How to use your happy Hormones

Following my own diagnosis, I look for joy in my day, every day, which means enjoying things that trigger the happy hormones.  This helps to manage the stress hormones around scan time.  

What are they?

• Dopamine – the reward chemical
  • Eating food – what a great one to start with, eating a colourful Mediterranean   diet is a sight to behold.  Let the joy of eating start with a plate full of colours, and then it’s the eating and how it tastes.  This is also an opportunity to be present, be mindful of the experience of enjoying your meal.
  • Achieving a goal – this is something we explore on the course.  Setting a goal is a great first step on your journey of what you want to achieve.  These do not have to be big, life changing goals, you will achieve the same sense of achievement with a small goal, maybe going out for a walk for 10 minutes x 2 weekly.  
  • Completing a task – the pleasure we can gain from completing a task on our to do list, this could simply be, getting up and having a shower, it’s a task completed.  
  • Self-care activities – these are so important after a diagnosis.  

• Love this quote from Suzy Reading (2019) ‘Self-care is nourishment for the head, heard and body’ ….. ‘don’t equate self-care with pampering, its about helping us cope in the moment if we are feeling overwhelmed or after periods of stress or pro-active self-care to boost our resilience, providing us with a protective buffer against future challenges, which for me fits so well, when we are living with a cancer diagnosis.

• Oxytocin – the love hormone
  • Socialising – After a diagnosis, you might not feel like socialising, I know I didn’t, but it could be ‘socialising via WhatsApp, or social media, making positive connections with people who are ‘in your tribe’.
  • Physical touch – holding hands with your partner, spouse, or having a hug from a loved one or a friend.  
  • Stroking animals – isn’t it great to stroke a cat or a dog, or a horse.
  • Helping others – this is a powerful one.  Could be simply holding a door for someone or ‘paying forward’ a coffee for someone.  Doesn’t have to be big, don’t underestimate the little things you can do to help others if you can.

• Endorphin – the pain killer
  • Exercising – finding exercise has been the game changer for me, and it all started with setting a goal!  I love my daily walk and of course parkrun, doing 5K my way.  Check out @5KYourway and see what’s on offer in your area or link up with your local parkrun, they now actively encourage people to walk and have tail walkers to support you or maybe sign up and volunteer.  
  • Listening to music – this is a great mood lifter for me, finding music that makes your heart sing and sometimes finding music to dance to, dancing around in the kitchen, a sight to behold but feels so good.
  • Watching a movie or a good TV series, I know I like to binge watch some of those series on Netflix, Prime or Apple TV, again watching something that makes you smile.  I found Ted Lasso; this is a wonderful series!
  • Laughter – feels so good to laugh, again this could be a good TV series or a film, find the things where you can have a good laugh.

• Serotonin – the mood stabiliser
  • Sun exposure – we all need our vitamin D boost but be mindful of protecting the skin and wear a good sun block to prevent skin damage, so important after chemotherapy.  Walking outside.  Going for a walk when the sun is shining, throughout the seasons is an amazing feeling.
  • Mindfulness – 
  • Be within nature.
  • Meditation