TRAUMA’S IMPACT ON BRAIN CHEMICALS

Trauma Therapy
Written By Jamie Gibbs

Most people struggle with getting enough happiness chemicals. The deficiency can make you feel sad, depressed, hopeless, and anxious. Thankfully there are natural ways of boosting happy chemicals.

HOW TO INCREASE DOMPAMINE LEVELS NATURALLY

  • meditate regularly (increases dopamine by 65%)

  • make a daily to-do list & long term goals (each time you tick off a task or goal you increase dopamine levels)

  • eat foods that are rich in L-Tyrosine (avocados, fish, eggs, cheese, banana, and pumpkin seeds)

  • exercise regularly (whichever form of exercise you enjoy the most will give you the most increase in dopamine levels)

  • create something such as writing, music, art & crafts (“if I create something, I am also creating dopamine”)

HOW TO INCREASE OXYTOCIN LEVELS NATURALLY

  • physical touch, cuddling, hugging, making eye contact, and even shaking hands

  • socializing (connecting or talking with friends and family reduces cortisol and stimulates your vagus nerve)

  • touching your pet (research shows it lowers blood pressure)

  • getting a massage (reduces stress hormones)

  • acupuncture (elevates oxytocin concentrations)

  • listening to music (has a calming effect on the brain, slow-tempo music has also been shown to increase oxytocin)

  • exercise (stimulates the vagus nerve)

  • cold showers (stimulates the vagus nerve)

  • meditate

HOW TO INCREASE SEROTONIN LEVELS NATURALLY

  • exercise (increases serotonin and dopamine, but also helps balance them)

  • cold showers (2-3 mins of cold showers can be unpleasant but offers great benefits that have longer-lasting effects than compared to caffeine)

  • sunshine (10-15 minutes of sunlight a day can increase serotonin and vitamin D)

  • eating foods such as banana, eggs, omega-3 fish, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, and probiotics

  • getting a massage (increases serotonin and decreases cortisol)

HOW TO INCREASE ENDORPHIN LEVELS NATURALLY

  • laughter and crying

  • creating music or art

  • eating dark chocolate and spicy foods

  • exercise or stretching

  • high-intensity interval training

  • getting a massage

  • meditate

Click here to learn more about Trauma Therapy.

Jamie Gibbs
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