The “Feel-Good” Hormone: What is Dopamine?

By Nicole Houck

You may have heard words like “neurotransmitter”, “hormone”, and “dopamine” before, especially within talks about mental health, but do you know what they mean? You have these things called neurotransmitters in your body, even if you don’t really understand what they are or what they do. Let’s learn a little bit about our body’s “feel-good” hormone and neurotransmitter, dopamine.

Neurotransmitters

In order to understand dopamine, we should first explore all things “neurotransmitter”. In order to do things like move, breathe, feel, and think–basically, in order to exist–we rely on nerves. Nerves are made of neurons that act as a path for electronic and chemical communication. This communication is how we exist! And, in order to send certain messages or carry out specific tasks, our neurons use neurotransmitters.

Humans are complicated, so we need plenty of opportunities for our nerves to communicate various messages in different ways. According to the Cleveland Clinic, scientists have identified at least 100 different types of neurotransmitters. Now, we don’t have time to unpack all of these, so let’s focus on one specific group: monoamine neurotransmitters. Here are some of the things monoamine neurotransmitters are involved in:

• Regulating sleep patterns

• Focus

• Motivation

• Hunger

• Fight-or-flight response

• Emotion

If you want to read more about neurotransmitters, click here to visit the Cleveland Clinic’s site.

Dopamine

As you may have guessed, dopamine is one of the monoamine neurotransmitters. But, why is it called the “feel-good” hormone? Well, when we do something we enjoy (like eat something good, have sex, listen to a song we love, or achieve a goal) dopamine is released in the brain. It is responsible for why we do the things we like over and over again. Dopamine creates a reward circuit in the brain.

Dopamine is an important part of our lives starting from day one. Babies need different experiences to release dopamine in the brain. The presence of this neurotransmitter is what enables babies to form meaningful bonds with people and properly develop motor skills. Without proper dopamine levels, disorders and impairments can occur. 

Dopamine and Mental Health

This all sounds great, but we shouldn’t discuss dopamine without talking about what can go wrong. Dopamine plays a role in a variety of mental health conditions and problematic behaviors. Understanding the “why” and “how” of dopamine’s involvement can allow us to better understand ourselves and each other. 

If dopamine is too low, it can result in:

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Lack of motivation

• Depression

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Substance abuse

• ADHD

• Reduced emotions

• Difficulty concentrating

If dopamine is too high, it can result in:

• Impulsivity

• Schizophrenia

• Trouble sleeping

• Aggression

• Paranoia

• Mania

• Addiction

Like other neurotransmitters, dopamine can be regulated by things like diet, exercise, and medication. If you are worried that you might have an issue involving dopamine, bring it up with your doctor or psychologist. 

Now you know a little bit more about yourself, and about the brains of everyone else! The next time you eat a great snack that has you reaching for more, you’ll be able to recognize what is responsible. If you want to learn more about neurotransmitters, I encourage you to do some research on reputable sites (like those that end in .org). If you have a mental diagnosis associated with dopamine levels, and want to try therapy, visit our site.