Your Neurochemical Self

Flow

Living With Intention

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on August 16, 2016

Intention is the power to redirect your thoughts. This power is limited. Here's how to grow it instead of wasting it.

Intention is the power to redirect your thoughts. This power is limited. Here's how to grow it instead of wasting it.

Oxytocin

Why Winning Feels Good

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on August 9, 2016

The facts of our brain’s natural competitiveness have been submerged by a warm and fuzzy view of nature. The truth can help us manage our quirky neurochemical operating system.

The facts of our brain’s natural competitiveness have been submerged by a warm and fuzzy view of nature. The truth can help us manage our quirky neurochemical operating system.

Dopamine

7 Habits of a Happy Brain

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on July 7, 2016

You can build new neural pathways by feeding your brain new experiences. Here's how to choose experiences that stimulate each happy chemical.

You can build new neural pathways by feeding your brain new experiences. Here's how to choose experiences that stimulate each happy chemical.

Oxytocin

3 Reasons Why You Should Cuddle More

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 23, 2016

Cuddling can help you rewrite your history of trust, and enable you to enjoy feeling safe more often.

Cuddling can help you rewrite your history of trust, and enable you to enjoy feeling safe more often.

Anxiety

4 Ways to Calm Yourself When You’re Anxious

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 21, 2016

The human brain is good at creating anxiety, and we all feel threatened by tiny cues that were relevant long ago. You can undo your anxiety when you know how you created it.

The human brain is good at creating anxiety, and we all feel threatened by tiny cues that were relevant long ago. You can undo your anxiety when you know how you created it.

Dopamine

Enjoy More Happy Brain Chemicals This Summer

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 16, 2016

These simple steps will help you avoid common drags on your mood so you can make the most out of your summertime fun.

These simple steps will help you avoid common drags on your mood so you can make the most out of your summertime fun.

Stress

3 Ways to Feel Better When a Coworker Gets on Your Nerves

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 14, 2016

When someone gets on your nerves, it’s a real thing. You can recover quickly from co-worker stress if you know these three facts about your brain chemistry.

When someone gets on your nerves, it’s a real thing. You can recover quickly from co-worker stress if you know these three facts about your brain chemistry.

Dopamine

5 Ways to Boost Your Mood When You Are Feeling Down

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 9, 2016

Ups and downs are natural, but you can have more ups when you know how your brain works. You are managing your dopamine and cortisol all the time. You can manage them in new ways!

Ups and downs are natural, but you can have more ups when you know how your brain works. You are managing your dopamine and cortisol all the time. You can manage them in new ways!

Neuroscience

How to Make Peace With Something You Cannot Control

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on June 7, 2016

When the world disappoints your expectations, your brain releases cortisol and it feels like an emergency. You can re-wire your brain to feel safe when you’re not in control.

When the world disappoints your expectations, your brain releases cortisol and it feels like an emergency. You can re-wire your brain to feel safe when you’re not in control.

Trust

How to Deal With People Who Drain Your Energy

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on May 31, 2016

Natural selection built a brain that seeks safety in numbers. Instead of spending all of your energy on the needs of others, you can start feeling good about focusing on yourself.

Natural selection built a brain that seeks safety in numbers. Instead of spending all of your energy on the needs of others, you can start feeling good about focusing on yourself.

Guilt

Get a Grip on Guilt in Three Simple Steps

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on May 23, 2016

Guilt is natural because your brain is designed to scan for threats, and social threats are survival threats to the brain we’ve inherited from earlier mammals.

Guilt is natural because your brain is designed to scan for threats, and social threats are survival threats to the brain we’ve inherited from earlier mammals.

Dopamine

5 Instant Energy Boosters You May Not Know

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on May 16, 2016

Your mental energy can sag in the face of tough challenges. It’s nice to know that your brain can release good feelings while you tackle challenges.

Your mental energy can sag in the face of tough challenges. It’s nice to know that your brain can release good feelings while you tackle challenges.

Positive Psychology

Globalizing Positive Psychology

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on May 15, 2016

Instead of researching well-being through culturally skewed self-reporting tools, let's focus on how our brain chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin) work in animals.

Instead of researching well-being through culturally skewed self-reporting tools, let's focus on how our brain chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin) work in animals.

Altruism

The Selfishness of Altruism

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on April 28, 2016

Altruism feels good because it stimulates dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. In our quest for good feelings, we don't always monitor the results of our altruistic gestures.

Altruism feels good because it stimulates dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. In our quest for good feelings, we don't always monitor the results of our altruistic gestures.

Sex

Scientists Debate Whether Sex Feels Good

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on March 15, 2016

Do animals enjoy sex? The answer will help you understand why love is a neurochemical roller coaster today.

Do animals enjoy sex? The answer will help you understand why love is a neurochemical roller coaster today.

Happiness

Why I Question Academic Research on Happiness

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on February 28, 2016

Academic research rests on the belief that “our society is the problem.” Here's what you lose when your information is filtered through a belief system.

Academic research rests on the belief that “our society is the problem.” Here's what you lose when your information is filtered through a belief system.

Forgiveness

20 Signs You Are Too Self-Critical

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on February 17, 2016

Recognize these not-so-obvious signs of self-criticism.

Recognize these not-so-obvious signs of self-criticism.

Laughter

Three Reasons to Celebrate Global Belly Laugh Day

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on January 20, 2016

Belly laughs heal and strengthen. A wave of laughter will circle the world on Jan 24. Here's how to join, and get permanent benefits from making space in your life for laughs.

Belly laughs heal and strengthen. A wave of laughter will circle the world on Jan 24. Here's how to join, and get permanent benefits from making space in your life for laughs.

Addiction

Defensiveness Hinders Recovery From Addiction

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on January 14, 2016

Commitment to recovery is undermined when defensiveness minimizes the impairment, make others responsible for it, or attacks solutions for failing to meet some arbitrary condition.

Commitment to recovery is undermined when defensiveness minimizes the impairment, make others responsible for it, or attacks solutions for failing to meet some arbitrary condition.

Stress

Why Are So Many People Unhappy?

Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on November 17, 2015

Our brain evolved to scan for danger. We feel a constant sense of threat until we know how we create it. Then we can easily rewire ourselves to see the world in new ways.

Our brain evolved to scan for danger. We feel a constant sense of threat until we know how we create it. Then we can easily rewire ourselves to see the world in new ways.