CrossFit GBAR3 WOD 11.14.22

D.O.S.E. – The Happy Brain Chemicals that Make You Feel Good

The Benefits of Happiness

Improved overall health
- improved heart health and lower risk of heart disease
- the ability to combat the stress hormone cortisol
- stronger immune system so you’re less like to get sick
- a healthier lifestyle such as physical activity and sleep habits
- can help reduce aches and pain of those with chronic conditions
- increase life longevity
Improved creativity and problem-solving skills
Benefiting the community through involvement with charities
Having more positive relationships with those around you
Being able to enjoy life more and get through life challenges easier
Being happy with what you have

What are the Happiness Chemicals

When you feel good, your brain is releasing one of the happiness chemicals or happy hormones. There are four main happiness brain chemicals:

Dopamine
Oxytocin
Serotonin
Endorphins

Each chemical has a job to do and when your brain releases one of these chemicals, you feel good. It would be great if they all surged all the time. However, it does not work this way. Once the chemical has done its job, it will turn off, leaving you with a desire for more. By understanding how these chemicals work, we can better improve our overall happiness by tapping into each of the four happiness chemicals.

1. DOPAMINE

Dopamine enables motivation, learning, and pleasure. It gives you the determination to accomplish goals, desires, and needs.

It’s similar to the, “I got it” feeling when you accomplish something. Once you achieve those goals, desires, or needs, dopamine gives a surge of reinforcing pleasure.

However, the overstimulation of dopamine can become a real problem because of its addictive nature. It is closely tied to developing bad habits or addictions.

The effects of dopamine are fleeting due to its instant gratification feeling, which leaves you desiring more.

How Dopamine Deficiency Affects You

Procrastination
Low self-esteem
Lack of motivation or enthusiasm
Low energy or fatigue
Inability to focus
Feeling anxious
Feeling hopeless
Mood swings

How to Increase Dopamine Levels Naturally

Meditate regularly (increases dopamine by 65%)
Make a daily to-do list & long term goals (each time you tick off a task or goal you increase dopamine levels)
Eat foods that are rich in L-Tyrosine (avocados, fish, eggs, cheese, banana, and pumpkin seeds)
Exercise regularly (whichever form of exercise you enjoy the most will give you the most increase in dopamine levels)
Create something such as writing, music, art & crafts (“if I create something, I am also creating dopamine”)