Did you know that we have chemicals in our brain that make us feel good? One of the most important is Dopamine (also known as the ‘feel good chemical’). Having reduced levels of dopamine can lead to adverse effects of depression and negativity.
But don’t worry, there are natural ways to increase your dopamine so you can experience a more constant level of happiness.
Best of all, the following techniques don’t involve medications:
1. Exercise.
Exercise can boost your levels of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which will not only strengthen your muscles but will help reduce your stress. The best bit? It works with any kind of exercise – just as long as you get moving!
2. Avoid Addictions.
While addictions may provide an instant boost of pleasure, it isn’t long-lasting. What eventually happens is that your base levels of dopamine will actually decrease and you will need your addiction more often. Therefore, it can beneficial to avoid addictions and focus on things that give you calm and peace.
3. Detoxification.
Toxins and unhealthy bacteria can halt your body producing dopamine, so make sure to consistently detoxify your body.
4. An increase of Tyrosine.
This amino acid is one of the most important for the production of dopamine. Make sure to consume almonds, bananas, dark chocolate and green tea.
5. Music
Music actually increases your feel-good chemicals, so make sure to regularly listen to music you enjoy.
6. Organize your life.
When you complete a goal, dopamine levels are increased. Therefore, write down your tasks, even small ones, and tick them off once you complete them. Every time you finish a task, you’ll experience a small rush of dopamine for completing your goal.
7. Creativity.
Being creative releases dopamine. The great thing is creativity can be found in a whole range of tasks from writing to singing to dancing.
8. Get a streak going.
This is a visual display of the number of times you achieve something. Again, by displaying things you achieve, your brain will recognize that you’re completing goals which will increase dopamine.
9. Supplementation.
These are the supplements that can boost dopamine levels:
Curcumin – found in turmeric
Ginkgo Biloba
Acetyl-l-tyrosine
L-theanine, which is found in green tea.
10. Meditation.
This works differently compared to exercise. It will make you more calm and relaxed, which will enable you to reduce stress.
Its not realistic to market techniques to ‘never feel stress again . Stress is normal, as is sadness and other negative emotions and any system promoting good health should be clear about that. The trick is learning to deal with them, which the techniques listed are useful for
Jean-francois Levesque
Meditation can raise the levels .
If you can raise your consciousness to christconsciousness then you immediately leave all anxiety and depression behind . You die before you die.
Karen , I find that thru prayer/meditation one can raise up to a state of christconsciousness where depression and anxiety do not exist, indeed cannot exist.
I agree that stress can be normal as is grief after loss, but it’s all healthy .
I agree, it can, however its not an absolute for all. I don’t like articles claiming absolutes, its not honest
Karen, if a soul can achieve christconsciousness (as taught by Joel S Goldsmith, the American mystic in The Infinite Way) then depression/anxiety do not exist. …absolutely. This is the state of heavenly bliss.
Clearly not many folks seem to get there.
Make me more clam? Are we proof reading anything we publish these days?
There are many teachers who all say similar things and at no point have i said it can’t be done as i believe it can – but that’s a tiny fraction of people. My point is valid and I feel you’re happily skirting round it
oh Karen , I may have misunderstood. (That’s the problem with FB type communication etc … )I agree with you , not skirting round it….for example grief & depression can be a perfect example of a healthy & normal reaction to loss . We shudnt dish out antidepressants willynilly when grief happens after death etc…Of course we have to learn coping mechanisms .
My other point is more a supernatural , spiritual one !
Not the only mistake they made in the article..
Die before you die. What does this mean?
Don’t read the replies of others posting!
Is that a word you made up?
while you were waking up today , someone else was taking their last breath. Be thankful for this day, don’t waste it.
That is all u managed to get from this article? It looks like u both need what it says more than anybody
There is sorrow in the world so its normal to feel sad, stressed and depressed at times…why make it a problem?
Moods ebb n flow,, people buy into to much they read n hear n don’t forget genetics,,
Wayne Moran
Great Article. Even with a few errors.
How stupid. Sadness is a rich emotion. Depression is another story. Don’t confuse the two.
Is there actual scientific evidence that the ginkgo biliba etc actually work?
Thanks but most of us can’t do this regularly. It’s always hard to be on a scedule. And why most of us are being negative toward this article is the sign they feel they can’t keep up with exercise and most of things described on this article. If u beleave u can get more dopamine by using a drug or your body itself produce dopamine when you get happy than I don’t think there is any reason why above mentioned tasks cant improve dopamine levels .
Although there are situations that may give u stress or make u sad hey we are not robot’s ?
Such a big thing,and one must like you truly pointed out appreciate what they have….this life