Raise your Happy Hormones!
“Misery might love company, but so does joy. And joy throws much better parties.”
~ Billy Tvey
I celebrated a milestone birthday at the cabin this year. For the previous 2 decades, I’ve traditionally had friends and family pitch tents on our beautiful oceanfront lawn for a weekend of fun. Two members of “All the Kings Men”, a local group of fabulous music artists, came again this year and played the night away.
~ 10 years prior they came to entertain us, when I bravely performed a few belly dance routines, with my dance partner and another fabulous dancer from a troupe I was with. It was a fun-filled night where many family and friends entertained us including a few spectacular impromptu vocal performances that took us deep into the wee hours of the night.
~ 20 years ago, my guests lounged in a circle on the front lawn under the midnight stars appointing one of our special close friends, who is now sadly no longer with us, with the name “North Star”, while I blushed over risqué lingerie gifts that my first cousin and family teased me with when I opened them in front of everyone. The belly laughter we all shared together was intoxicating!
I became a bit downhearted this year when 2/3rds of our off island guestlist decided not to come. Granted we are getting older, and tenting isn’t as appealing to people who’ve begun to ache and hurt. Besides the aging factor, being creatures of habit, and adjusting for the last 2+ previous years to isolation seems to have caused many people to feel nervous about returning to socializing like they once did before we had to endure global restrictions.
At the clinic, we see many more clients anxious and depressed, who are finding it hard to move forward when it comes to re-joining a community. Many are over-stimulated when they try to return to their pre-pandemic routines and settings. Even though restrictions have eased, we’ve got used to our survival behaviours, and are more mindful about the viral predators that can circulate out in larger social settings.
In addition, as we age, we need to be more cautious about exposing ourselves to others who are younger and more resilient, particularly now that flu season has begun. Continuing to isolate ourselves like this can create a great deal of anxiety and depression for some. These types of negative mindsets lead to energy imbalances that further tear down our immune systems leaving us vulnerable to illness. It’s vital that we keep our emotional wellbeing in check.
The average human brain contains 86 billion neurons that communicate with each other through neurotransmitters. When our brains release dopamine, it gives us feelings of pleasure and happiness. These emotions can help motivate us to carry out essential tasks. Not having enough dopamine can negatively affect your mood, focus, coordination, motivation, and enthusiasm for things that normally bring you joy.
It’s time to start looking at what we are thinking and making a healthy mindset a priority in our lives!
Raise your happy hormones
Get sufficient sleep regularly.
Lack of sleep disrupts our natural rhythm and can interfere with our dopamine balance. Having regular waking and sleeping times is important for our minds.
Minimize noise, use blackout curtains, avoid electronic devices before bed, and eliminate caffeine during the afternoon and evening.
Listening to music - improves your mood.
When I have clients come in for their private Energy Medicine session and I play Solfeggio frequency music in the background. This music is embedded with frequencies that nurture your mind. The most elemental state of vibration is that of sound.
Everything has an optimum range of vibration (frequency), and that rate is called resonance. When we are in resonance, we are balanced. These frequencies have a specific healing effect on your subconscious mind.
Minimize stress. If you do suffer from chronic stress, learning coping mechanisms is essential in preventing other health conditions later. Eden Method has effective stress management techniques that can help you relax your body, allowing it to produce more dopamine. Try this Vagus Nerve Exercise before you eat if you have a worried stomach, are feeling anxious, or are overwhelmed.
Exercise helps to boost both endorphin & dopamine levels.
Do something that focuses the mind on self-care such as participating in a Pilates class, going for a walk, or meeting friends and family for a swim.
My family loves to meet Sunday mornings for a swim at our community health centre. It has hot tubs, cold plunges, steam rooms, sauna rooms, and numerous swimming lanes.
Taking a cold shower, cold water plunge, or swimming increases dopamine by up to 250%!
Create your own Energy Routine.
I wake up daily and do an energy hygiene routine that I’ve created for myself from my many years of studying Energy Medicine. Donna Eden’s 5-minute “Daily Energy Routine” is a priceless gift to this world as it helps to maintain our 9 Energy Systems contributing to our mental well-being.
I place special focus on my Radiant Circuits, also known as our joy circuits if I’m feeling grumpy, upset, or overworked. One of the simplest ways to activate all of the Radian Circuits is by practicing the Trace 9 Hearts exercise.
Practice mindfulness through meditation, deep breathing, etc.
The practice of clearing your mind, focusing inward, and letting your thoughts float without judgement or attachment increases your dopamine levels. Every morning I have a bath where I meditate on “what does my soul want to tell me today”. We are capable of tapping into a larger field of inspiration and guidance that can make us feel supported and nourished.
Eat Healthfully.
Limit your intake of processed foods and saturated fats, which can disrupt the dopamine signaling in your brain.
Foods that increase dopamine levels include - almonds, apples, bananas, oranges, avocados, beets, chocolate, green leafy vegetables, green tea, lima beans, oatmeal, peas, sesame and pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, turmeric, watermelon, wheat germ, nuts, berries, and foods that contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids such as fish and sea vegetables.
Increasing tyrosine and other amino acids can raise dopamine levels in the brain. Tyrosine can be found in foods such as turkey, chicken, beef, salmon, eggs, dairy, soy, and legumes.
Consume probiotics.
Probiotics are living organisms that help grow healthy bacteria in the gut.
The gut and brain are closely related, and certain bacteria can produce dopamine, thereby lifting your mood, and reducing anxiety and depression symptoms.
Foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, tempeh, sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha, and kimchi.
Get enough sunlight & vitamin D.
Low sunshine exposure can reduce levels of your mood-boosting neurotransmitters. If you are living above the 49th parallel, from September to May you are likely not getting enough sun, or the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D. Vitamin D along with other supplements that increase dopamine levels include, Tyrosine, L-theanine, B complex (B3, B5, B6), Omega 3’s, and Magnesium. A deficiency of magnesium, iron, and folate can cause you to not make enough dopamine.
When life gets too busy and the stress starts getting the best of me, I like to take some of the mood root Ashwagandha that helps to balance the stress hormones, reduce PMS, and help improve sleep.
DoING anything that gives you pleasure triggers the release of dopamine.
Engage in activities that make you happy or feel relaxed. Dancing, cooking, sex, shopping, meditation, yoga, massage, playing sports, playing with a pet, hugging, tickling, being in nature, reading a book, learning new things, and accomplishments at home or work activates the reward pathway in the brain and can trigger higher levels of dopamine, leading one to desire these activities more.
Reduce your addictions.
We succumb to nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and fatty snacks because they produce a rush of dopamine. Learning how to reduce our addictions in a healthier way can prevent us from using harmful ways to self-medicate in an effort to make our happy hormones.
“I’ve chosen to be happy because it’s good for my health.”
~ Voltaire ~
Love Becca 💙