What makes us happy? When asked this question, people, activities, and things may come to mind, but what goes on inside your brain for that feeling? In the body, neurotransmitters are responsible for many different important things. They are signaling molecules that allow neurons (cells that make up your nervous system) to communicate with each other. Things like heart rate, digestion, mood, muscle movement breathing, and pain are all mediated by neurotransmitters. So what neurotransmitters are responsible for happiness?
Dopamine
Dopamine is a big part of how we feel pleasure, which is secreted from the hypothalamus. Dopamine is also responsible for our interests, impulses, learning, mood, kidney function, blood vessel function, and movement. Dopamine is released when we are expecting a reward, so doing things like exercise, sex, using certain drugs, and doing activities you enjoy can release dopamine. Yet too little or too much of it can be dangerous for one's physical and mental health. For example, excess dopamine has been shown to lead to schizophrenia and mania. On the other hand, a deficiency in it can be a cause of disorders like ADHD, depression, and Parkinson's disease.
Serotonin
Another well-known chemical responsible for happiness is serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning, memory, happiness, sleep, and hunger. Most of the serotonin is found in your gut since most of it is gained through foods but the rest is produced in the brainstem. Serotonin is known for stabilizing mood and reducing anxiety. A lack of serotonin can cause a number of problems like sleep problems, digestive issues, and anxiety, and what it is most known for is depression. SSRIs are the most common class of drugs for treating depression and low serotonin levels. Yet taking too much of a drug that increases serotonin can be dangerous, which is called serotonin syndrome. This can be fatal so be careful when taking medication. Be on the outlook for common symptoms like sweating, restlessness, nausea, confusion, and muscle twitches if taking an SSRI.
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