Remember the rush you felt when you received an exam grade back and saw that you earned a high mark? Or, how about the time your boss gave you a promotion along with a salary boost? That pleasurable, elated feeling may be euphoria.
We are a pleasure-seeking species, always searching for ways to boost our mood or overall outlook on a daily basis. When we feel good mentally and physically, we may also feel more motivated, productive, social, and happier, in general. In our busy, stressful world, it may be impossible to experience euphoria all the time, but we can make positive lifestyle changes that could help us get closer to it.
What is euphoria?
Euphoria is a strong, visceral feeling of happiness, joy, and well-being. When we feel it, it’s often because of a positive event, situation, reward, or some other stimulus. At the same time, we may be free from stress and anxiety at that moment. Whilst experiencing euphoria can be one of the most enjoyable parts of life, it may also occur as a result of mental illness or substance abuse.
What causes it?
Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters, otherwise known as “happy or feel-good hormones” that play an active role in how we feel on a daily basis. More specifically, they allow us to experience pleasure, and they are also responsible for our overall wellness.
Dopamine, in particular, enables us to feel extreme pleasure or euphoria. Too little or too much dopamine in certain parts of the brain can negatively impact our mental health. For instance, a drop in dopamine levels could make us feel less motivated. Whereas, an increase in levels could contribute to delusions or hallucinations.
What are nootropics?
As we know, a miraculous super pill to help us feel euphoric all the time, or one that will turn us into world-dominating geniuses doesn’t exist anywhere except in fiction or in Hollywood. On the other hand, you may have heard about the “smart drug,” nootropics.
Nootropics are either natural, synthetic, or prescription-grade supplements that can have a positive impact on our cognitive functioning, mental health, and overall wellness.
How can nootropics promote euphoria?
When we’re feeling euphoric, we aren’t stressed out. Many nootropics have an adaptogenic effect on our bodies, meaning, they can bring down our cortisol levels, improve our mood, relax us, and aid in our overall well-being.
What are other things I can do to feel euphoric?
We may not always achieve peak-euphoria, but there are numerous ways we can feel as close to euphoric as possible:
- Take a long, hot bath
- Practice self-love by doing the activities and eating the foods you love
- Exercise or engage in physical activity daily [when we exercise, we release endorphins, and they can help us experience a natural high].
- Meditate, practice yoga, or engage in deep breathing exercises
- Participate in sexual activity, including masturabation
- Listen to your favorite “feel good” music
- Watch a comedy film or TV show.
Is it safe to experience pleasure or euphoria frequently?
Most of us love to feel our best for as long and as often as possible. Feeling pleasure is unique to the human experience. It can improve our real health, which is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.”
Assuming you’re experiencing pleasure or euphoria naturally, as a result of a happy occasion, or rush, such as from skydiving, etc., [instead of as a result of substance abuse], then, in general, feeling euphoric is safe, not to mention enjoyable.
Top 5 euphoric nootropics of 2021
5 HTP
Officially called “5-Hydroxytryptophan,” 5-HTP comes from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia, a plant that grows throughout Africa. It helps increase the production of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, a hormone vital to our sleeping habits, sexual behavior, and pain tolerance.
Can it help me feel euphoric?
5-HTP may alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety that can interfere with our potential to experience euphoria, such as insomnia, fatigue, pessimism, and a foul mood.
Recommended dosage: On average, it can be safe to take up to 400mg of 5-HTP for up to one year. Otherwise, most doses range from 150 mg to 800mg daily.
Other considerations: Research is sparse regarding the effects of 5-HTP on women who are pregnant or nursing, so it may be best to avoid this supplement. Consult your doctor first before considering it.
If you’re taking antidepressants, you may want to avoid taking 5-HTP, as it can raise your serotonin levels. Since many antidepressants also do the same, it could lead to elevated serotonin levels that are unsafe.
Ashwagandha
Often called Chinese Ginseng, poison gooseberry, Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb grown in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Used in ancient Indian medicine for its adaptogenic properties, Ashwagandha can calm our nerves, lower our blood pressure, and improve our creativity.
