Both dopamine and serotonin play a role in regulating our mood along with oxytocin and endorphins – but which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for the feeling of happiness?
Multiple neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins play a part in our mood. Dopamine is a brain chemical responsible for feelings such as pleasure and motivation and is a part of cognitive function. Serotonin is primarily made in our gut. Researchers suggest that low levels of serotonin is connected to mood disorders, insomnia and gut-related issues. According to studies, there are multiple factors responsible for our feeling of happiness and cannot be concluded as dopamine or serotonin alone. However, low levels of serotonin are linked to mood-related disorders.Â
In order to address whether dopamine or serotonin makes us happier, we’ll talk about the four hormones of happiness and if serotonin or dopamine is better for happiness. Furthermore, we’ll go through which method can help you discover if you have low levels of serotonin or dopamine.
4 Hormones Of Happiness
Neurotransmitters like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins are four of the neurotransmitters that all play a role in regulating our mood and feelings.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used by our nervous system to send signals between neurons and to muscles.
Most of the neurotransmitters are amino molecules, amino acids or neuropeptides and there are found lots of different neurotransmitters and neuropeptides.
The neurotransmitters help carry the messengers from nerve cells to muscles, organs or glands. Neurotransmitters help us feel, think clearly, and feel good and happy – in general, in balance.
Both neurotransmitters and the nervous system regulates:
- Stress
- Sleep
- Breathing
- Heartbeat
- Blood pressure
- Digestion
- Senses
- Hormones
- Healing
- Thoughts
- Memory
- Feelings
The neurotransmitters have a huge job in regulating feelings and I believe the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin have an impact in feeling happy and aligned.
Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin And Endorphins
You may be wondering, Am I Lacking Serotonin Or Dopamine? And what is the difference between the four ‘happiness’ hormones – or neurotransmitters?
Dopamine
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that makes us feel good and feel pleasure as a part of the brain’s reward system.
Dopamine is a part of:
- Pleasure
- Mood regulation
- Movement
- Sleep
- Pain
- Motivation
- Memory
- Learning
- Attention
Personally, I think when some people are lacking dopamine, they tend to get their dopamine fix easily through sex, shopping, substance abuse, over-exercising, working too much, scrolling too much on Instagram or TikTok – you name it.Â
Nonetheless, it may not be the best solution for increasing dopamine, if it leads to ‘unhealthy’ dopamine fixes. The root cause of lacking dopamine is often more complex than just the fact that you may not produce enough dopamine.
If you’re wondering How Can I Check My Dopamine Levels? – I can guide you through the whole process.
With that said, dopamine may have an important role in regulating our mood, feelings and behavior – but is it dopamine or serotonin that makes us happier?
Serotonin
Serotonin is also called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is mostly found in our gut (up to 90%).
Serotonin is known as the happy hormone that regulates mood, digestion, sleep, emotions and makes us feel calm and plays a role in sexual desire. It is said that a lack of serotonin may play a role in depression, anxiety and insomnia.
According to PubMed Central, serotonin plays a significant role in the regulation of mood and cognition. Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin and research states that depletion of tryptophan levels, both acute or chronic, may interfere with serotonin levels.
The studies recognize that the role of low serotonin in our brain may be connected to poor memory and depressed mood.
Up to 90% of serotonin is made in the gut and the gut-brain axis (link between brain and GI tract) is linked to emotional and cognitive centers in the brain. The research points to the fact that our microbiota influence our behavior and alterations of serotonin and tryptophan in the gut may be connected to nervous system regulation.
This means that both serotonin and dopamine play a role in mood regulation – but it is my opinion that serotonin may be more connected to depression, anxiety and mood in general in regards to dopamine.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is known as the love hormone and also controls aspects of the reproductive system in childbirth and lactation.
Oxytocin is also associated with empathy, sexual desire, trust and building relationships. It’s released in situations like hugging, kissing, cuddling and orgasms.
A lack of oxytocin may influence emotions, social behavior, bonding behavior or even depression. Â
The release of oxytocin is often linked to a warm, fuzzy feeling and it may reduce stress and anxiety along with regulating emotional responses like trust, empathy and positive communication.
