Here are the six mood changing hormones (neurotransmitters.)
• Dopamine → Motivation
• Serotonin → Mood stability
• Endorphins → Euphoria & pain relief
• Oxytocin → Connection
• Norepinephrine → Energy & alertness
• GABA → Calm
Here is how they work and how faith in Christ impacts them.
1. Dopamine — Motivation & Reward
• Often called the reward neurotransmitter.
• Gives the feeling of anticipation, motivation, accomplishment, and “yes, that felt good — let’s do it again.”
• Released during:
o Achieving goals
o Novel experiences
o Exercise
o Healthy social bonding
Our new walk with Christ is a continual state of anticipation, motivation and accomplishment.”
Jesus said – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Lk.6:38
He is explaining how joy will be our reward, and joy raises Dopamine like nothing else!
Boost Dopamine by:
Small wins: Break tasks into tiny steps and check them off. (Dopamine loves completion.)
Becoming a Christian gives us unending goals, pursuits and challenges. Living in the kingdom of God makes every experience “Novel.”
Each new victory is a “small win.” Each step forward, every obedience, every effort to trust, to step out in faith, to experiment with the promises of God, to put our trust in them, each day, each hour provides us with opportunities for joy and gladness.
New experiences: Everything in the walk of faith is about “New wins.” We choose a new direction, a new way of thinking, a new way of acting, a new way of achieving
Exercise: Even 10 minutes lifts dopamine.
The Christian life is an active life! We worship, we sing, we fellowship, we serve, we engage the world by deeds of charity, love and hope.
Creating something: Writing, art, or any kind of making.
If the Christian life is anything it is creative! The Holy Spirit living within us launches us out into the world, where every person we meet gives us opportunity to show the love of God. If by an act of kindness, we need to be creative; if by a word spoken at just the right time; if by sharing the sorrows of others grief, or sharing their joy, we have unending opportunities to creatively show the love of God.
Healthy social bonding
Christ has joined us to His church; and in the church we join others to fellowship, to worship, and to serve Christ. The world is our mission place; the church is our launching pad.
2. Serotonin — Mood Stability & Well-Being
• Often associated with contentment, emotional balance, and calm.
• Helps regulate:
o Mood
o Sleep
o Appetite
o Anxiety levels
• Sunlight, exercise, and certain foods influence serotonin pathways.
As a Christian we know that we are “loved with an everlasting love and held up by the everlasting arms;” nothing raises Serotonin more than being in the arms of Christ! We have His precious promises; His Spirit within us; the contentment that comes by seeing His Spirit remove the destructive hurts, habits and hangups from our life. The emotional balance we are patiently led into by His Spirit, where we learn to balance the pursuit of pleasure with our duties. Purpose clear, duties fulfilled, all lead to lower anxiety levels, better sleep and lifted moods.
3. Endorphins — Natural Painkillers & Euphoria
Boost them by:
• Laughing: One of the strongest endorphin triggers.
• Exercise: Particularly running or brisk movement.
• Spicy foods: Chili peppers stimulate endorphin release.
• Dark chocolate: Small amounts help.
• Deep massage or stretching: Can trigger mild endorphin release.
Although the methods to boost Endorphins isn’t mentioned here, feelings of joy, gladness, and hope do stimulate the brain’s natural “feel-good” chemistry, including endorphins, but also several other key neurotransmitters.
The Bible says the hope of the righteous is gladness, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.
And it says in Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,”
4. Oxytocin – Bonding, Trust & Emotional Warmth
Boost it by:
• Physical touch: Hugs, holding hands, or even petting a dog.
• Acts of kindness: Giving boosts oxytocin more than receiving.
• Meaningful conversation: Genuine emotional connection.
• Worship, prayer, or singing in groups (studies show oxytocin rises during communal experiences).
• Eye contact: Warm, non-threatening eye contact builds trust.
As I read over the causes for increasing Oxytocin, it’s obvious that all these methods to raise Oxytocin are integral parts of Christ’s church. Each one is a part of the kingdom of God, and in a healthy church, one should feel a rise in Oxytocin just in entering the church doors.
5. Norepinephrine — Alertness & Energy
Boost it by:
• Cold exposure: Splash cold water on your face or take a 30–60 second cold shower at the end.
• Short bursts of exercise: Climbing stairs for 1–2 minutes.
• Challenging your brain: Reading something mentally stimulating or learning a skill.
• Deep breathing: Slow, strong breaths can increase alertness.
Within the methods to raise Norepinephrine, we see that “Challenging your brain” is a part, and certainly studying the Bible, learning to live and love as Christ did, as well as reading biographies of great Christians all have the ability to raise Norepinephrine.
6. GABA — Relaxation & Calm
Boost it by:
• Slow breathing: 4–6 breaths per minute dramatically increases GABA activity.
• Prayer, meditation, or silent reflection: Calms neural pathways.
• Chamomile or green tea: Contains compounds that activate GABA receptors.
• Warm bath: Heat increases GABA activity in the brain.
• Magnesium-rich foods: Nuts, leafy greens, pumpkin seeds.
The disciplines of the Christian life, such as - prayer, meditation, silent reflection, are all significant and part of the normal Christian life.
King David displays this silent reflection when he says -
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Psalm" 139:23.
