Happy DOSE was written on the whiteboard and the presenter went on to explain what she meant. Happy Dose is a term she wanted us to remember to help us stay healthy. DOSE means Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins. I will try to impart the wisdom the young lady gave us in a very interesting two-hour presentation that I was fortunate enough to go to at the Tri-Cities Senior Planning Valentine Event. The chemicals work hard to help us stay healthy. Her position is that our body moves naturally toward healing and we need a healthy DOSE of these chemicals every day to keep us healthy and positive. My notes on the information is quite long so, today, I will highlight the first two hormones Dopamine, and Oxytocin. My next post will focus on the last Two Serotonin and Endorphins.
When we do something, we like we create a chemical messenger called Dopamine, which is a type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it and releases it when we eat food that we crave or while we have sex, contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction as part of the reward system.
Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It’s a big part of our uniquely human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting.
The presenter went on that if we want to increase the amount of Dopamine there are a few things we can do, the first is to Move and to exercise. She talked about the Coquitlam Grind that she goes on every day to improve mood and may boost her dopamine levels. She also told us that studies on music and the creation of Dopamine have shown an increase in Dopamine due to melodic music. Finally, she said that a lack of sleep can reduce dopamine sensitivity in the brain, resulting in excessive feelings of sleepiness. Getting a good night’s rest may help regulate your body’s natural dopamine rhythms.
She then went on to talk about the hug drug. This is another chemical we produce that helps us stay healthy and happy. Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and is secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland. Secretion depends on the electrical activity of neurons in the hypothalamus – it is released into the blood when these cells are excited.
In the brain, oxytocin acts as a chemical messenger and has been shown to be important in human behaviours including sexual arousal, recognition, trust, anxiety and mother-infant bonding. As a result, scientists call oxytocin the ‘love hormone’ or ‘cuddle chemical’. So if we give someone a hug, we release oxytocin into our bodies. Oxytocin is controlled by a positive feedback mechanism where the release of the hormone causes an action that stimulates more of its own release, the longer you hug the more Oxytocin released.
In 2012, researchers found that people in the first stages of romantic attachment had higher levels of oxytocin, compared with non-attached single people. These levels persisted for at least 6 months.
Brain oxytocin also appears to reduce stress responses, including anxiety. The presenter went on to talk about the ways she recommends that might raise oxytocin in our bodies. I have listed my top five.
Listen with your eyes. Instead of being glued to an electronic device, give the person with you your complete attention. Watch their face and listen to what he or she is telling you.
Share a meal. Eating moderately is calming and helps us bond with others. Including a glass of wine is fine, too. You can increase the effect by following #9 and making the meal you share a gift.
Use social media. OK, you are doing this anyway. Just don’t forget to see your Facebook friends in person, too.
Pet a dog. This doesn’t always work unless the dog belongs to you, but if you identify as a “dog person,” any old dog will raise your oxytocin. The dog won’t complain, either. And once your oxytocin is up, you’ll connect better to the humans around you, too.
Tell those around you that you love them. Oxytocin is the love molecule so it is part of our evolved biology to love others (both “philia” and “Eros”). You’ve got to put it out there to get it back. With friends, too, and maybe even at work.
Eight hugs a day. We have shown that touch not only raises oxytocin, but it reduces cardiovascular stress and can improve the immune system, too. Try telling people that you hug rather than shake hands and see what happens when you give others the gift of oxytocin.