Feel-good hormones may explain why certain behaviors are compulsively repeated
Oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, in particular, are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Oxytocin is an essential hormone that acts to increase each partner’s sense of safety and love in relation to the other. Endorphins are a reward mechanism inside the brain, released through exercise and other strenuous activities, to lower pain by producing good feelings. Serotonin is a feel-good brain chemical that acts as a natural anti-depressant and helps temper impulsive feelings. Dopamine is a key reward chemical, one that is released in anticipation of or association with the completion of a goal.
These feel-good hormones may explain why certain behaviors are compulsively repeated, even toxic ones that merely escalate reactivity. They help lower the intensity of painful emotions – and thus can be addictive in nature, as they offer temporary, quick fixes that release some level of the feel-good chemicals.
Meanwhile, feel-bad hormones associated with stress, such as cortisol and adrenaline, may explain why partners feel so shaky and panicky in certain situations that trigger their core fears, i.e., inadequacy, rejection or abandonment, etc., in relation to the other.
All systems of the body are continually interacting to maintain homeostasis, a relative state of balance for the physical body. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, for example, activate the body’s survival or stress response (sympathetic nervous system); other body chemicals, such as the safety and love hormone, oxytocin, restore emotional equilibrium (parasympathetic nervous system).
It is no wonder that partners say and do certain things that are counterproductive or even downright destructive. At subconscious levels, it is to make themselves feel better.
- Athena Staik
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(Source: blogs.psychcentral.com)