Can it help me feel euphoric?
Because ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can lower our cortisol levels, and therefore symptoms of stress and anxiety, it can help you relax and stabilize your mood.
When it’s sourced from the roots of the plant, as in KSM-66 found in Earths Secret’s Calm Complex, it’s purer and contains higher concentrations of its active ingredient withanolides—which can help you feel tranquil.
Recommended dosage: Although there isn’t an official, recommended dosage, a typical dose clocks in at 500 mg to 600 mg daily. You can purchase it as a capsule, extract, or a powder that is ideal for stirring into a smoothie or a bowl of soup.
Other considerations: If you’re taking thyroid medication or blood thinners, consult your doctor before starting ashwagandha, as it could interfere with your treatment. Also, women who are pregnant or nursing should also contact their doctors, as limited research exists on the effects of ashwagandha on fetal development or young children.
Omega 3
We get Omega-3 fatty acids from the food we eat or by taking a supplement. They are an energy source responsible for strengthening our immunity and keeping our heart, eyes, and blood vessels healthy.
Omega-3 is prevalent in fatty, oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, oysters, not to mention in other foods like, flaxseed, soybeans, and walnuts.
Can it help me feel euphoric?
This nootropic can help alleviate many symptoms of anxiety and depression because of its anti-inflammatory effects, including: brain fog, trouble with memory in older adults, concentration, and improved mood and outlook.
Recommended dosage: Many fish oil supplements contain the two main types of Omega-3--DHA and EPA. The average daily dosage ranges from 250mg to 500mg.
Other considerations: Pay close attention to the mercury content of the fish you are eating to supplement. For instance, swordfish contain higher mercury levels than salmon, so it’s best to consume the lower-level option.
Ginkgo Biloba
A pillar in ancient Chinese medicine, ginkgo biloba, also called maidenhair, is full of antioxidants, and plays a significant role in keeping our brains and circulatory systems healthy.
Can it help me feel euphoric? Feeling depressed, anxious, or on-edge can keep us from enjoying pleasurable experiences or reaching euphoric heights. Ginkgo may help improve those symptoms.
Recommended dosage: You can purchase Ginkgo in capsule, tablet, powder, extract, or dried herb/tea leaf form. A typical dose can range from 60mg to 240 mg daily, for up to 6 months.
Other considerations: If you’re taking aspirin or vitamin E, research suggests avoiding Ginkgo because of the increased risk for adverse reactions. Further, if you’re taking blood thinners, consult your doctor before starting this nootropic.
L-Theanine
Green and black tea are full of L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts like a relaxing agent in our bodies. It can influence the level of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in the brain.
Can it help me feel euphoric?
L-Theanine can help you feel relaxed, lessen symptoms of anxiety, and ultimately improve your mood—quelling the symptoms that could interfere with feeling your best.
Recommended dosage: There is no official, recommended dosage, however, doses can range from 150mg to 900 mg daily.
Other considerations: If you are taking stimulants such as pseudoephedrine or Adderall, etc., it’s important to consult your doctor before taking L-Theanine, as it can interfere with the effectiveness of your stimulants.
Also, it’s worth keeping track of your caffeine consumption, especially if you plan to supplement with tea. Too much caffeine can negatively affect your stress levels and overall cardiovascular health.
Ready to feel euphoric more often?
Euphoria is a natural high that can rush through our bodies like a wave of pleasure. Staying tuned in to our mental and physical health can help us experience it more often and for longer periods of time.
A comprehensive health supplement regime can target several body systems and symptoms that might interfere with how often or for how long we experience natural euphoria.
Three different all-natural, vegan-friendly complexes make up Earths Secret’s Ultimate Complex: Calm, Sleep, and Thrive. Each complex targets multiple systems and functions in the body, calming your nerves, improving your mood, and relaxing you so that you can ride that wave all the way to your next natural high.
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