You must have heard the phrase ‘happy high’. Is it possible to be high on happiness? Well, neurologically speaking, it is. Happiness and other positive emotions are related to our brain releasing dopamine which is a neurotransmitter chemical messengers that transmit signals throughout the body. Increased dopamine secretion is also associated with alcohol intake and the associated feeling of euphoria. Thereby, the neurological basis of feeling happy and alcohol-induced intoxication is the same at least in the short term.
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What happens in the long term?
Psychologists state that as much as 50% of our capacity to feel happy is genetically determined. That is, there is a hedonic set point, a baseline for a constant level of happiness that we maintain throughout our lives. Any shifts away from the baseline are temporary. For example, if Mr Suri wins a big lottery prize today, he will be elated. But for how long will that happiness stay? Maybe for a few weeks or a month.
Slowly, but surely the surge of happiness will dissipate to reach the baseline. Fortunately, this principle also works for negative emotions. The saying that time heals everything is psychologically correct as with time the severity of negative emotion dissipates and our happiness surges back to the baseline. However, alcohol use over a significant period of time does not have such beneficial effects; instead, it leads to addiction as alcohol alters the chemical functioning of the brain.
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Alcohol Addiction and The Hedonic Set Point
The initial effect of alcohol is a boost in the brain’s dopamine levels, which, thereby, enhances positive emotions well over and beyond the hedonic set point. However, with continued alcohol use, the brain adapts to the artificially induced dopamine overload, disturbing the hedonic set point, which needs more and more dopamine to maintain its baseline.
Furthermore, the happiness-inducing effect of dopamine slowly diminishes due to the development of alcohol tolerance amount of alcohol needed to produce the same effect increases with time. So if our dear Mr. Suri celebrated his big lottery win with an expensive scotch and initially just 2 large pegs made him feel euphoric, after a few months of continuous alcohol use he would probably need 6 pegs to feel the same way.
After, several more months he would need a peg just to maintain his hedonic set point, his baseline happiness. And voila, addiction is served. A healthier alternative to experience greater happiness – A Harvard research study spanning over 80 years (and counting) suggests that the key to long-term happiness is close relationships. This is corroborated by studies from around the world suggesting that cultures with supportive social resources have the happiest people.
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So take time out and go on the family trip you promised your kids, the date night you owe your partner, the visit you have always been planning to your parents or siblings. Invest in your relationships. Another key strategy is simply to express gratitude for positive experiences and memories. Reflecting on and appreciating the positive aspects of life slows down the hedonic adaptation and maintains a happy high for a longer time.
Try it close your eyes and say thanks for that life-changing happy experience, memory or existence of that special person in your life. So there you go, continue celebrating and sharing your little wins in life with your loved ones and don’t forget to say thanks for the good things in life. Only if Mr. Suri knew about this simple psychological trick, would he have saved himself the trip to the rehab. He has been sober for a while now and counts his blessings every day.
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