The Physics of Emotion

 

Every day, you experience many kinds of emotions that affect the way you think and act. 

However, you probably never stop to think about why you feel this way: 

Teeny-tiny chemicals are responsible. 

These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, can control your mood and activity. 

Your body is made up of many small parts called cells and, using dozens of types of chemical signals called neurotransmitters, cells communicate with each other. 

It is as if the cells are “passing notes” around, sending messages back and forth from the brain to the rest of the body. 

Learning more about the neurotransmitters flowing throughout the body and how they work in cell communication can help us understand more about how our emotions work and it can also help scientists create medications for people with certain mental health conditions. 

Think back to a time when you felt excited and happy. 

Now, remember a time when you felt sad or disappointed or even angry. 

Have you ever thought about why you felt those things or why your body reacted the way it did when you experienced those emotions? 

You can thank some itty-bitty chemicals produced by nerve cells that are at work all throughout your body.

Neurons Control Your Body

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. 

Your body is made up of trillions of cells! 

Nerve cells (also called neuronsCells that make up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They consist of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.) are one of the body’s many cell types, and they have two main functions: to sense the outside world and to control your body’s responses to the outside world. 

How do neurons do this? 

By working together!

Neurons, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and all other organs, communicate with one another using chemical signals to relay information throughout the body. 

They do this through their unique structure. 

The cell body is the “main area” of the neuron. 

DendritesShort branched structures on neuron cell bodies that receive chemical signals from other cells. are short branches extending from the cell body that receive chemical signals from other cells. 

The axon

The long thin part in the middle of a neuron that sends signals from the cell body to the axon terminal, releasing chemicals that lead to signaling in other neurons. is a long, thin fiber extending from the cell body that branches out at the ends. 

The very ends of the branches are called axon terminals and they release chemical signals into the small space between two neurons, which is called the synaptic gap

The space between the end of one neuron and the start of another neuron, which neurotransmitters cross for cell-to-cell communication. 

So, in summary, a neuron receives signals through its dendrites, the signal moves through the cell body and down the axon, and is passed on at the axon terminals, so that another neuron can receive it. Together, neurons can control many things about us, including our emotions

What exactly are the signals sent between neurons? 

They are made of chemicals called neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transfer signals from one nerve cell to another.

Imagine two friends playing a game of catch with a baseball. 

The “thrower” throws the ball across the lawn to the “catcher.” 

Similarly, imagine two neurons are communicating using neurotransmitters. 

The “thrower” neuron is called the presynaptic neuron—“pre” means “before” and tells us this neuron is before the synaptic gap. 

The presynaptic neuron releases the neurotransmitter across the “lawn” (synaptic gap), where it is caught by the “catcher” neuron, called the postsynaptic neuron (meaning “after” the synaptic gap).

While this is what generally happens, the details are a little more complex. 

Neurotransmitters are stored in tiny sac-like structures called vesicles.

Sac-like structures at the axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters and release them into the synaptic gap in response to a high enough electrical signal. at the axon terminal. 

When neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic gap, they bind to molecules called receptors.

Structures on a cell that receive (“catch”) molecules and can send a signal into the cell in response. 

In neurons, receptors trigger an electrical signal that travels through the cell. on the dendrites of the “catching” neuron—you can think of receptors as the “hands” doing the catching. 

When enough receptors “catch” the neurotransmitters, an electrical change is created in the receiving neuron, and this charge moves through the cell body and down the axon. 

When the electrical signal reaches the end of the axon, the vesicles in the axon terminal release their neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap, and they travel across to communicate with even more neurons by the same method. 

This is the basic method by which the neurotransmitters in your brain influence the emotions you feel.

The three most common neurotransmitters involved in emotions are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. 

These three different “balls” control your everyday moods and emotions! 

A good balance between “throwing” and “catching” each of these neurotransmitters is important to keep you physically and mentally healthy.

Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with emotions such as: 

interest, enjoyment, fear, and anger. 

However, dopamine alone cannot cause these emotions. 

Dopamine is a special neurotransmitter that works together with other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, to form these emotions. 

Dopamine also works in the brain’s reward system. 

Dopamine is released from neurons when the brain receives an unexpected reward, like when you receive a surprise gift. 

However, too much dopamine can be problematic, as it is linked to addiction and a psychiatric Disorder Health Conditions that affect the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. 

Examples include schizophrenia and depression. 

The symptoms of schizophrenia include: 

Losing touch with reality, for example seeing or hearing things that are not really there. 

Scientists know that excessive dopamine and dopamine receptors are one of the causes of schizophrenia, but they are unsure of the exact mechanism.

If you are denied an expected reward, like if you find out your favorite show was canceled, dopamine activity is decreased. 

