Hormones and neurotransmitters are biologically active substances of an organic nature. Entering the blood, they affect the metabolism and other physiological functions in a wide wave, causing a quick and long change in the functional state of the body. In a language more familiar to us, they make us fear and rage, depression and happiness, attraction and attachment.
In this article, we will not distinguish between hormones and neurotransmitters, since the only difference between them is where they are produced: hormones are produced in the endocrine glands, while neurotransmitters are produced in nerve cells. This is important for specialists, but what about us?
Major human hormones
Adrenaline — the hormone of fear and anxiety. The heart goes to the heels, the person turns pale, the reaction is «hit and run.» Stands out in situations of danger, stress and anxiety. Increased vigilance, internal mobilization, a sense of anxiety. The heart beats strongly, the pupils dilate («from fear the eyes are large»), there is a narrowing of the vessels of the abdominal cavity, skin and mucous membranes; to a lesser extent, it constricts the vessels of the skeletal muscles, but dilates the vessels of the brain. Increases blood clotting (in case of wounds), prepares the body for long-term stress and increased physical exertion due to muscles. Relaxes the intestines (pooped one’s pants with fear), hands and jaws tremble.
Norepinephrine — a hormone of hatred, rage, anger and permissiveness. The precursor of adrenaline, is produced in the same situations, the main action is the heart beats and vasoconstriction, but more and more violently and shorter, and the face turns red. Short burst of anger (norepinephrine), then fear (adrenaline). The pupils do not dilate, the vessels of the brain do the same.
Animals determine by smell whether adrenaline or norepinephrine is released. If the adrenaline is high, they recognize the weakling and chase him. If norepinephrine, recognize the leader and are ready to obey.
The great commander Julius Caesar made up the best military detachments only from those soldiers who, at the sight of danger, blushed, not turned pale.
Joy is different. There is a calm and bright joy that gives us transparent happiness, and there is a violent, unrestrained joy, overflowing with pleasures and euphoria. So, these two different joys are made by two different hormones. Unbridled joy and euphoria is the hormone dopamine. Joy is bright and calm — this is the hormone serotonin.
Dopamine — a hormone of unbridled joy, pleasure and euphoria. Dopamine pushes us to exploits, madness, discoveries and accomplishments, a high level of this hormone turns us into donquixotes and optimists. On the contrary, if we lack dopamine in the body, we become dull hypochondriacs.
Any activity or state from which we receive (or rather, look forward to) sincere joy and delight provokes a powerful release of the hormone dopamine into the blood. We like it, and after a while our brain «asks to repeat.» This is how hobbies, habits, favorite places, adored food appear in our life … In addition, dopamine is thrown into the body in stressful situations so that we do not die of fear, shock or pain: dopamine alleviates pain and helps a person adapt to inhuman conditions. Finally, the hormone dopamine is involved in important processes such as memory, thinking, regulation of sleep and wake cycles. Lack for any reason of the dopamine hormone leads to depression, obesity, chronic fatigue and dramatically reduces sexual desire. The easiest way to release dopamine is to have sex or listen to music that makes you shiver. In general, do what you enjoy the very anticipation of.
Serotonin It is self-confidence, a surge of strength and vigor. If there is a lack of serotonin in the brain, the symptoms of this are a bad mood, increased anxiety, loss of strength, absent-mindedness, lack of interest in the opposite sex, depression, including in the most serious forms. The lack of serotonin is also responsible for those cases when we cannot get the object of adoration out of our head, or, alternatively, we cannot get rid of obsessive or frightening thoughts. If a person has an increase in the level of serotonin, his depression disappears, he ceases to cycle on unpleasant experiences, and good mood, joy of life, a surge of strength and vigor, activity, attraction to the opposite sex quickly come to the place of problems. Read more about serotonin here… See →
Testosterone — the hormone of masculinity and sexual desire. Testosterone triggers male forms of sexual behavior: the most obvious differences between M and F, such as aggressiveness, risk-taking, dominance, energy, self-confidence, impatience, desire to compete, are determined primarily by the level of testosterone in the blood. Men become «roosters», easily flaring up with anger and showing pugnacity. Increasing testosterone levels improves intelligence and whips up empathy.
Estrogen — hormone of femininity. Influence on character: fears, pity, empathy, affection for babies, crybaby. Eestrogen, he will be in a male body, but with a female brain and will grow up peaceful, sensitive, feminine.
Can you change your testosterone levels on your own? Yes. If a man practices martial arts, strength and extreme sports, more often allows himself anger, his body increases the generation of testosterone. If a girl often plays a blonde and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen.
