Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRole in the BodyDeficiencyBenefitsHow to Increase Endorphins NaturallyEndorphins vs. DopamineFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Role in the Body
Deficiency
Benefits
How to Increase Endorphins Naturally
Endorphins vs. Dopamine
Frequently Asked Questions
Endorphins are your body’s natural pain relievers. These neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the brain, are also responsible for feelings of pleasure we can get after certain activities like hiking or running, eating chocolate, and laughing with friends.
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Endorphins help your body avoid pain and increase feelings of pleasure. A healthybrainsignals the release of endorphins during moments of shock, freeze, “fight or flight,” trauma and stress, or physical pain. They can then bind to receptors in the nervous system and inhibit or slow the release of proteins involved in pain signaling.
This process also increases dopamine levels.Dopamineis the neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure responses.
There are both genetic and non-genetic factors that can contribute to endorphin deficiency.Some conditions associated with endorphin deficiency are:
Some drugs stimulate the release of endorphins. This is the case with alcohol and opioid medications. Long-term use of these medications, however, can cause levels to decrease as time goes on. There is a high potential for heightened sensitivity to pain as a result.
Treatment
Antidepressants may offer relief if you’re struggling with endorphin deficiency. You ideally want to find a medication that acts on the neurotransmitters that are desensitized, meaning they are exhausted due to overstimulation or not working properly.
People with depression have characteristically low levels of these neurotransmitters:
Serotonin also modulates your body temperature and plays a role in uterine contraction, breathing, blood pressure, and gastrointestinal health.
If you’re consuming a combination of medications or recreational drugs that work on your serotonin receptors, you could experienceserotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.
More research in humans is needed for the benefits in humans to be confirmed, but this is what we know so far.
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Healthy levels of endorphins work to reduce stress and anxiety. One study in male and female mice found a direct relationship between endorphin levels and anxious behavior, suggesting the endorphins moderate mice response to stressful stimuli.
Regulate Other Hormones
Endorphins also influence other hormones likeoxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” More research on humans is needed since there are mixed results on the exact impact of oxytocin on sexuality and romantic relationships.
Lower Pain
Boost Self-Esteem
When endorphins are released, we feel good about ourselves, and this helps boost confidence in the moment and in the future. It doesn’t have to be exercise- or food-related either.
Helps With Mental Disorders
Endorphins can also potentially help with other mental disorders likeschizophrenia. One study of 70 patients treated with various antipsychotics and with severe symptoms of schizophrenia found normalizing endorphins to be part of the antipsychotic treatment.
Naturally increasing endorphins comes down to doing more things that increase your sense of well-being.
Exercise
A 2016 study measured endorphins in 30 moderately depressed males who participated in an exercise program. It found that endorphin levels for the moderate- to high-intensity workout groups increased.However, the study authors noted the difficulty in accurately measuring endorphins as a limitation of the findings.
The effects may be even better if you exercise with others. A small study of 15 non-smoking male rowing athletes found that power output and pain thresholds increased in the group working out together compared with those who worked out alone.
Acupuncture
Laughing
Relaxed social laughter is a form of nonverbal communication that has been both observed and experimentally tested to be associated with increased feelings of well-being and a higher threshold for pain. Six studies where people either watched videos or stage performances demonstrated significantly increased pain threshold after laughter.
Creative Activities
The act of creating things whether it be music, poetry, prose, or paintings can increase your endorphin levels and improve your sense of well-being.
Try beginning with something you enjoyed as a child, if applicable, or something you had always wanted to do but never thought was worth the investment (time, effort, or financial). It is!
Endorphins are associated with making you happy, but so is dopamine. So, what’s the difference?
When endorphins bind to the opioid receptors in the CNS, dopamine is released and you feel pleasure. Endorphins then can be considered precursors to dopamine. Any issue with endorphin function can then directly impact your body’s release of dopamine. Dopamine is synthesized or created from an amino acid in the brain.
What do endorphins feel like?
Endorphins are in general associated with feelings of pleasure, euphoria, excitement, and well-being. You may experience these as a rush of feelings or a sense of calmness depending on your endorphin levels and activities.
How long do endorphins last?
It depends on many factors, and only you know when the endorphin rush is really over. One small study found 22 participants experienced endorphin-related euphoric feelings after one hour of moderate-intensity exercise.
How do you release endorphins with pressure points?
Acupuncture is one way to release endorphins with pressure points. A professional inserts extremely fine needles into pressure points to release endorphins. At home and without needles, you can also press on or pinch your pressure points to help ease stress. This is known as acupressure.
