Welcome to the “Happiness Hormones” 4-part series here and on my podcast, Positively Anti-Inflammatory. We're kicking off the series with Dopamine.
What is dopamine and what does it do?
Dopamine, known as the “reward chemical,” is a neurotransmitter that acts as a hormone and is released when you do something enjoyable or beneficial. Dopamine plays an essential motivational role in the brain's reward system. For example, when you feel good about something you achieved, you’ve had a surge of dopamine. Dopamine also gives you the determination to accomplish your goals.
Dopamine deficiency symptoms include
Anger problems
Low self-esteem
Unmotivated
Fatigue
Lack of focus
GI issues such as chronic constipation
Moodiness
Difficulty sleeping
Uninterested in sex
Low dopamine levels are linked to
Depression
Restless leg syndrome
Schizophrenia
ADHD
Parkinson's disease
What causes dopamine deficiency?
A number of factors such as underlying medical conditions, poor diet, obesity, substance abuse, and lack of sleep.
How to boost dopamine naturally
Engage in daily self-care activities
Good, consistent sleep
Exercise regularly
Eat foods rich in tyrosine such as poultry, lamb, beef, eggs, salmon, sardines, mackerel, avocados, bananas, pumpkin & sesame seeds
Apply stress relief techniques such as meditation, visualization, and intentional breathing
Listen to music
Do something creative
Achieve a goal or complete a task
Celebrate little wins
Feel gratitude for small moments
Perform acts of kindness
What’s the takeaway?
Dopamine drives your brain’s reward chemical and is released every time you do something pleasurable and after you reach a goal, no matter how small.
When you achieve goals on a regular basis, the neural pathways in your brain strengthen and that dopamine hit becomes stronger.
So, the key is to set small achievable daily goals.
This is what I help my clients do: set realistic, achievable goals and then follow-through to see progress and results.
It’s about progress over perfection, and recognizing that baby steps support long-term behavior change, steadily bringing you closer to your bigger life goals.
What’s one thing you can do this week to boost your dopamine?
Love, Your Wellness Coach,
Alyssa
P.S.Listen to podcast episode 124, “Dopamine: Happiness Hormones Part 1.”
May 10, 2023