Do Your Hormones Affect Your Happiness?

A person’s happiness can absolutely be affected by a great many things, including the balance of their hormones. If the levels of certain hormones are low someone could feel sluggish, irritable, or just down in the dumps. There are several contributing factors responsible for lowering and raising the levels of these hormones.

Dopamine and serotonin are hormones that have a direct effect on a person’s mood and the feeling of happiness. If feeling happy seems like a thing of the past or you’re battling with depression, it could be due to one or more hormone levels not being what they should be.

There are ways to correct hormone levels, so no need to panic just yet. In some cases, it can be as easy as just getting out and enjoying the sunshine. It’s true! You may have noticed that during the autumn and winter seasons people seem to be a little more depressed or just not as happy as they are during the seasons which offer more sunlight.

Getting outside in the sunshine and becoming more active helps in boosting your serotonin production. Go out and enjoy a walk or take the kids to the park on a sunny day.

A Word of Praise Goes a Long Way

Being praised either by a co-worker, boss, or a loved one can boost the level of dopamine we naturally produce. Everyone wants to hear they did a good job or that the dinner they prepared was great. Think about it. How do you feel after receiving a compliment?

It most likely puts a smile on your face and your level of happiness rises. Everyone wants to be happy and people often go out of their way to find things that contribute to the boost of their dopamine levels.

Did you realize that people in healthy relationships and individuals in new relationships have increased levels of dopamine? The trick is to keep the trend constant. For example, when you first enter a relationship you probably feel happy much of the time, you look forward to the future, and you’re excited to spend time with the other person.

This is due to the newness; the honeymoon stage is in full effect. However, over time, the newness wears off and couples often find themselves in a boring, predictable rut. People start to feel not so happy about the exact things which made them the happiest.

If you need a boost of dopamine, you’ve got to keep the spark alive. Dole out some compliments and watch how things turn around. The result could be great for both of you.

It Could Be a Medical Issue

The serotonin hormone is one of the major players in controlling your mood. It has several other important functions, including regulating sleep and appetite, as well. In some cases, the thyroid could be the culprit for feeling down. People with thyroid issues sometimes become despondent and the things that once brought them the most enjoyment or happiness now seem lackluster and dull.

If your thyroid is not functioning properly it can cause hypo- or hyperthyroidism, which, in the most basic terms, is when your thyroid hormone levels are too little or too much. It can have an effect to the point of suicidal thoughts, which is why diagnosing the issue and proper treatment is imperative. More often than not the problem can be resolved with medication, although sometimes more invasive testing and treatment might be necessary.

Remember to Pay Attention

It’s safe to say that in general, people really do want to be happy. Humans are social creatures and depend upon one another to live a fulfilling, meaningful life.You might not even be aware you aren’t truly happy, so it’s important to pay close attention to yourself and to other people's responses and reactions to you.

Don’t stop at just noticing unhappiness but also find the underlying contributor.
It can be as simple as needing to hear more praise or it could be a little more complicated and require the medical professionals to put their extensive training to work.

If you feel that you or someone you know might be dealing with a hormonal imbalance, don’t ignore it! Talk about it and do your best to be part of the solution. Sometimes, it’s simply offering an overdue “well done!” or getting outside for a boost of vitamin D. Whatever the cause, make the necessary steps to help yourself and those around you live a happier, more emotionally balanced life!