According to research happiness might be all in your mind

Published in

Clippings Autumn 2018

5 min readNov 13, 2018

Science demonstrates that when we are happy it’s because we release hormones in our brain such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Our senses can be triggered when we are reminded of memories that are stored in our minds. The noun ‘nostalgia’ comes from the Greek words ‘nostos’ which means “return home” and ‘algia’ which means “pain”; therefore, it’s attributed with the idea of ‘home’ or ‘homesickness’. It was demonstrated that neurons lit up on the screen, during an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan, when people were associated with nostalgia. Our minds contain previous thoughts stowed away from earlier events, these thoughts can then reproduce feelings when we come across something familiar.

There is evidence that vanilla is a popular fragrance choice as it reminds us of sweet parts of our childhood. It triggers a ‘pleasant’ reaction for most of us. For instance, the smell prompts memories of ice creams, biscuits and holidays. The word is usually associated with the meaning that something is plain or without any features added, but it was the little things that may have excited you as a child. Therefore, the happiness is regenerated in your mind when you get a whiff of the scent. Scientific experiments have demonstrated that the smell of vanilla has helped with stress and anxiety. Whilst undergoing an MRI scan, which can be quite a stressful procedure, 63% of Cancer patients were reported to have less anxiety when heliotropin (a vanilla fragrance) was given during the experiment; it became popular to add vanilla to perfume since the 1990’s, as it generates such a ‘pleasurable’ reaction.

In conjunction with the idea of childhood memories, it is known that our eyes (if they are able) have been taking in our surroundings every day since we were little. A lot of us are delighted by seeing a cute puppy or a new-born baby. Whether it is seeing the woodland you walked through as a child or the Christmas lights along the street that make you feel Christmassy, your memories are there and make you happy. A study by The National Trust and The University of Surrey demonstrated that they were “able to prove the physical and emotional benefits of place” — Dr Andy Myers, of Surrey University. For example, the place where a person got married would trigger more emotion and memories than their ring or the photographs. As well as places, watching movies that feature a happy ending tend to make you feel good. An example that I take from personal preference would be Disney film; they feature common plot lines such as girl becomes a princess or the prince saves the day. Yet, the point is that they almost always end with a happily ever after. It may not be a metaphor for reality but you can escape to their world of bliss for an hour and a half. I could explain why I fangirl over the fact my favourite film is Tangled or express my excitement over the scene when Peter Pan flies to ‘Neverland’ with the ‘Darling’ children but you probably get the idea. If you grew up with Disney like I did, it seems to spark childhood memories. Disneyland itself is purely a place of magic where we can be a child again. As Walt Disney stated: “adults are only kids grown up anyway”.

Our taste buds seem to develop as we get older but one food that a lot of us seem to love is chocolate. Unless you are lactose intolerant or just don’t like the taste, chocolate can be an easy way to soothe our pain. The Telegraph mentions that “chocolate contains the hormone Phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love”. Dark chocolate is considered an aphrodisiac which means a food or drink that stimulates sexual desire — which may relate to why lovers give each other chocolate on Valentine’s day. It is also a stereotype that a lot of women tend to eat chocolate when they are approaching their menstrual cycle. Chocolate is known to release the hormone oxytocin which is also known as the ‘cuddle hormone’. Women crave the attention, become needy and grumpy on the build up to their period; therefore, chocolate tends to relieve this rage.

Studies have demonstrated the sounds such as a babbling brook or rainfall in a storm can calm nerves and help you sleep. A professor of biobehavioural health at Pennsylvania State University, Orfeu Buxton said “These slow, whooshing noises are the sounds of non-threats, which is why they work to calm people,” which suggests the sounds act as a sort of ‘don’t worry’. Any sounds that represent danger such as a scream or a loud bang are remembered yet can be diffused when the stress hormone cortisol is released. Investigations reveal that certain types of music can be used to help with depression. For instance, heavy metal may seem to exacerbate feelings yet it can be used to ‘purge’ the emotions of sadness or anger. If you are annoyed you are not going to listen to a joyful tune, you are going to want a song that speaks your mind. Listening to certain sounds can trigger a tingly feeling at the back your skull, also known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). This can be triggered with noises such as gentle whispering, crinkling paper or smooth brushing.

Whether it is stroking a fluffy puppy or stuffing our faces with our favourite sweets, our brains are activated in times of nostalgia. So, go make more memories and do things that makes your mind happy.

References

References

Nostalgia:

https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/psychology/psychology-and-psychiatry/nostalgia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/12/brain-nostalgia-first-study-shows-neurons-light-meaningful-places/

Vanilla:

http://www.sirc.org/publik/smell_vanilla.html

Chocolate:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/nutrition/chocolate-10-health-reasons-you-should-eat-more-of-it/

Rain sounds:

https://www.livescience.com/53403-why-sound-of-water-helps-you-sleep.html

Music helps with depression: