There are four main hormones (a type of chemical your body makes) that trigger feelings of happiness, and each chemical is connected to specific events or rewards. Understanding these chemicals and how they work can help you figure out even small ways to feel better amid such a stressful time.

Four Main Hormones

The hormone <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326090">dopamine </a>is associated with motivation and reward. It's why you feel gumption when you set an exciting or important goal, and why it feels good to reach that goal. On the flip side, if you have low dopamine (which experts say <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326090#related-conditions">can occur with depression </a>), it can explain feelings of low motivation or loss of interest in something you used to enjoy.

Dopamine

"In the state of nature, it helps an injured animal escape from a predator. It helped our ancestors run for help when injured. Endorphins evolved for survival, not for partying. If you were high on endorphins all the time, you would touch hot stoves and walk on broken legs," Breuning explains.Endorphins are released in response to pain, but that doesn't mean you should seek out ways to cause yourself harm (like by overexercising or pushing yourself beyond your limits) just to feel good.

Endorphins

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood, but it also helps regulate <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin#functions">other functions </a>in your body like digestion, sleep and bone health. When it comes to happiness and how you feel every day, serotonin is important for <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin#functions">reducing depression and regulating anxiety. </a>

Serotonin

<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/love-hormone#motherhood">Oxytocin </a>is sometimes called the "love" hormone and is associated with how people bond and trust each other. Certain activities like kissing, hugging and having sex can trigger the release of oxytocin in the brain.

Oxytocin

There are simple ways to produce more dopamine, serotonin, endorphin and oxytocin. Here's how.

Four Main Hormones

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