I want to talk about four hormones that have been on my mind lately. I want to hasten to say that we cannot be reduced to our chemicals. We are spiritual beings. However, it has been helpful for me to understand the connection between these hormones and my emotions.

1. Dopamine: The Reward and the Reset

Everyone knows about dopamine now. It is what you feel when someone likes your post on Instagram or when you anticipate something good happening. It is the engine that gets you out of bed and motivates you to do well.

But there is a trap. If we constantly get cheap dopamine through social media or games, our brains down-regulate. We lose the motivation for boring but vital things like studying or working on a report. I recently uninstalled Instagram and Facebook. I decided to use them only when I have something important to post. At the same time, I cut back on coffee. This also affects how our dopamine works. I have to admit that this reset is taking time to get used to. The fog is real, but the goal is to get my motivation back on the right track.

2. Oxytocin: The Bonding Glue

Oxytocin is what you receive through meaningful connection. We need other people. “It is not good for a man to be alone,” God said after He created Adam.

Lately, I have been experiencing a drought here. Between ordering groceries online and a quiet home life where even meals are often eaten alone, the deficit makes itself felt. Without being intentional about seeing people and talking to them, the lack of oxytocin shows up as a feeling of being isolated and lonely. We were not meant to be islands. Even playing with my dog – the one who just ate a hole through his sleeping mat – is a vital way to trigger this connection.

3. Serotonin: Worth vs. Achievement

Serotonin shows up when you accomplish something, when you are respected, and when you see your place in the world. My Gallup Strengthfinder lists “Achiever” as my number one trait. I have a continuous need to tick things off a list. I feel this even on my off days.

Getting in a daily run usually gives me an early boost here. But when I am injured and forced to rest, that boost vanishes. I tend to feel more worthless when I am not “doing.” I know my value is not in my output. It is in being created in God’s image and redeemed by Jesus. However, that feeling of worthlessness can be powerful. We have to differentiate between the chemical dip and the theological truth.

4. Endorphins: The Pain Mask

Lastly, there are endorphins. These are the body’s natural painkillers. They work almost like opiates. They cause the runner’s high, the good feeling after a spicy meal, or the relief of a good laugh. The rule is simple: no run, no high. When we are sidelined, we have to find other ways to manage the physical stress of life.

The Takeaway: Don’t Let the Storm Decide

It helps to know that a deficit in these hormones can make you feel worthless or depressed. Luckily, our lives do not depend on our feelings. We have to hold onto the truths in God’s word and not allow the dashboard lights of our emotions to dominate us.

One rule I try to follow is to never make major decisions when you are overwhelmed by negative emotions. The storm will pass. The chemistry will level out. Then you can think clearly again.

What can you do to help the process?

  • Wean yourself from social media to let your dopamine levels normalize.
  • Go out to shop or call a family member who may be lonely or an old friend.
  • Form habits of gratitude. Connected with prayer, it is a huge step to get the right perspective on life, God’s goodness, and your own worth.
  • Get that exercise even if you are injured. Find an alternative that does not aggravate your injury and feel how the negative emotions dissipate.