Dopamine vs. Serotonin

What makes you feel happy and fulfilled? What motivates you to get up in the morning, pursue goals, or enjoy a walk in the sun?

Why do some activities leave you craving more while others make you feel completely satisfied?

Behind these emotions are two powerhouse brain chemicals: dopamine and serotonin.

Often called the happy hormones, they are neurotransmitters with vastly different roles in shaping our emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being.

Let’s look further.

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals between nerve cells (neurons), helping different parts of your brain and body communicate effectively.

Dopamine and serotonin influence everything from your mood and motivation to digestion, sleep, and how you feel and behave every day.

Dopamine: Excitatory Neurotransmitter – Why we get up in the morning

  • Often called the motivation molecule

  • Drives reward, goal setting, and pleasure

  • Released when you achieve something, eat comfort food, get social media likes

  • Foundation of addiction

  • It tells your brain: “This feels good, and I want more.”

Serotonin: Inhibitory Neurotransmitter – What we live for

  • Known as the feel-good or contentment chemical

  • Promotes emotional balance, calm, satisfaction, and well-being

  • Helps regulate mood, sleep, digestion, and appetite

  • Foundation of happiness

  • It tells your brain: “This feels good, and I have enough.”

Low dopamine can lead to reduced motivation, fatigue, brain fog, poor concentration.

High dopamine can lead to aggression, risky behavior, mania, and even schizophrenia.

Low serotonin can lead to anxiety, insomnia, depression, emotional instability, digestive issues.

High serotonin is extremely rare but can happen if over-medicated, leading to agitation and high blood pressure.

The stress hormone cortisol affects both serotonin and dopamine, often in destructive ways.

Chronic stress together with these hormones can lead to:

  • Dopamine cravings, making addictive behaviors more likely

  • Reduced serotonin receptor function, contributing to depression

  • Weakened prefrontal cortex, impulsiveness, poor decision-making

  • A sense of living survival mode without satisfaction, burnout

Both dopamine and serotonin are essential and have important functions in our bodies.

Here are some suggestions to support the balance of these hormones:

  • Exercise Regularly – it boosts both dopamine and serotonin – include walking, running, dancing, and yoga

  • Get Sunlight – 15 minutes a day can increase serotonin, regulate circadian rhythms, and improve sleep

  • Eat a Nutrient-Rich Diet – include protein-rich foods and omega-3 fatty acids

  • Prioritize Sleep – deep restful sleep restores neurotransmitter balance

  • Practice Gratitude and Kindness – helping others naturally boosts serotonin, and positive social interaction enhances dopamine

  • Meditate and Breathe – mindfulness practices reduce cortisol, support serotonin production, and improve focus, calm, and emotional resilience

Dr. Robert Lustig outlines the 7 key differences between pleasure and happiness to help us understand the role and function of dopamine and serotonin. Link in References.

  • Pleasure is short-term – Happiness is long-term

  • Pleasure is visceral – Happiness is ethereal 

  • Pleasure is taking – Happiness is giving

  • Pleasure is achieved alone – Happiness is achieved in social groups

  • Pleasure is achievable with substances – Happiness is not achievable with substances

  • Pleasure in the extreme is addictive / “aholic” – Happiness is not addictive

  • Pleasure is dopamine – Happiness is serotonin

When neurons are over-stimulated by dopamine, the post synaptic neurons will downregulate their dopamine receptors as a protective mechanism to prevent overwhelm.

Thus, a constant dopamine influx leads to a tolerance state, where more is needed to approach the same effect in the body. Addiction results when the neurons die.

Serotonin requires no such downregulation because the neurons are not excited, and they do not die. It is dopamine that downregulates serotonin.

Advertisers conflate reward and contentment, suggesting that their products will make us happy somehow.

But the truth, as we now see, is the more you seek pleasure, the less happiness you will feel.

About me

Hi, I'm Ellen...

... and I am a writer, coach, and adventurer. I believe that life is the grand odyssey that we make of it.

I would like to help you live a truly magnificent and happy life no matter your age and current situation.

You deserve to experience your hero’s journey to its fullest.

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