happy brain chemicals: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphin
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Happy Brain Chemicals
Loretta G. Breuning, PhD Inner Mammal Institute
Re-wire Yourself to Turn Them on in New Ways
dopamine endorphin oxytocinserotonin
Your happy chemicals are not meant to be on all the time. They spurt when you
see a way to promote your survival.
But our brain defines survivalin a quirky way:
1. it cares about the survival of your genes
2. it relies on neural pathways built in youth
This is how our ancestors wired themselves to survive before there
were schools, or even words
dopamine endorphin oxytocin serotonin
Disappointment triggers cortisol,which leaves you feeling threatenedeven if youdon’tconsciouslythink that
Neurons connect when cortisol flows, which wires you toturn on the alarm when you see things relatedto past pain
1. Blazing a new trail through a jungle of neurons is much harder than flowing down a well-paved highway
2. You feel unsafe when you leave your old highways because they’re what you know about rewards and pain
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Dopamineis the great feeling
that a reward is at hand
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute
Oxytocin is stimulated by
trust & touch, which go together in nature
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Serotoninis the pleasure of social dominance
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Serotoninis not
aggression but a calm sense that
“ I will get the
banana ”
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Endorphin masks pain so you can do whatit takes to survive
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Endorphin is “endogenous morphine”
it’s meant for emergencies,not partying
Serotonin is reabsorbed quickly, which motivates people to seek another social advantage
to stimulate more
Endorphin is “endogenous morphine”
It droops 20 min.
after an injury because painis vital survival info
A droop isnature’s reset button
You return toneutral so you’reready for the nextopportunity tomeet your needs
Dopamine FrustrationDopamine stops once a need is met,
so you have to keep finding new rewards to enjoy it
Oxytocin Frustration
Following the herd is annoying but leaving
the herd for greener pasture feels unsafe
Serotonin Frustration
Your mammal brain cares about your statusas if your life depended on it, so a
status threat feels like a survival threat.
Dopamine suggestion:
Always have• a short-term goal• a long-term goal &• a medium-term goal
so you can always step toward meeting a need right now
Oxytocin suggestion: Build trust in many small steps
Trusting everyone all the time is not a goodsurvival strategy.
Our brain is designed to build trust gradually.
Serotonin suggestion:Enjoy the strengths you have instead of worrying about the strengths of others
Insisting on the one-up position is harmful,but taking the one-down position automatically hurts you too.
It’s not easy to make peace with your mammal brain.
Endorphin suggestion:Laugh
Find what makes you laugh and make time for it, often.
Don’t rush it, fake it,or expect yourself to laugh when others do.
It helps to know that frustrating trade-offsare part of every mammal’s life
• When you step towardgreener pasture (dopamine),you move away from the safety of social bonds (oxytocin).
• When you step towardsocial importance (serotonin) you may get disappointment (cortisol)or a strain on social bonds (oxytocin).
The Inner Mammal Institutehas free resources to help
videospodcastsblogsinfographicstraining certificationslide shows (incl this)5-day Happy-Chemical Jumpstart
www.InnerMammalInstitute.org
Habits of a Happy BrainRetrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin
a fun step-by-step guide by Dr. Loretta Breuning
$10.23 paper, $9.99 e-book
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Dopamine
Dopamine makes you jump for joy when you reach a goal or get a toy. In nature, it helps find food when you need it. “Eureka, I got it!” A memory gets created. Dopamine causes expectations. Correct predictions bring good sensations. Dopamine feels great so you try to get more. It rewarded our ancestors trudging through gore. Cocaine triggers dopamine. Caution to all: Joy without goal-seeking leads to a fall. Dopamine flows when you feel like “I’ve done it.” When others do it for you, your dopamine will shun it.
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Endorphin
Endorphin helps you mask the pain Of injuries that you sustain. Your ancestors escaped from predator attack ‘Cause endorphin felt good while they ran back. Endorphin feels great when it eases your pains. But only real pain makes it flow in your veins. Exercise triggers it, experts alert you. But first you must do it ‘til body parts hurt you. Endorphin receptors let opium in. So you feel like you’re safe without lifting a shin. Laughing and crying can trigger it too. But just for a moment– then the job’s through.
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Oxytocin
Oxytocin makes you trust your mates. We love the bonds that it creates. Oxytocin flows when you stick with the herd. “Not me!” you may say, “I’m no bovine or bird.” But without social bonds, your brain feels alarm. This protected our ancestors from all kinds of harm. Though the herd will annoy you, the pack hurt you so. When you run with a pack, oxytocin will flow. “My pack is great and the other is nuts.” This thinking prevailed since the first mammal struts. You’re above all this foolishness, obviously. But it feels good when I trust you and you trust me.
Loretta Graziano Breuning PhD, Inner Mammal Institute © 2015
Serotonin swells your chest with pride When you get respect and needn’t hide. Your brain feels good when you boost yourself higher. But when others do this, it provokes your ire. “I don’t care about status. It’s other who do.” But you spurt serotonin when the limelight’s on you. You are quite modest and don’t like to boast. But no serotonin flows when you coast. Status doesn’t depend on money. You can be clever or helpful or funny. But when others one-up you, your mind agitates. ‘Cause serotonin droops ‘til you lift your own weights.
Serotonin
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