How Hormones Affect Us

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 22:18

Hormones and neurotransmitters are biological active substances of organic nature. Entering the bloodstream, they affect the metabolism and other physiological functions in a wide wave, causing a quick and long-term change in the functional state of the body. In a language more familiar to us, they cause us fear and rage, depression and happiness, attraction and affection.

In this article, we will not distinguish between hormones or neurotransmitters, since the difference between them is only in where they are produced: hormones are produced in the endocrine glands, and neurotransmitters are produced in nerve cells. This is important for specialists, but what is it to us?

Basic human hormones

Adrenalin - the hormone of fear and anxiety. The heart goes into the heels, the person turns pale, the reaction is "hit and run". It excels in situations of danger, stress and anxiety. Vigilance, internal mobilization, and anxiety increase. The heart beats violently, the pupils dilate ("the eyes are large from fear"), there is a narrowing of the vessels of the abdominal cavity, skin and mucous membranes; to a lesser extent, it narrows the vessels of the skeletal muscles, but dilates the vessels of the brain. Increases blood clotting (in case of wounds), prepares the body for long-term stress and increased physical activity due to the muscles. Relaxes the intestines (crumpled with fear), shaking hands and jaws.

Norepinephrine - the hormone of hatred, rage, anger and permissiveness. The precursor of adrenaline, is produced in the same situations, the main action is the heart beats and vasoconstriction, but more and more violently and shorter, and the face turns red. Short flash of anger (norepinephrine), then fear (adrenaline). The pupils do not dilate, the vessels of the brain do the same.

Animals determine by smell whether adrenaline or norepinephrine is released. If the adrenaline rush, they recognize the weakling and chase him. If norepinephrine is present, recognize the leader and are ready to obey.

The great commander Julius Caesar made up the best military detachments only from those soldiers who, at the sight of danger, blushed, and did not turn pale.

Joy is different. There is joy, calm and light, which gives us transparent happiness, and there is joy, exuberant, unrestrained, overflowing with pleasures and euphoria. Now, these two different joys make two different hormones. Unbridled joy and euphoria is the dopamine hormone. Joy is light and calm - this is the hormone serotonin.

Dopamine - a hormone of unbridled joy, pleasure and euphoria. Dopamine pushes us to feats, madness, discoveries and accomplishments, a high level of this hormone turns us into quixots and optimists. On the contrary, if we lack dopamine in the body, we become dull hypochondriacs.

Any activity or condition from which we receive (or more precisely, anticipate) sincere joy and delight provokes a powerful release of the hormone dopamine into the blood. We like it, and after a while our brain "asks to repeat". This is how hobbies, habits, favorite places, adored food appear in our life … In addition, dopamine is thrown into the body in stressful situations so that we do not die of fear, shock or pain: dopamine softens pain and helps a person adapt to inhuman conditions. Finally, the hormone dopamine is involved in such important processes as memorization, thinking, regulation of the sleep and wakefulness cycles. Lack of dopamine hormone for any reason leads to depression, obesity, chronic fatigue and dramatically reduces sex drive. The easiest way to release dopamine is to have sex or listen to music that makes you shiver. In general - to do what the very anticipation of which gives you pleasure.

Serotonin - this is self-confidence, a surge of strength and vivacity. If there is a lack of serotonin in the brain, the symptoms of this are bad mood, increased anxiety, fatigue, distraction, lack of interest in the opposite sex, depression, including in the most serious forms. A lack of serotonin is also responsible for those cases when we cannot get the object of adoration out of our head, or, alternatively, we cannot get rid of obsessive or frightening thoughts. If a person increases the level of serotonin, his depression disappears, he ceases to cycle on unpleasant experiences, and a good mood, joy of life, a surge of strength and vigor, activity, attraction to the opposite sex quickly come to the place of problems.

Testosterone is the hormone of masculinity and sex drive. Testosterone triggers male forms of sexual behavior: the most obvious differences between M and W, such as aggressiveness, propensity to take risks, dominance, energy, self-confidence, impatience, desire to compete, are determined primarily by the level of testosterone in the blood. Men become "roosters", easily flaring up with anger and showing pugnaciousness. Increasing testosterone levels improves intelligence and whips up empathy.

Estrogen is the hormone of femininity. Influence on character: fears, pity, empathy, affection for babies, crybaby. Estrogen develops in F the attraction to the dominant male, strong and experienced, recognized in society, and gives a number of other advantages: it improves coordination and accuracy of movements (F is better than M copes with tasks that require quick skillful movements), enhances language abilities. If, during fetal development, a boy is exposed to abnormally high levels of estrogen, he will end up in a male body, but with a female brain, and grow up to be peaceful, sensitive, feminine.