Low dopamine levels are associated with emotions like: 

Surprise, distress, shame, and disgust. 

Even lower levels are associated with anxiety and Parkinson’s disease, a nervous system disease that causes movement difficulty. 

Thus, one treatment for such conditions includes a special chemical that helps the body create more dopamine, which reduces symptoms.

Serotonin

 

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with emotions such as 

interest, enjoyment, and surprise. 

It is also related to disgust, as stimulation of serotonin receptors is linked with disliking the taste of a food. The next time you feel disgusted from eating your most hated dish, you will know it is from the serotonin firing in your brain. 

Extremely high levels of serotonin in neurons can lead to serotonin toxicity, which involves symptoms such as 

nervousness, insomnia, nausea, and shaking.

Low levels of serotonin are associated with feelings of 

distress, fear, shame, and anger. 

The way these low-serotonin emotions are felt also differs by the person. 

For example, if you are highly sensitive to the emotions of others and you do something wrong, you will probably feel much more guilt and shame than someone who is less sensitive, who is more likely to feel annoyed or even angry in the same situation. 

Very low levels of serotonin are associated with psychiatric disorders including depression. 

Some medications can increase the time that serotonin stays in the synaptic gap, which can sometimes treat the symptoms of depression.

Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in attention and alertness as well as in the “fight or flight” response. 

During times of stress or anxiety, norepinephrine is released and binds to receptors throughout the body. This increases heart rate, dilates pupils, slows down digestion, and heightens the senses—a reaction you may have felt at a time when you were nervous or scared. 

High levels of norepinephrine make you feel 

active, aroused, and attentive. 

So, whether you are being chased by a bear in the woods, are extremely focused on taking a test, excited about performing in a competition, or even feeling attracted to your significant other, high levels of norepinephrine are flowing throughout your body.

Both high and low levels of norepinephrine are related to diseases: 

low levels are related to 

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression, 

high levels are related to schizophrenia. 

Now that you know how norepinephrine affects your reactions, you may be able to understand why 

high norepinephrine levels can explain emotions such as 

interest, surprise, distress, and anger 

while low norepinephrine levels explain 

terror, shame, and disgust.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of how and why you feel the way you feel! 

Different combinations of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine create our basic emotions. 

When all three neurotransmitters are at high levels, we can feel interest and excitement, while having all three at low levels can generate feelings of shame and humiliation. 

Control of feelings, thoughts, and actions is complex and are affected by other factors than the three neurotransmitters discussed in this article. 

Still, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine do play a major role in our mood. 

So, whenever you feel happy, sad or anything in between, remember that these tiny chemicals are at work all over your body to make you feel that way.

Glossary

Neurons: 

Cells that make up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They consist of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.

Dendrite: 

Short branched structures on neuron cell bodies that receive chemical signals from other cells.

Axon: 

The long thin part in the middle of a neuron that sends signals from the cell body to the axon terminal, releasing chemicals that lead to signaling in other neurons.

Synaptic Gap: 

The space between the end of one neuron and the start of another neuron, which neurotransmitters cross for cell-to-cell communication.

Neurotransmitters: 

Chemical messengers that transfer signals from one nerve cell to another.

Vesicles: 

Sac-like structures at the axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters and release them into the synaptic gap in response to a high enough electrical signal.

Receptors: 

Structures on a cell that receive (“catch”) molecules and can send a signal into the cell in response. In neurons, receptors trigger an electrical signal that travels through the cell.

Psychiatric Disorder: 

Health conditions that affect the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Examples include schizophrenia and depression.

Axel Cleeremans

An Ode to Friendship I Have Lost

To all the laughters that we shared,

Smiles that we tried so hard to keep,

Mean things that we blurt out that we did and didn't mean,

Tears that we wish never existed,

Fights that we fought,

Hearts that we've hurt,

Stories that we lived together,

And ties that we thought would bind us forever...

I'm sorry.

You will be missed,

But that's all where you'll be.

The past that I don't even want to see.

To all the forced laughters that we've had,

Conversations and hang out sessions that feel like an obligation,

Beliefs and ideals that we no longer share,

Inside jokes that start to feel old,

Priorities that we no longer understand,

And plans we no longer want to do,

Thank you.

For making me understand,

That some friendships doesn't always last.

My world has gotten bigger,

And so as yours.

I've met people whom I have connected better,

And so as you.

I've learned to laugh louder,

Cry harder,

Smile wider,

Speak wiser,

And act in foolish manner.

So have you.

So here's to you:

To the acceptance that we would no longer be friends like we used to,

To the curiosity that will always linger,

Wondering about what-ifs and what-could-have-beens,

To embracing the fact that we were always bound to end from the very beginning,

To waving goodbye to the only kind of friendship I knew growing up,

And to loving the growth,

That we both had,

As we fall apart.

