7 Great Ways To Feel Better Fast

By Emily Jacobson

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel so good after exercising, laughing with your friends, or eating chocolate, it can be attributed to a little thing called endorphins – neurotransmitters in your brain that lessen pain, giving you a natural high and sometimes a feeling of euphoria. Releasing endorphins makes you feel better, both physically and mentally, while also increasing your body’s pain threshold. Luckily, there are some very easy ways to release endorphins that you can engage in whenever you need a natural mood enhancer.

Have Some Chocolate

If you think you’re addicted to chocolate because of its taste, that’s only part of the story. Consuming chocolate – especially dark chocolate – will cause the brain to release endorphins. Why? Dark chocolate contains a chemical that your body morphs into phenylethylamine, which is the same chemical we secrete when we’re madly in love. Make sure not to go overboard, though: you won’t get any greater effect from eating several bars of chocolate than you will from a few bites.

Eat Something Spicy That intense feeling you get from taking a bite of a hot pepper isn’t solely due to that feeling of your mouth being on fire. When you eat something super spicy, your brain is triggered to release endorphins because it believes you are in pain. That’s why people report feeling a “rush” when they use too much hot sauce.

Exercise Working out leads to an endorphin release, which is why you’ve heard people talk about “runner’s high.” Many studies have proven that exercising regularly enhances mood and reduces anxiety. The wide variety of benefits associated with exercise is because it not only releases endorphins, but also other feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. To get the benefit, choose a medium or high-impact cardio workout. Do this four times per week for at least 30-45 minutes.

Have An Orgasm Sex is good for a lot of reasons: it increases feelings of closeness, intimacy, and it feels good. Part of that “post-coital” bliss feeling has to do with what happens to your brain after having an orgasm. That high point of pleasure triggers the release of several chemicals, including endorphins.

Listen To Music The brain changes when we listen to music: it becomes calmer, more attuned, and more peaceful.When you need a little mood lifter, listen to your favorite tunes.

Laugh Judging from the fact that “laughing therapy” now exists as a way to increase mental health, we can assume that laughing is good for us. Research has indeed shown that there are instant and long-term benefits to laughter, and the endorphin release associated with it also aids in preventing certain diseases. So if you’re feeling down, simply indulge in a sit-com or call your funniest friend for relief.

Watch A Scary Movie There’s a reason why some of us enjoy the feeling of fear, whether it’s from a horror film or bungee jumping. Unless we perceive the possibility of real danger, being scared can produce an enjoyable thrill. That’s because – you guessed it – fear tricks the brain into believing it has to help you reduce pain, which leads to an endorphin release. So don’t be afraid to be afraid: rent that movie that promises to keep you wide-eyed and jumpy.