Neurotransmitters, like serotonin, allow us to experience different emotions all throughout the day. Sometimes we feel elated and other times we feel in the dumps. The reason for this has a lot to do with these neurotransmitters.
Specifically, dopamine makes you feel happy, it is often referred to as the pleasure neurotransmitter. Lots of abused drugs increase dopamine in individuals brain’s. Another neurotransmitter, called serotonin impacts our brains in a different way. Serotonin lifts our moods, helping us to feel more peaceful and less stressed out. It can even help us sleep better and feel less anxiety, and can help with appetite, and memory.
Wikipedia defines serotonin as, “a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), blood platelets, and the central nervous system (CNS) of animals, including humans. It is popularly thought to be a contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin)
Serotonin helps people solve their worries before they become too overwhelming. It’s a neurotransmitter that is essential to prevent depression and anxiety. In fact, serotonin balances out dopamine. When dopamine is creating too much pleasure, serotonin is often the calming influence to counteract the dopamine. Drug use can inhibit the balance between the neurotransmitters and can lead to lower production of serotonin and or dopamine or even increased production of it.