With that said, I personally think that oxytocin plays a role in balancing our emotions – we cannot thrive without connection and love. However, I don’t think oxytocin is more responsible for feeling ‘happy’ compared to serotonin. Our bodies are complex and we need balance in multiple aspects of our life to feel good.
Endorphins
Endorphins are released during pleasurable activities, when feeling pain, stress and during exercise or sex. Endorphins may help reduce stress and improve our wellbeing and general feeling.
Endorphins means natural pain relievers and may put you in a positive state of mind. They turn off the pain to help us ‘survive’ the painful or stressful situation.
Endorphins play a role in regulating our mood in general – but in my opinion, they are not the primary ´happy hormone’ – or neurotransmitter.
Is Serotonin Or Dopamine Better For Happiness?
Both serotonin and dopamine may be responsible for regulating our emotions, mood and brain functioning – but oxytocin and endorphins play a role as well.
Happiness is defined differently by each individual and doesn’t only rely on hormones and neurotransmitters.
What is happiness?
According to PubMed Central, there are multiple factors to include in feeling happiness. These include endogenic factors such as biological, cognitive, personal and ethical factors. Exogenic factors such as behavioral, sociocultural, economic, life events and geographical factors.
Happiness can’t be defined by one thing alone. Neuroscience studies showed that parts of the brain like the amygdala, hippocampus and the limbic system and the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and endorphins play a role in the control of happiness.Â
It was also suggested that cortisol, adrenaline and oxytocin may control the feeling of happiness. In general health factors may play a role in underlying happiness. I personally think when we feel good and we’re in balance physically – it’s easier to embrace the happy moments in our lives.
Brain studies pointed out that there’s no clear localization of happiness – multiple neurotransmitters and hormones play a role in feeling happiness. It does not only rely on serotonin or dopamine.
However, serotonin is what some people may know as the ‘happy hormone’ and as mentioned earlier, may play a major role in depression and mood disorders. This is why I personally would say serotonin is the neurotransmitter that makes you happier.
If you’re thinking you may have imbalanced levels of serotonin or dopamine, I’ll recommend checking your hormonal- and neurotransmitter levels.
How Do I Know If I Need Serotonin Or Dopamine?
If you’re suspecting low levels of serotonin or dopamine, possibly due to changes in mood, brain functioning or something else – I’ll recommend you to check your hormonal and neurotransmitter status.
It is my experience as a health coach that imbalances in hormones or neurotransmitters are connected to a deeper issue. I believe finding the root cause may be the best solution in improving mood and the feeling of wellbeing.
I’ve been there myself – having changes in my mood, memory, digestion, sleep and I didn’t feel good within.
Before becoming a health coach myself, I consulted with a specialist and found out I had low levels of serotonin and dopamine due to a deeper underlying issue.
I took the OrganiX test that measured 45 markers of organic acids that included energy metabolism, carbohydrates metabolism, B-complex vitamins, neurotransmitters, oxidative damage, detoxification and gut dysbiosis.
The test gives an indication of our overall health and metabolic cellular processes. If one of the organic acids has an accumulation it’s often a sign of a blockage or metabolic inhibition due to reasons such as toxic build-up, nutrient deficiency, detoxification problems – or something else.
So if you’re suspecting low levels of dopamine and serotonin and want to support your ‘happy hormones’ – I’ll recommend you find the root cause before finding a potential treatment plan.Â
Final Thoughts
The neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins all play a vital role in mood, feelings, brain function, sex drive, etc. They all have different purposes within – a lack of a certain neurotransmitter may lead to imbalances. This is often due to an underlying issue.
Up to 90% of serotonin is made in our gut and the gut-brain axis may be connected to depression, anxiety and insomnia. Serotonin is usually known as the happy hormone whereas dopamine is a part of mood and brain functioning.Â
There’s no right or wrong conclusion in my opinion – in the end, it all comes down to multiple factors when it comes to feeling happy.
However, if you’re suspecting any kind of imbalance I’ll recommend you to do the OrganiX test.
