Happiness Chemicals – Emma Mellor

How to Hack Your Happiness Chemicals the Natural Way

The human body is a fascinating and complex structure, made up of a series of cells and organs designed to support life. Within the system, hormones are chemicals that travel through the bloodstream to control how organs and cells function. Biologically, humans will seek pleasure and avoid anything that causes pain. Our brains have a cornucopia of neurochemicals to draw on that reward us with feelings of happiness and satisfaction. However, modern life has distanced us from things that can bring us joy naturally. This shift has disrupted the delicate balance of neurochemicals that evolved over thousands of years, leaving us more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and dissatisfaction.

After the shit show of the last five years, it is hardly surprising to know that the latest research indicates that 1 in 20 adults have low satisfaction with their lives, with more than 20% living with high anxiety levels daily. 1 in 6 adults in the UK are dealing with depression, and those are just the people who have sought medical support. With spiralling wait times and people unable to access appropriate NHS support, many are struggling with various aspects of daily life.

Finding consistent happiness can feel like a challenge. Many of us strive for balance and fulfilment, but the pressures of life often get in the way.

So what can we do?

If you’ve ever experienced trauma or faced significant stress in your life, (which, let’s face it, is all of us after the last five years in the UK!), it is common to feel stuck or overwhelmed. We are constantly bombarded by glimpses of others’ “perfect” lives on social media, making it all too easy to compare ourselves and feel inadequate or unhappy. When you add the weight of past trauma and daily stresses to the mix, it’s no surprise that many of us are left feeling far from content or fulfilled.

It is possible to hack those happy brain neurochemicals – and do it naturally.

What Are Happiness Chemicals?

Your body naturally produces chemicals that influence your mood and happiness. These hormones include endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. By understanding how to boost these chemicals, you can take control of your emotional well-being and hack into your body’s natural happiness.

How to Unlock and Increase Your Happiness Chemicals the Natural Way

Endorphins: Relieve Stress and Feel Good

The term “endorphin” literally means “self-produced morphine.” Chemically similar to opiates, endorphins are your body’s natural painkillers.

Boost your endorphins by:

Watching a funny movie or show.
Listening and dancing to your favourite music.
Having sexual intercourse/orgasms
Acupuncture – inserting needles into specific body points
Laughing with friends.
Exercising regularly.

Oxytocin: The Love Hormone

Known as the “cuddle hormone,” oxytocin plays a vital role in human bonding and increasing trust and loyalty.

Ways to release oxytocin include:

Hugging a loved one.
Playing with or stroking a pet (if there’s no other human to cuddle!)
Paying someone a heartfelt compliment.
Holding hands or enjoying intimate connection.
Sex (there’s a trend here…)
Engaging in acts of kindness.

Dopamine: The Reward Chemical

Dopamine drives reward-seeking behaviour and fuels our pursuit of pleasure. It is that little burst of joy you feel when you achieve something, no matter how small. It’s tied to motivation, keeping you on track toward your goals.

Boost your dopamine levels by:

Completing tasks (If you use a to-do/task list, this is what motivates you!)
Practising gratitude and self-love (although *that* kind of self-love comes under Oxytocin 😉)
Getting enough quality sleep.
Eating nutritious, balanced meals.
Listening to music that uplifts your spirit.

Serotonin: The Mood Stabiliser

Higher serotonin levels are linked to reduced sensitivity to rejection, empowering individuals to embrace opportunities that boost self-esteem, nurture feelings of worthiness, and strengthen their sense of belonging. Serotonin is key in regulating mood, promoting calmness, and fostering a sense of contentment. It is often associated with self-confidence, emotional stability, and inner balance.

Boost your serotonin by:

Vitamin D – either from the sun or taking a Vitamin D supplement.
Spending time in nature.
Practising grounding exercises.
Engaging in mindfulness and meditation.
Exercise. Find something you enjoy so you’re more likely to do it.

I Can’t Do This Alone

Just sit & think yourself happy? It’s more complicated than that for me.

Yep, I get it.

Trauma, stress, or long-held beliefs (such as those that you’ve developed through Adverse Childhood Trauma) can make it difficult to access these happiness chemicals. Hypnotherapy works to rewrite these mental scripts by addressing the unhelpful mental and emotional beliefs that interfere with your well-being. It can help you break free from the thoughts, behaviours, or habits that keep you feeling stuck.

Through guided relaxation and focused attention, hypnotherapy helps rewire negative thought patterns, enabling your brain to naturally release more serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins.

Together, these shifts create a foundation for long-term happiness and a more fulfilling life.

How Mindfulness Helps Boost Your Happiness Chemicals

Mindfulness is how you bring your focus to the present moment and helps you fully experience life’s simple joys. By practising mindfulness, you can boost your happiness chemicals and deepen their impact. It helps you tap into your body’s natural ability to create happiness, helping you feel more grounded, balanced and content.

If you want to know more about self-love, The Little Book of Self-Love (also available on Amazon) has some practical exercises that can help you work through some of the above suggestions.

Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

While you can engage in many of these happiness-boosting activities on your own, having someone guide you can make all the difference. The key to being happy starts with understanding what holds you back. If you’ve been through trauma or find yourself struggling with past stresses, know that you don’t have to face this alone.

As a hypnotherapist and mindfulness coach, I’m here to guide and support you. My role is to empower you, helping you integrate mindfulness, meditation, and hypnotherapy into your life in a way that feels authentic and sustainable. Whether it’s overcoming trauma, finding peace, or simply learning how to feel better day-to-day, I can help.