Desconhecido

Why Do We Lose Friendships on the Awakening Path?

 

One of the most painfully common, yet neglected areas of discussion when it comes to the path of awakening to our deeper Self, is losing all our friends. Winding up alone.

Perhaps you’ve always struggled to make friends, or once upon a time had friendships but have since lost them. 

Maybe you’re an introvert by nature and tend to have one or two friends at a time, or an ambivert who shifts like a chameleon based on the circumstance. Maybe you’re even an extrovert who thrives on social interaction.

Whatever the case, undergoing a spiritual awakening – a call to reconnect with your deeper Self – has a way of both slowly and suddenly destroying the connections you once held dear.

These friendships can either slowly fade through time, like a withering flower in a pot of stagnant water. Or they can suddenly disappear in thin air as if an atomic bomb has gone off in your life.

However you’ve experienced the loss of friends, I want you to know that you’re not alone. You’re not weird. And you’re certainly not crazy.

The question is, 

1. Why do we lose these connections? 
2. How do we find new friends? 
3. And if we can’t find suitable connections, what do we do with ourselves? 

There are a number of reasons why we may wind up alone at some point in our lives:

• We’ve actively distanced ourselves from our previous relationships because they feel unhealthy, empty, or no longer fit our needs.
• Our friends don’t understand what we’re going through and can’t relate to the “new version” of ourselves – they can only connect to the role they were used to us playing. As a result, they phase themselves out of our lives.
• There’s a lack of understanding and shared values on both sides: we can no longer relate to them, and they can no longer relate to us.

On a more meaningful level, losing friendships:

1. Helps us to “start over” by releasing old identities, values, and aspects of the ego that we’ve outgrown
2. Clears a space in our lives to go inwards, reflect, and discover who we truly are at a deeper level beyond surface masks 
3. Creates more opportunities for the healing and illuminating power of solitude

Losing friendships on the path of awakening is an extremely common and painful experience.

I used to have lots of friends growing up, even as a shy child. But once I started going through my dark night of the soul and spiritual awakening at the age of 19, I wound up alone.

I began actively distancing myself from old friendships because they just didn’t make sense to me anymore. They felt hollow and actually made me feel more lonely than not having them.

So what I decided to do was to let them go. 

I have made few friendships since (I’ve tried, but they didn’t go as planned) and a few private online friendships. But overall, I don’t have the degree of friendship connectedness I once had. Eventually, I’d like to when the time is right in life.

As you get older, it’s harder in some ways to make friends. Busy schedules, responsibilities, mouths to feed … add the “I’m introspecting in my cocoon so I can look into the deeper layers of my soul and find the truth of reality” into that mix, and it can become really hard to find kindred souls.

How to Find Friends – and If You Can’t, What to Do Instead

We know that if we embrace our ideals, we must prove worthy of them. 

And that scares the hell out of us. 

What will become of us? 

We will lose our friends and family, who will no longer recognize us. 

We will wind up alone, in the cold void of starry space, with nothing and no one to hold on to. 

Of course this is exactly what happens. But there’s the trick. 

We wind up in space, but not alone. Instead we are tapped into an unquenchable, undepletable, inexhaustible source of wisdom, consciousness, companionship. 

Yeah, we lose friends. But we find friends too, in places we never thought to look. 

And they’re better friends, truer friends. And we’re better and truer to them.  

– Steven Pressfield

in, The War of Art

Here’s a weird thing about me. 

I might write a lot about spiritual topics, but I don’t actually like spending time around overtly spiritual people – the stereotypical love-and-light kind, anyway. Why?

A “spiritual person” role is still a role, one that is more elaborate and in many ways more self-righteous and detached (in many but not all circumstances) than the everyday person’s identity. 

In other words, it’s harder to relate to and feel truly connected with the spiritual people that I’ve come across in person (and online). I don’t know if it’s different for you and where you live, but for me, the most off-putting places are yoga classes, meditation groups, and spiritual centers. 

I don’t feel like I can be myself in these spaces or around these types of people (too much toxic positivity, new age babble, cultish behavior, and so on). So I don’t go anymore.

I find that I enjoy the company of more down-to-earth people; those who are curious, autodidactic (self-learners), creative, and quirky. These are the people I vibe with the most. 

I’ve always connected best with eccentric people – the outsiders and ones that don’t fit in well. The square pegs in round holes. The “outcasts.”

Here are a few questions to help you find friends after you’ve lost them on the awakening path:

1. Identities and roles aside, who am I deep down? 
2. What type of person do I genuinely feel comfortable around?
3. Where can I find that type of person in person (or online)?
4. How can I show up regularly in that space, same place, same time, each week, to build a bond? 

Consistency and familiarity are the keys to establishing new friendships. 