Can I change my testosterone level on my own? Yes. If a man practices martial arts, strength and extreme sports, more often allows himself anger, his body increases the generation of testosterone. If a girl plays a blonde more often and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen.

Oxytocin - hormone of trust and affection. An increase in the level of oxytocin in the blood causes a feeling of satisfaction in a person, a decrease in fears and anxieties, a feeling of trust and calmness next to a partner: a person who was perceived as a mentally close person. At the physiological level, oxytocin triggers the attachment mechanism: it is oxytocin that makes a mother or father attached to her child, binds a woman to her sexual partner, and creates a romantic mood and sexual attachment and a willingness to be faithful to a man. In particular, oxytocin causes married / loving men to stay away from outside attractive women. According to the level of oxytocin in the blood, one can confidently speak of a person's tendency to fidelity and readiness to become attached in close relationships. Curiously, oxytocin cures autism well: both children and adults with autism, after treatment with oxytocin, became not only more emotional themselves, but also better understand and recognize the emotions of other people. People with high levels of oxytocin live healthier and longer lives, because oxytocin improves the state of the nervous and heart systems, plus stimulates the production of endorphins - hormones of happiness.

An analogue of oxytocin, vasopressin, has approximately the same effect.

Phenylethylamine - the hormone of love: if at the sight of an attractive object it "leaps" in us, a lively sympathy and love attraction will light up in us. Phenylethylamine is present in chocolate, sweets and diet drinks, but feeding these foods will help little: to create a state of love, another phenylethylamine is needed, endogenous, that is, secreted by the brain itself. Love drinks exist in the tale of Tristan and Isolde or in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, in reality, our chemical system jealously guards its exclusive right to control our emotions.

Endorphins are born in a victorious battle and help to forget about pain. Morphine is the basis of heroin, and endorphin is an abbreviation for endogenous morphine, that is, a drug that is produced in our own body. In large doses, endorphin, like other opiates, raises mood and triggers euphoria, but it is incorrect to call it the "hormone of happiness and joy": dopamine causes euphoria, and endorphins only promote dopamine activity. The main action of endorphins is different: it mobilizes our reserves and allows us to forget about pain.

The conditions for the production of endorphins: a healthy body, serious physical activity, a little chocolate and a feeling of joy. For a fighter, this is a victorious battle on the battlefield. The fact that the wounds of the victors heal faster than the wounds of the vanquished was known even in ancient Rome. For an athlete, this is a "second wind" that opens over a long distance ("runner's euphoria") or in a sports competition, when strength seems to be running out, but victory is close. Joyful and long sex is also a source of endorphins, while in men it is triggered to a greater extent by vigorous physical activity, and in women it is triggered by a feeling of joy. If women are more active in sex, and men are enthusiastically happier, the stronger their health and richer experiences will be.

If we consider the action of hormones and neurotransmitters in the process of activity, then a little simplified it looks like this.

• The perception and analysis of information is regulated by norepinephrine. The higher the norepinephrine, the higher the rate of reception and processing of information.
• The emotional response to the information received depends on serotonin. The higher the serotonin, the more balanced, adequate and balanced reactions.
• The generation of options for action is determined by dopamine: the higher its level, the easier and faster a person comes up with various options for solutions - however, not particularly testing them with criticism.
• Testing with criticism and filtering out inadequate options is the job of serotonin.
• But in order to finally make a decision and take action, you need norepinephrine.

The main thing that is important to know about hormones is that most of them are triggered by the same physical activity that they produce. Read the article again:

• In order for a man to increase his masculinity, he needs to start behaving courageously: testosterone triggers healthy aggressiveness, but it is also triggered by martial arts, strength and extreme sports. If a girl plays a blonde more often and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen, which triggers fears and anxieties.
• Oxytocin builds trust and close affection, but at the same time it is triggered in the same way: start trusting your loved ones, say warm words to them, and you will increase your oxytocin level.
• Endorphin helps to overcome pain and gives strength to the almost impossible. What does it take to start this process? Your readiness for physical activity, the habit of overcoming yourself …

If you want to be more elated and euphoric, go where this behavior is practiced. Start screaming with delight in the company of people like you - the dopamine boiling in your blood will delight you. The delightful behavior triggers the delight experience.

A depressed person chooses gray tones, but mood-enhancing serotonin is triggered primarily by bright sunlight. A person in a bad mood slouches and prefers to lock himself in alone. But it’s just good posture and walking that contribute to the production of serotonin, which triggers feelings of joy and happiness in you. Total: get out of the den, straighten your back, turn on a bright light, that is, behave like a joyful person behaves, and your body will begin to produce serotonin, the hormone of joy and happiness.