The Brain Science of Emotions – Part 2

My favorite part of improving our understanding of brain science is this: the activities that make up the way we live our lives can directly affect our brain chemistry and pathways both positively and negatively.

Three things that negatively affect your brain chemistry and pathways are:

1. Substance Use – Using and misusing substances such as alcohol, cannabis (marijuana), nicotine, pills, and other drugs disrupts and irregulates the dopamine cycle in the brain, which changes the brain’s biophysical and biochemical pathways in a way that teaches the brain to pursue that substance as its only source of pleasure or relief – whatever the cost, in severe cases of dependence.
2. Sedentariness – Spending most days sitting with very little standing, walking, or other physical activity has been shown to increase resistance to serotonin production and response in the brain, which can cause feelings of depression and can cause sleep issues.
3. Screen Time – Excessive use of blue-light producing screens, especially in the evenings has been shown to suppress melatonin production which affects the sleep cycle. It also desensitizes the dopamine cycle affecting pleasure and motivation, and increases cortisol production which causes feelings of stress.

Three things that positively affect your brain chemistry and pathways are:

1. Drinking Water – Staying hydrated with H2O lowers cortisol levels to produce more feelings of stability, aids in maintaining the creation cycle of new neural pathways, and flushes out metabolic waste from the brain and body.
2. Physical Activity – Even as little as 15 minutes of elevated-heart-rate exercise (think a simple, brisk walk) triggers the release of dopamine and endorphins which cause feelings of happiness and motivation, and reduces the presence and production of epinephrine, norepinephrine which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety.
3. Face-to-Face Connection – Having a conversation face-to-face with a friend or loved one has been proven to trigger the release of oxytocin in the brain, which is responsible for feelings of connection, trust, and intimacy.

Who knew improving our brain chemistry could be as simple as meeting a friend for dinner, walking or biking to the restaurant, and ordering water to drink instead of soda or beer? If you feel stuck and you need support in implementing some of these habits to help your brain health, please reach out to The Willow Center today!

Written by Chase Cotten, Community Director