Endorphins are chemical couriers in your body, transmitted by your central nervous system and pituitary gland. This way, endorphins function in psychology as well. Research suggests endorphins play an essential part in your body’s ability to manage pain and experience pleasure.
Endorphin generally releases when you:
- are injured
- experience stress
- activate your natural reward system with activities like eating, exercising, or sex
They can help ease pain, reduce stress, and cause a euphoric feeling when released. The following ways can be effective in releasing endorphins:
1. Get Some Exercise
The physical benefits of exercise can not be overlooked, and its mental health benefits are just as impressive as it can release a significant amount of endorphins. You can release more endorphins with more exercise, but any amount of workout is better than none.
You can practice the following to boost your release of endorphins:
- Continuous exercise: Research suggests endorphin release occurs after 30 minutes of exercise.
- Moderate-intensity exercise: A study discovered that 22 participants experienced euphoric feelings related to endorphin release after an hour of moderate-intensity exercise. Moderate exercise means your heart rate and breathing speed up gradually as you enhance the intensity.
- Group exercise: According to the study, participants experienced more endorphin boost when exercising in a group than when they did similar training alone.
2. Acupuncture
This is an alternative treatment is a Chinese medicine that uses skinny needles to provoke pressure points. Many people have found it helpful for a range of issues, including:
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and depression
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, including cramps
Research indicates that these advantages of the endorphin release are activated when the needles are inserted.
3. Meditation
Meditation is another way to trigger endorphin release. It can help you de-stress and achieve an inner sense of calm. It can also provide other health benefits, including:
- Improved physical wellness
- Improved mood
- Increased ability to cope with illness
- Better sleep
4. Use Essential Oil
According to a study, lavender aromatherapy can ease women’s anxiety associated with IUD insertion. Small research supports this finding, suggesting euphoric essential oil aromas, such as lavender, can lead to endorphin release.
You can try other euphoric oils, including:
- Rosemary
- Citrus fragrances such as orange, grapefruit, or bergamot
- Ylang ylang
- Frankincense
5. Intercourse
Endorphins function psychology due to which you sense euphoric feelings during sex. This way, you can encounter a rush of endorphin release that can help you in many areas. Surging endorphins explain why sex offers other benefits beyond making you feel good, such as:
- Pain relief
- Reduced stress
- Improved self-esteem
6. Laugh with Friends
Smiling or laughing can help lift a bad mood and relieve feelings of anxiety and stress. Even a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy called laughter therapy can help reduce feelings of stress and depression.
Besides this, laughing with people you are close to can also release endorphins. A small study found evidence that watching half an hour of comedy with friends boosted endorphin levels.
7. Music
Simply listening to music can boost good feelings and an improved mood, and according to research, musical performance is more likely to boost endorphins than listening to music alone.
8- Get Some Sun
Sunlight has more than one health benefit. It helps your skin produce vitamin D, and it also promotes the production of serotonin and melatonin, which can improve your mood, increase your energy, and help you sleep better.
Moreover, the ultraviolet radiation in the sun can also increase your endorphin levels. Getting outside a couple of times a week for about 15 minutes at a time will generally be enough for you to benefit from sun exposure.
9- Get a Massage
Massage therapy can ease stress and improve symptoms of some physical health concerns, such as chronic pain and fatigue. It can also benefit childbirth by reducing pain and increasing contractions, leading to shorter labor.
These benefits are connected with the numerous hormones, including endorphins, released by massage. It also boosts levels of oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin.
10- Take a Hot and Relaxing Bath
Taking a hot bath can soothe you after a stressful or tiring day. The heat of the water can relieve tension and pain in your muscles. Moreover, it can also trigger the release of endorphins into your blood. You should remember that you are bathing for wellness benefits; you should take longer baths for effective results. Regular hot baths may also decrease the risk for heart disease and aid in lowering your blood pressure.
For more information, you can book an appointment with the best psychiatrist in Lahore through Marham and find out how endorphins function in psychology and other factors.