Once again, we come to that time of year where love is in the air and the hormones flow, promoting feelings of happiness, health and elation, with many encouraged to spend vast amounts of money on that special someone - that, or to carefully construct a cocktail of six chemicals, as explained below.
The first hormone, dopamine, is a very effective neurotransmitter and thus heightens connections between neurons, making you feel light-headed and rash. Healthy eating, sleep, sexual intimacy and infatuation are all natural causes of dopamine which tend to co-occur. It is a very addictive hormone and one that is increasingly demanded once mass production begins. As with all addictive substances, withdrawal symptoms are encountered with reduced production – one of the reasons why you might feel ill, tired and sad when you break up with someone or discover that your love is unrequited. It is also a hormone which, once you have been producing it continually for approximately two years, is no longer required to the same extent, often causing feelings of boredom and a lack of satisfaction with a long-term partner.
The next hormone you are likely to encounter whilst infatuated is fenylethylamine. Fear, anxiety and extreme uncertainty may all promote its production. It is also a bi-product of overconsumption of cheese, chocolate or red wine. This hormone causes a faster heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing, sweaty hands, flushed skin, dilated pupils and a rush of blood to your nether regions. A combination of these effects leads to feelings of sickness and nervousness and may explain why you can never behave ‘naturally’ around that special someone. It also produces a longer lasting feeling of ecstasy which you remember long after the other effects have passed.
The third hormone, adrenaline, is one of the most common hormones that you are likely to produce. As its side effects include alertness, a rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, rapid breathing, a slower digestive system - and consequential loss of appetite, it is produced with any confrontation. The causes and effects of adrenaline are similar and include anger, fear, over-excitement, overheating, freezing or physical exertion of any kind. Thus, when you feel physically aroused, you may start shivering, sweating, getting excited and feeling even more aroused.
The morphine, endorphine, is your body’s natural response to pain and is produced after heavy exercise or intercourse. It leads to feelings of joy, happiness and an increased pain threshold. A lack of endorphine, however, may leave you feeling depressed - a possible explanation for post-coital blues. Endorphine is also produced with the consumption of chocolate and sugar, and thus these are a popular solace when feeling dejected and overtly aware of a single status.
The fourth hormone, oxytocin, promotes feelings of strength, speed, confidence, mental and physical ability, well-being and intimacy. It is produced through gentle stimulation as associated with horse-riding, fairgrounds, caressing, foreplay and breastfeeding. So the feelings you get at a theme-park are produced by the same chemicals that are prolific during intercourse. This hormone is particularly important to people with reduced social skills and learning difficulties and is more commonly produced by females.
The male equivalent of oxytocin is vasopression and this hormone is responsible for monogamy and romance. It is restricted by alcohol and thus, by implication, teetotal, Arabic and Oriental men would typically be more gentlemanly in their actions. This hormone is also produced during ejaculation and may cause men to alter their behaviour during intercourse. It is an antidiuretic, which accounts for the male ability to prevent urination during prolonged intercourse and then experience a sudden desire for relief immediately afterwards.
Infatuation and erotic love gives you the six chemicals required for a full and enriched life, with times of elation and depression. Love is commonly celebrated at a few specific times, though is essential in many different ways, for everyone, throughout life. It is the chemistry that promotes social well-being and healthy interaction and one which it is good to remember and celebrate at all times.
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