How can endorphins be released

These benefits are associated with the multiple hormones, including endorphins, released by massage. It also increases levels of oxytocin, dopamine , and serotonin. Trading massages with a partner or close friend can be another good way to see an endorphin boost.

Taking a long, hot bath can help soothe you after a stressful or tiring day. The heat of the water can help relieve tension and pain in your muscles, but it can also trigger the release of endorphins into your blood.

Besides helping you unwind, regular hot baths may also help decrease risk for heart disease and help lower your blood pressure. When bathing for wellness benefits, the longer the bath, the better.

Why not light some scented candles or add some essential oil to combine bathing with aromatherapy for an additional endorphin boost? Bring a book or put on your favorite show, or even just meditate in the warm water. One man shares how — and why — he learned to meditate even though he…. A new study looking into adverse effects from medication use found that anticoagulants and diabetes agents send a significant amount of adults ages 65…. We all experience pain. Fortunately, there are many ways to manage pain, whether that means treating the source of the pain or coping with the pain….

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Get some exercise. Give acupuncture a try. By holding certain poses, you also build muscle strength, which, apart from promoting weight loss, increases mindful control over the body, helping you feel more in control of your own life.

In fact, according to a study by the Journal of Alternate and Complementary Medicine , regularly practicing light yoga releases a calming chemical called GABA that, over time, helps rewire the brain to have a calmer, less anxious response to daily stressors. Be it a hug, holding hands, canoodling on the couch, or full-on sex, touching — and being touched by — another person does wonders for your health by actively decreasing blood pressure and stress hormones while increasing overall happiness and fulfillment.

In a committed relationship? This may be an opportune moment to prioritize intimacy. Kissing stimulates a ton of pleasure-positive brain chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin — the love hormone. Together, these boost your self-esteem, soothe your soul, and help you destress. Not only is sex a fun, natural mood-booster, it can also help battle insomnia.

When you orgasm, your body releases a hormone called prolactin, a relaxer linked to improved sleep. There is growing research that being near the trees does wonders for your mental health. Exposure to calming nature sounds — yes, even silence — has been shown to lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol, a stress hormone linked to negative thoughts and emotions.

One recent study showed that as little as 20 minutes spent inside a park can improve your outlook on life. Is nature not easily accessible from your urban apartment? Why not look into becoming a plant parent? Both work the muscles — laughing exercises the diaphragm, shoulders, abdomen, and heart — and produce similar health benefits including lowering blood pressure, aiding muscle relaxation, and reducing stress hormones like cortisol and dopamine.

Exposure to the sun may increase endorphin levels. A study conducted on mice found that UV radiation from the sun has a positive effect on endorphin production, suggesting that the same could be the case in humans.

At the very least, getting enough sun will help your body produce more vitamin D , which may help boost your mood. Low levels of Vitamin D , or a vitamin D deficiency, are associated with depression. However, Cohen urges people to be safe and protect themselves from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Avoid too much sun exposure and always wear sunscreen.

All of these behaviors are proven to release endorphins, but every activity might not work for everyone. It's important that you find enjoyable activities that can boost your mood as an individual. Overall, it's most important to figure out what works best for you and stick with it to improve your mood.

World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. When you do volunteer work, you are not only doing good for others but also boosting your endorphins. Spend time with friends. Try to avoid isolation if you are feeling like your endorphins are low.

Spending time with friends can help to boost your well-being. What is the difference between endorphins and dopamine in your brain? While endorphins are neurotransmitters that help you to cope with pain and stress, dopamine is a mood-boosting neurotransmitter that is released after you reach a goal. In this way, dopamine is involved in the reward circuit in your brain and helps to motivate you toward tasks in contrast, low dopamine would also be de-motivating. Higher endorphins can actually lead to higher dopamine production; in this way, endorphins and dopamine are not mutually exclusive but are actually connected in the system that promotes action toward rewards and the good feelings that result.

In other words, you might feel motivated to participate in a marathon because of your dopamine reward system, which is further reinforced by the endorphins that are released during the actual act of participating in the race. In this way, endorphins are the quicker-acting "feelings" while dopamine is the longer-acting afterglow.

What are the different types of endorphins? There are actually 20 different types of endorphins that have been identified. However, the type of endorphins that have been the subject of the most research are known as "beta-endorphins. These are the endorphins that contribute to well-being and pain relief and that have a similar effect to the pain drug morphine. Without these beta-endorphins, you would be less able to cope with stress and pain.

What about the difference between endorphins and opioid drugs? Opioid drugs include morphine and fentanyl. These opioid drugs work on the same pain receptors that are involved in the endorphin system in your brain.

When you take morphine or fentanyl, your brain then releases more dopamine. However, if you take these drugs over a long period of time, then it becomes accustomed to the higher level of dopamine and requires more of the drug in order for you to feel the same level of well-being.

In other words, your brain gets used to that amount of dopamine and it no longer works. You need more of the drug to feel the same level of happiness. In addition, becoming addicted to opioid medication can leave a person emotionally and socially withdrawn. This is because morphine and other medications can replace the need to find other ways to experience the natural reward system in your brain.

You might stop socializing because the medication has replaced your need to form social bonds. In fact, when people must stop taking morphine or are trying to stop a drug like heroin, the withdrawal effects can be the same as someone going through grief: feelings of depression, irritability, periods of crying, loss of appetite, and not being able to sleep.

On the other hand, your natural endorphins generally will not reach this same level of saturation to the point that you need more of the same e. However, there is a risk of becoming addicted to an endorphin rush and seeking out unhealthy ways to achieve this. Is it possible to become addicted to the feelings of an endorphin rush? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Below are some examples of how this can happen. Self Harm. Persons who self-harm often do this because of the endorphin rush that they experience after hurting themselves.

Exercise Addiction. It is also possible to become addicted to exercise to the point that it is harmful. When someone is working out for hours a day just to feel the effects of endorphins, this can indicate a problem with addiction.

Socializing and Endorphins. Endorphins are also released when we form social bonds. By the same token, a person who naturally experiences higher levels of these brain chemicals may have different social motivation.

Are you wondering how to increase endorphins and improve your well-being and pain tolerance? Following the suggestions laid out here will give you a good start toward improving your well-being and increasing your pain tolerance. However, it's also important to remember that each person will vary in their own level of pain tolerance and feelings of well-being.