Summary
Endorphins are neurotransmitters responsible for making you feel happy. They can also alleviate the feeling of pain and anxiety or stress. Endorphins may help with some mental disorders like schizophrenia. There are many ways to boost your endorphin levels naturally, such as exercising, acupuncture, and engaging in creative activities.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gold MS, Baron D, Bowirrat A, Blum K.Neurological correlates of brain reward circuitry linked to opioid use disorder (OUD): do homo sapiens acquire or have a reward deficiency syndrome?J Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 15;418:117137. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2020.117137Avia MW, Yahav D, Gal Y.The β-endorphin role in stress-related psychiatric disorders.Current Drug Targets. 2009;10(11). doi:10.2174/138945009789735147Misra UK, Kalita J, Tripathi GM, Bhoi SK.Is β endorphin related to migraine headache and its relief?Cephalalgia. 2013;33(5):316-322. doi:10.1177/0333102412473372Khedr EM, Omran EAH, Ismail NM, et al.Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain, mood and serum endorphin level in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a double blinded, randomized clinical trial.Brain Stimul. 2017;10(5):893-901. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.06.006Grisel JE, Bartels JL, Allen SA, Turgeon VL.Influence of beta-endorphin on anxious behavior in mice: interaction with EtOH.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;200(1):105-115. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1161-4Khajehei M, Behroozpour E.Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: an understudied area.World J Obstet Gynecol.2018;7(2):17-23. doi:10.5317/wjog.v7.i2.17Urban-Kowalczyk M, Śmigielski J, Strzelecki D.Comparison of beta-endorphin and CGRP levels before and after treatment for severe schizophrenia.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Apr 15;12:863-868. doi:10.2147/NDT.S101647Balchin R, Linde J, Blackhurst D, Rauch HL, Schönbächler G.Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression.J Affect Disord. 2016 Aug;200:218-221.Cohen EE, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RI.Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds.Biol Lett. 2010;6(1):106-108. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670Lee IS, Cheon S, Park JY.Central and peripheral mechanism of acupuncture analgesia on visceral pain: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 May 2;2019:1304152. doi:10.1155/2019/1304152.Dunbar RI, Baron R, Frangou A, et al.Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold.Proc Biol Sci. 2011;279(1731):1161-1167. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373Zaidel DW.Creativity, brain, and art: biological and neurological considerations.Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jun 2;8:389. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00389Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid release after high-intensity interval training in healthy human subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;43(2):246-254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gold MS, Baron D, Bowirrat A, Blum K.Neurological correlates of brain reward circuitry linked to opioid use disorder (OUD): do homo sapiens acquire or have a reward deficiency syndrome?J Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 15;418:117137. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2020.117137Avia MW, Yahav D, Gal Y.The β-endorphin role in stress-related psychiatric disorders.Current Drug Targets. 2009;10(11). doi:10.2174/138945009789735147Misra UK, Kalita J, Tripathi GM, Bhoi SK.Is β endorphin related to migraine headache and its relief?Cephalalgia. 2013;33(5):316-322. doi:10.1177/0333102412473372Khedr EM, Omran EAH, Ismail NM, et al.Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain, mood and serum endorphin level in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a double blinded, randomized clinical trial.Brain Stimul. 2017;10(5):893-901. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.06.006Grisel JE, Bartels JL, Allen SA, Turgeon VL.Influence of beta-endorphin on anxious behavior in mice: interaction with EtOH.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;200(1):105-115. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1161-4Khajehei M, Behroozpour E.Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: an understudied area.World J Obstet Gynecol.2018;7(2):17-23. doi:10.5317/wjog.v7.i2.17Urban-Kowalczyk M, Śmigielski J, Strzelecki D.Comparison of beta-endorphin and CGRP levels before and after treatment for severe schizophrenia.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Apr 15;12:863-868. doi:10.2147/NDT.S101647Balchin R, Linde J, Blackhurst D, Rauch HL, Schönbächler G.Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression.J Affect Disord. 2016 Aug;200:218-221.Cohen EE, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RI.Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds.Biol Lett. 2010;6(1):106-108. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670Lee IS, Cheon S, Park JY.Central and peripheral mechanism of acupuncture analgesia on visceral pain: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 May 2;2019:1304152. doi:10.1155/2019/1304152.Dunbar RI, Baron R, Frangou A, et al.Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold.Proc Biol Sci. 2011;279(1731):1161-1167. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373Zaidel DW.Creativity, brain, and art: biological and neurological considerations.Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jun 2;8:389. