others. Endorphins are the body’s own painkillers, with a morphine-like effect. They give a sense of well-being, vitality and energy, and can therefore be used strategically in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

Oxytocin(the love hormone): Released every time you do something nice for yourself. It is released when you give or receive compliments, when you do enjoyable things with someone you care about (e.g. playing board games), during prolonged eye contact, during orgasm and through touch – particularly when touching earlobes and nipples. Because oxytocin is released through any form of touch, it is also released even if you simply stroke your own arm. Oxytocin blocks stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline and promotes bonding with others (and ourselves), as well as giving us a sense of happiness and well-being. It therefore makes us less anxious, stressed and lonely, and more happy and loving. 

Serotonin(the ‘happiness hormone’): It is released when we eat protein-rich foods, as well as oats and chocolate, and by ensuring we have enough B vitamins in our system, particularly B6 and B12. It is also released when we are out in the sunlight, spend time in nature and get soil under our fingernails, when we meditate, and when we exercise. Serotonin has a positive influence on our appetite (particularly our cravings for ‘naughty’ carbohydrates), digestion, body temperature regulation, sleep patterns, mood, emotions (particularly happiness) and memory. 

By being kind to ourselves, we can directly influence the brain’s chemistry, which in turn has a positive effect on our emotions. It can actually become quite addictive. 

Become a cake

So DO YOU – practising self-care, doing something good for yourself and looking after yourself – doesn’t just boost self-esteem and make us feel less lonely. When we ‘do ourselves’, we release hormones that make us feel less stressed and anxious, and which give us more energy, vitality and a greater sense of happiness. In this way, we can stop just being flour or sugar, and instead become a cake. When we become a cake, everyone else becomes the icing. A cake is best with icing, but it’s actually delicious enough on its own. And in doing so, we stop relying on others to make us happy.

DO YOU therefore gives us the opportunity to become happy, sophisticated DIY chimpanzee cakes. And who wouldn’t want to be that?

Kh Marie Brixtofte, registered psychologist