Brain Chemistry, Your Mood, and Recovery
In this week's episode, Coach Blu and our Athletic Director Marissa deeply dive into the human brain and the hormones that can make addiction recovery challenging. The brain is the most complex organ in the body. This three-pound mass of gray and white matter sits at the center of all human activity—you need it for everything. The brain regulates your body's essential functions, enables you to interpret and respond to everything you experience, and shapes your behavior. In short, your brain is you—everything you think and feel and who you are. Listen as they talk about D.O.S.E., the four chemicals we as humans strive for.
D is for doapmine. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it, and your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. That's why it's sometimes called a chemical messenger.
Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It's a big part of our uniquely human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting.
O is for oxytocin. In the brain, oxytocin acts as a chemical messenger and has an important role in many human behaviors including sexual arousal, recognition, trust, romantic attachment and mother–infant bonding. As a result, oxytocin has been called the 'love hormone' or 'cuddle chemical'.
S is for serotonin. In the brain, serotonin helps with mood regulation and memory, but it also has important jobs in other parts of the body. In fact, most of the serotonin in your body is found in your gut, not your brain. The intestines produce almost all of the body's serotonin supply, and serotonin is required to promote healthy digestion. In other places in the body, serotonin helps with sleep, sexual function, bone health, and blood clotting.
E is for endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body to relieve stress and pain. They work similarly to a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids relieve pain and can produce a feeling of euphoria. They are sometimes prescribed for short-term use after surgery or for pain-relief.
Blu and Marissa will share tips on how to increase these 4 vital chemicals in your daily life so that you can recover even more quickly from substance use disorders or mental health struggles.
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