Oxytocin — a hormone of trust and tender affection. An increase in the level of oxytocin in the blood causes a person to feel satisfied, reduce fears and anxieties, a sense of trust and calm next to a partner: a person who was perceived as a person who was mentally close to himself. At the physiological level, oxytocin triggers the attachment mechanism: it is oxytocin that makes a mother or father attached to their child, binds a woman to her sexual partner, and creates a romantic mood and sexual attachment and a willingness to be faithful to a man. In particular, oxytocin makes married/in love men stay away from attractive women. According to the level of oxytocin in the blood, one can confidently speak about a person’s propensity for fidelity and readiness to become attached in close relationships. It is curious that oxytocin treats autism well: both children and adults with autism, after treatment with oxytocin, became not only more emotional themselves, but also better understand and recognize the emotions of other people. People with high levels of oxytocin live healthier and longer lives, because oxytocin improves the state of the nervous and cardiac systems, plus stimulates the production of endorphins — hormones of happiness.
An analogue of oxytocin — vasopressin, gives approximately the same effect.
Phenylethylamine — the hormone of love: if it «jumped» into us at the sight of an attractive object, a lively sympathy and love attraction light up in us. Phenylethylamine is present in chocolate, sweets and diet drinks, but feeding these products will not help much: to create a state of love, another phenylethylamine is needed, endogenous, that is, secreted by the brain itself. Love potions exist in the tale of Tristan and Isolde or in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but in reality our chemical system jealously guards its exclusive right to control our emotions.
Endorphins are born in a victorious battle and help to forget about the pain. Morphine is the basis of heroin, and endorphin is the short name for endogenous morphine, that is, a drug that is produced by our body itself. In high doses, endorphin, like other opiates, improves mood and triggers euphoria, but it is wrong to call it the “hormone of happiness and joy”: dopamine causes euphoria, and endorphins only contribute to the activity of dopamine. The main action of endorphins is different: it mobilizes our reserves and allows us to forget about the pain.
Conditions for the production of endorphins: a healthy body, serious physical activity, a little chocolate and a feeling of joy. For a fighter, this is a victorious fight on the battlefield. The fact that the wounds of the winners heal faster than the wounds of the vanquished was known in ancient Rome. For an athlete, this is a “second wind” that opens up over a long distance (“runner’s euphoria”) or in a sports competition, when strength seems to be running out, but victory is close. Joyful and long sex is also a source of endorphins, while in men it is triggered more by vigorous physical activity, and in women by a feeling of joy. If women are more active in sex, and men are enthusiastically joyful, the stronger their health and richer experiences will be.
If we consider the action of hormones and neurotransmitters in the process of activity, then it looks a little simplified like this.
- The perception and analysis of information is regulated by norepinephrine. The higher the norepinephrine, the higher the speed of receiving and processing information.
- The emotional reaction to the information received depends on serotonin. The higher the serotonin, the more balanced, adequate, balanced the reactions.
- The generation of options for action is determined by dopamine: the higher its level, the easier and faster a person comes up with various solutions — however, without particularly checking them with criticism.
- Checking with criticism and screening out inadequate options is the work of serotonin.
- But in order to finally make a decision and start acting, you need norepinephrine.
The main thing that is important to know about hormones is that most of them are triggered by the same physical activity that they produce. Read the article again:
In order for a man to increase his masculinity, he needs to start behaving courageously: testosterone triggers healthy aggressiveness, but it is also triggered by martial arts, strength and extreme sports. If a girl often plays a blonde and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen, triggering fears and anxieties.
Oxytocin builds trust and close attachment, but it also triggers the same thing: start trusting your loved ones, say kind words to them, and you will increase your oxytocin levels.
Endorphin helps to overcome pain and gives strength to the almost impossible. What is needed to start this process? Your readiness for physical exertion, the habit of overcoming yourself …
If you want to experience elation and euphoria more often, go somewhere where this behavior is practiced. If you start screaming with delight in the company of people like you, the dopamine that bubbles up in your blood will delight you. The behavior of delight triggers the experience of delight.
A depressed person chooses gray tones, but mood-enhancing serotonin is triggered primarily by bright sunlight. A person in a bad mood stoops and prefers to lock himself in solitude. But just good posture and walking contribute to the production of serotonin, which triggers you to feel joy and happiness. Total: get out of the lair, straighten your back, turn on the bright light, that is, behave like a joyful person behaves, and your body will begin to produce serotonin, the hormone of joy and happiness.
WANT TO CHANGE YOUR CONDITION — START CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR!