Steve Buss 2nd November 2018
Humans have developed a novel relationship with “happy hormones” in recent years, this century in particular. Many people being totally out of sync with their bodies’ chemistry, causing imbalances that leads to anxiety, restlessness, and ultimately severe depression in some cases. Naturally, if you are in a stressful job that you don’t enjoy; these feelings are massively compounded and will almost certainly trigger an unpleasantly high level of cortisol release.
In some instances, these imbalances cannot be helped as they have not been triggered or enflamed by the individuals’ lifestyle. Many people will seek a quick fix rather than addressing the route cause of the discomfort they may be experiencing – after all, it’s the Western way.
Serotonin & Dopamine are naturally secreted neurotransmitters that our bodies release as a reward for undertaking activities that encourage the survival of the human race. Sounds like a pretty basic formula, I know; but exercise, sex, sleep & eating are the foundations, pillars even, of natural secretions of these hormones, which should be the first point of discussion and exploration before encouraging dependency on an artificial substitute, as this can totally inhibit future natural releasing, much to the joy of big Pharmaceutical companies.
Let’s explore a little further.
When people become “addicted” (and I use that phrase tongue-in-cheek) to food, exercise or sex; it is not the act itself that they are seeking, it is the feeling of accomplishment & happiness, that comes as a result of these neurotransmitters flooding the body during and afterwards. And this works both ways – if you’re receiving a reward for these acts, each time you execute them; it will provide feelings of motivation, accomplishment & control – you will undoubtedly feel able to get more done with your day and will be more engaged with your day to day life.
So; what’s the secret? Well; work on these basic cornerstones and understand the physiology of your body, before looking for a solution elsewhere. And also… find a job that you love, if you don’t have one already (if you’re a developer; I can help with that).
By: Rob Maguire
This is my first blog post and if anyone would like to discuss further, ask any questions, or like/share, please feel free! I will be writing monthly pieces about various topics going forward, including more on mindfulness, health & personal growth.
DISCLAIMER – ‘eating’ does mean eating nutritious and wholesome food, not just whatever you can find 🙂