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00389Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid release after high-intensity interval training in healthy human subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;43(2):246-254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gold MS, Baron D, Bowirrat A, Blum K.Neurological correlates of brain reward circuitry linked to opioid use disorder (OUD): do homo sapiens acquire or have a reward deficiency syndrome?J Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 15;418:117137. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2020.117137Avia MW, Yahav D, Gal Y.The β-endorphin role in stress-related psychiatric disorders.Current Drug Targets. 2009;10(11). doi:10.2174/138945009789735147Misra UK, Kalita J, Tripathi GM, Bhoi SK.Is β endorphin related to migraine headache and its relief?Cephalalgia. 2013;33(5):316-322. doi:10.1177/0333102412473372Khedr EM, Omran EAH, Ismail NM, et al.Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain, mood and serum endorphin level in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a double blinded, randomized clinical trial.Brain Stimul. 2017;10(5):893-901. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.06.006Grisel JE, Bartels JL, Allen SA, Turgeon VL.Influence of beta-endorphin on anxious behavior in mice: interaction with EtOH.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;200(1):105-115. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1161-4Khajehei M, Behroozpour E.Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: an understudied area.World J Obstet Gynecol.2018;7(2):17-23. doi:10.5317/wjog.v7.i2.17Urban-Kowalczyk M, Śmigielski J, Strzelecki D.Comparison of beta-endorphin and CGRP levels before and after treatment for severe schizophrenia.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Apr 15;12:863-868. doi:10.2147/NDT.S101647Balchin R, Linde J, Blackhurst D, Rauch HL, Schönbächler G.Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression.J Affect Disord. 2016 Aug;200:218-221.Cohen EE, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RI.Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds.Biol Lett. 2010;6(1):106-108. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670Lee IS, Cheon S, Park JY.Central and peripheral mechanism of acupuncture analgesia on visceral pain: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 May 2;2019:1304152. doi:10.1155/2019/1304152.Dunbar RI, Baron R, Frangou A, et al.Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold.Proc Biol Sci. 2011;279(1731):1161-1167. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373Zaidel DW.Creativity, brain, and art: biological and neurological considerations.Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jun 2;8:389. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00389Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid release after high-intensity interval training in healthy human subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;43(2):246-254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148
Gold MS, Baron D, Bowirrat A, Blum K.Neurological correlates of brain reward circuitry linked to opioid use disorder (OUD): do homo sapiens acquire or have a reward deficiency syndrome?J Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 15;418:117137. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2020.117137
Avia MW, Yahav D, Gal Y.The β-endorphin role in stress-related psychiatric disorders.Current Drug Targets. 2009;10(11). doi:10.2174/138945009789735147
Misra UK, Kalita J, Tripathi GM, Bhoi SK.Is β endorphin related to migraine headache and its relief?Cephalalgia. 2013;33(5):316-322. doi:10.1177/0333102412473372
Khedr EM, Omran EAH, Ismail NM, et al.Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain, mood and serum endorphin level in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a double blinded, randomized clinical trial.Brain Stimul. 2017;10(5):893-901. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.06.006
Grisel JE, Bartels JL, Allen SA, Turgeon VL.Influence of beta-endorphin on anxious behavior in mice: interaction with EtOH.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;200(1):105-115. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1161-4
Khajehei M, Behroozpour E.Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: an understudied area.World J Obstet Gynecol.2018;7(2):17-23. doi:10.5317/wjog.v7.i2.17
Urban-Kowalczyk M, Śmigielski J, Strzelecki D.Comparison of beta-endorphin and CGRP levels before and after treatment for severe schizophrenia.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Apr 15;12:863-868. doi:10.2147/NDT.S101647
Balchin R, Linde J, Blackhurst D, Rauch HL, Schönbächler G.Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression.J Affect Disord. 2016 Aug;200:218-221.
Cohen EE, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RI.Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds.Biol Lett. 2010;6(1):106-108. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670
Lee IS, Cheon S, Park JY.Central and peripheral mechanism of acupuncture analgesia on visceral pain: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 May 2;2019:1304152. doi:10.1155/2019/1304152.
Dunbar RI, Baron R, Frangou A, et al.Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold.Proc Biol Sci. 2011;279(1731):1161-1167. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373
Zaidel DW.Creativity, brain, and art: biological and neurological considerations.Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jun 2;8:389. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00389
Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid release after high-intensity interval training in healthy human subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;43(2):246-254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148
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