~Hacking Happiness~ Boost Your Mood Through Science
Boost your mood through science! By understanding what contributes to our happiness and mental health on a chemical level we can “hack” our brains to maximize our happiness!
Here are the four main chemicals that contribute to happiness and activities that can help trigger their release!
1. Dopamine - aka the feel-good neurotransmitter that is responsible for our feeling of pleasure and satisfaction
Eating foods we crave
Completing a task
Engaging in self-care activities
Listening to music
2. Serotonin - aka the mood stabilizer that helps to making our mood, happiness, and anxiety
Walking in nature
Getting a good night's sleep
Cycling and swimming
Meditating
3. Oxytocin - aka the love hormone
Giving someone a hug
Playing with a dog
Giving a compliment
4. Endorphin - aka the pain killer hormone that also helps promote a feeling of well-being
Drinking wine
Eating chocolate or chili peppers
Exercise
Meditations
We can enhance our lives and boost our moods by understanding why we feel the way we do. Beyond these ways to trigger these chemicals, neurofeedback helps in meditation and mindfulness which contributes to the release of both endorphins and serotonin. NeurofeedbackSF is all about creating a hormonal balance to optimize your mental and physical health.