Studies suggested that some released hormones (Cortisol, Adrenaline, Oxitocin) have a fundamental role in happiness and mood regulation.
Cortisol levels rise during stress, and thus cortisol is sometimes found to be associated with negative affect (Smyth et al., 1998). Also, individuals with excessive cortisol secretion, i.e., Cushing's Syndrome, often have depressed mood, which normalizes when their elevated cortisol is treated (Haskett, 1985).
When it comes to happiness, in particular, the primary signaling chemicals include: Serotonin. Dopamine. Endorphins.
What are the four feel-good hormones? Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin.
Serotonin. Serotonin is another hormone that affects mood, appetite and sleep. It is also a neurotransmitter, which means that it transmits messages between nerve cells. Fewer hours of sunlight means that less serotonin is produced. If you have SAD, your serotonin levels may be lower than average during the winter.
Results: Testosterone has a primary role in controlling and synchronizing male sexual desire and arousal, acting at multiple levels.
Accordingly, the elevated cortisol induced by stress increases serotonin uptake, under both rest and nerve stimulation, which is overtly expressed in symptoms of depression.
Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation.
Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including: Regulating your body's stress response. Helping control your body's use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism.
Getting enough sleep, exercising, listening to music, meditating, and spending time in the sun can all boost dopamine levels. Overall, a balanced diet and lifestyle can go a long way in increasing your body's natural production of dopamine and helping your brain function at its best.
The following fruits had a high serotonin concentration (mean +/- SEM) expressed in micrograms/g weight: plantain 30.3 +/- 7.5; pineapple 17.0 +/- 5.1; banana 15.0 +/- 2.4; Kiwi fruit 5.8 +/- 0.9; plums 4.7 +/- 0.8; and tomatoes 3.2 +/- 0.6.
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has special importance as a precursor of serotonin and tryptophan and can also play a role in behavior and mood.
Serotonin helps regulate the body's internal clock, including the ability to feel sleepy, remain asleep, enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and wake in the morning. People with chronic insomnia, unusual sleep patterns, chronic fatigue, or consistently vivid dreams may have serotonin deficiency.
Causes of low serotonin
genetic factors. age-related health and brain changes. chronic stress. a lack of exposure to natural light.
Masturbation and hormones
Although masturbation can cause changes in hormone levels, these changes are minimal. Testosterone levels rise during masturbation and return to normal after ejaculation. The effect is temporary and does not appear to have any long-term health implications.
T3 is the most broadly used thyroid hormone for treatment of depression, in contrast to in endocrine patients where T4 is routinely used for thyroid replacement therapy17 In early studies, T3 was used as monotherapy for the treatment of depressed patients.
The "serotonin hypothesis" suggested that low levels of this neurotransmitter were linked to depression. The idea was that increasing serotonin levels could help improve mood and relieve symptoms of depression.
As the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol surges when we perceive danger, and causes all the symptoms we associate with “fight or flight”—increased blood pressure and heart rate, muscle tension, and the digestive system slamming to a halt, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
With adrenal insufficiency, not being able to increase the amount of cortisol made as a result of stress can lead to an addisonian crisis. An addisonian crisis is a life-threatening situation that results in low blood pressure, low blood levels of sugar and high blood levels of potassium.
Get Your Cortisol Rhythm Back on Track
But the biggest culprits on the list are sleep insufficiency, chronic stress, circadian misalignment, high-intensity exercise or overtraining and certain medical conditions like Cushing's disease.