There is much that we as humans do not know about these two chemicals and how they affect us, but what is becoming increasingly clear is that they are survival chemicals, and by this I mean that they contribute towards the survival of the individual, the family unit, and the species.
![dopamine endorphin dopamine endorphin](https://lymphaticmassageflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/chemicals-change-moods-750x300.jpg)
But in fact there’s absolutely no direct evidence that it is the direct chemical effect of the alcohol that is responsible for the increased levels. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increase in these and so there is an assumption is that one of the chemical effects of alcohol to increase the levels of these feel good chemicals which creates a feeling of euphoria. Serotonin and Endorphins on the other hand are chemicals that makes us feel good. The increased dopamine makes them constantly want to eat, even if they aren’t hungry or are even actively full. This is why trying to control what you eat after a nights drinking is virtually impossible, and is one of the many reasons drinkers tend to be overweight. Your sex drive goes up, appetite goes up, in fact you will have a much greater motivational need to obtain virtually anything you can think about. This is why a lot of people find that the day after drinking (provided they haven’t drunk too much) they wake up and want to eat or have sex. You then go to sleep, the alcohol wears off, but the excess dopamine remains. Your brain recognises that your motivation levels are low, so it increases dopamine to get you moving again. The problem is that this ‘not caring’ is not your natural state. When you have a drink you tend not to care about things you don’t bother about clearing the kitchen before bed, doing the washing, cleaning up, or the myriad of other things that, if you weren’t drinking, you wouldn’t be able to leave. Your body releases it when you drink because it counters the depressive effects of the alcohol.
![dopamine endorphin dopamine endorphin](https://altered-states.net/barry/newsletter449/endorphine2.gif)
It makes you feel like you want or need something. They are all linked to addiction and I thought it was worth clarifying exactly the role that these chemicals play because, as is usual with alcohol and addiction, there is a huge amount of misinformation and misunderstanding about them.ĭopamine is essentially a chemical that makes you want to do something.
![dopamine endorphin dopamine endorphin](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWxWBcBU4AAhFyV.png)
Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins are all chemicals that occur naturally in the human brain.