By How we feel is influenced by different factors and variables. However, hormones are always in the middle. They are the protagonists when we feel bad, but also when we feel good.
The human being is a complex system, influenced in turn by many other systems . Systemic psychology takes into account each of the institutions that a person is part of as a system: the family, the couple, the work team, the group of friends, etc. On the other hand, different systems coexist in the body: the nervous, the digestive, the respiratory, the endocrine, among others.
We see here how the changes that occur are the product of the interaction of systems. Everything that happens inside us influences what we do, feel and think, and vice versa. In this article in particular we will focus on how hormones relate to emotions.
The endocrine system
The endocrine system is defined as the set of organs, glands and tissues that secrete a type of substances called hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that modulate the body’s functions .
They are released into the bloodstream and travel to different organs and cells to regulate metabolism, growth, behavior, reproduction, sexuality and even our mood . As we can see, they play a very significant role in our lives, even though we generally do not realize it.
The hormones with the greatest influence on emotions
These chemicals influence how we act and how we feel emotionally: they can stimulate us, inhibit us, make us feel happy, stressed, sad or excited.
1. Dopamine
Dopamine is a molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing an important role in psychological vectors such as pleasure or motivation. On the other hand, it is released in very large quantities in particularly intense emotional moments. In addition, it is released in situations that we find pleasurable and in some way encourages us to repeat them .
Let’s imagine that a person really enjoys high-fat foods. What dopamine does in this case is strengthen the synapse that associates chocolate cake with the feeling of pleasure, which will make the chocolate cake become a reinforcement in itself. Thus, we will seek it indirectly, by earning money to be able to buy it, or directly, by buying it.
Excess of this hormone can generate a side effect because it is linked to addictive behaviors such as drug use, the impulsive tendency to buy, eating unhealthy foods or gambling. These behaviors or substances overstimulate the reward circuit that ends up producing adverse effects, making us no longer feel as much pleasure.
2. Endorphins
Endorphins are protein chains produced by the body itself that provide us with states of euphoria and well-being, while reducing the perception of physical and emotional pain . Chemically , they are similar to morphine and codeine because they help reduce discomfort.
They are secreted when we laugh out loud, do intense physical exercise, have sex, listen to music or eat foods with good fats such as dark chocolate, salmon, avocado or nuts.
3. Cortisol
We are talking about the stress hormone. The hypothalamus controls cortisol , which comes into play in the face of tense or threatening events to help us cope with them. Thanks to it, we can react adaptively to situations that could suggest a risk to our physical or emotional integrity.
Stress in certain doses and frequencies is positive because it allows us to have an extra dose of energy in a short period of time to ensure our survival. It is key to our daily activation: it helps us to be alert to think, work and move our body.
The problem arises when cortisol is secreted permanently. In this case, we are likely to end up developing insomnia, chronic stress or some anxiety disorder, since the state of alert remains constant and it seems that we are always running away from problems and worries.
4. Serotonin
Serotonin plays a very important role in regulating mood and emotional states . When the levels of this hormone increase, our body experiences satisfactory sensations of well-being. For this reason, a large part of the intervention proposed to combat depression is to increase the levels of this hormone in the intersynaptic spaces.
In turn, this hormone regulates the sleep cycle, digestion, body temperature, inhibits aggressive behavior and impacts sexual desire. Petting a pet, exposing yourself to the sun, getting a good night’s sleep , practicing yoga or relaxation techniques are some of the activities that increase serotonin levels and make us feel happier.
5. Oxytocin
Oxytocin is an oligopeptide composed of nine amino acids that play an essential role in health and well-being. It is released through contact with our loved ones . It increases feelings of love and trust in interpersonal relationships.
It is the hormone that induces labor, as it stimulates uterine contractions and helps distend the cervix. It reduces blood pressure and increases the pain tolerance threshold. In turn, it promotes breastfeeding, child rearing, and care.
It has a lot to do with empathy and reflecting on what happens to others. In contrast to cortisol, which makes us less empathetic due to a high level of irritability, oxytocin helps us put ourselves in the other person’s shoes .
Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that an emotional imbalance can hide a hormonal imbalance that can be treated by first consulting doctors specialized in endocrinology who can evaluate the state of our hormones.