The last question is important because if you can show up in the same place, at the same time, in a place with the right people, you’ll inevitably make new friends. 

Incidentally, that’s why religion works so well (not that I’m necessarily promoting it) – it’s great at connecting people through an accepted ritual of showing up at the same place, same time, every week. 

The final question to ask is:  

 

What are my values? Does this person share them? 

If you don’t share the same core values (for instance, creativity, compassion, faith, or loyalty), your friendship won’t be that deep.

If you’re fine with surface-level friendships, that’s fine. There are different friendships for different circumstances. There are friends of convenience, casual friends, close friends, best friends, and many other types.

But if you’re like me, you enjoy deeper connections, which is why knowing your core values is important. One great way of discovering these is by asking yourself, 

“What is most important to me in life? What couldn’t I live without?”

When You Can’t Find Friends

Sometimes you’re in a place in life where it’s hard to make friends in person.

Maybe you have no space, energy, or time after your busy work week. Perhaps there are too many responsibilities on your plate, like being a live-in carer to a parent, partner, or child with a disability.

Maybe geographically you live in a very isolated place (like where I live) or in a city or country with people who don’t share the same interests or values as you (as in the case of a free spirit living in a highly religious or conservative country).

Maybe you’re still highly traumatized and your nervous system doesn’t allow you to relax around others, or you’re still sensitive and tender after going through an existential crisis or dark night.

Whatever the case, sometimes the cards aren’t in our favor. 

Sometimes life asks that you seek friendship in alternative ways.

In this situation, I take comfort from what Anne Frank writes in The Diary of a Young Girl:

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God … As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.

Other than taking solace in nature, animals, and your connection to the Divine, there is always the online world.

There are many communities out there and spaces to directly connect with others in an ongoing way. 

Amid all of this, learning to be your own best friend through the power of self-love and inner work in general will help you to be a good friend when the time comes to befriend another.

 

Losing all your friends can feel like a tragedy, something shameful, painful, or depressing. 

But it can also be a gift in that it offers you the chance to start over, begin anew, and find people who do resonate with you on a deeper level.

Aletheia

Molecules of Emotion

Emotions, are not simply chemicals in the brain. 

They are electrochemical signals that carry emotional messages throughout the body. 

These signals, a mixture of peptides, have far reaching effects.

“As our feelings change, this mixture of peptides travels throughout your body and your brain. And they’re literally changing the chemistry of every cell in your body – and sending out vibrations to other people.”

The energy you emanate from within 

attracts the situations and people 

that you need. 

How emotions have such a powerful effect?

We’re not just little hunks of meat. 

We’re vibrating like a tuning fork — we send out a vibration to other people. 

We broadcast and receive. 

Thus the emotions orchestrate the interactions among all our organs and systems to control that.

Neurotransmitters called peptides carry emotional messages. 

These messages change the chemistry of our body’s cells. 

This is all mainstream science, but it doesn’t explain how one person’s emotions can affect another person and the larger world. 

You’re still thinking about this as chemistry.

Of course it is chemistry, but it’s also physics and vibrations. 

Neurotransmitters are chemicals, but they carry an electrical charge. 

The electrical signals in our brains and bodies affect the way cells interact and function.

You have receptors on every cell in your body. 

They actually are little mini electrical pumps. 

When the receptor is activated by a matching “molecule of emotion” the receptor passes a charge into the cell changing the cell’s electrical frequency as well as its chemistry.

Just as our individual cells carry an electrical charge, so does the body as a whole. 

Like an electromagnet generating a field, people have a positive charge above their heads and a negative charge below. 

So we’re actually sending out various electrical signals – vibrations.

We’re all familiar with one kind of vibration: 

When we talk, we send a vibration through the air that someone else perceives as sound. 

We’re also sending out other kinds of vibrations. It’s a basic law of physics that when you are close to an energy source it has a greater effect and that diminishes as you move further away. 

But when you are far away there is no effect.

You’re not alone. You are connected to everybody else. 

Your emotions are key. 

And you are leaving a wake, changing the world around you in a huge way.

The “bliss response” is closely connected to the opiate receptor. 

Just as the receptors for other neuropeptides trigger a cellular response, opiate receptors pick up the presence of a neurotransmitter for euphoria. The naturally occurring “bliss chemicals” are called endorphins, and they are released in the brain and body in response to emotional states and to physical activities (including exercise and nursing).

The way endorphins work is evidence of bliss as an evolutionary necessity. 

That’s why endorphins are such highly conserved molecules. 

It’s the same in simple one-celled creatures and in humans. 

The opiate receptor it’s in our frontal cortex, the most advanced part of our brains.

It’s like we’re designed to make choices around pleasure. 

The very highest, most intelligent part of our brain is drenched in receptors to make us use pleasure as a criterion for our decisions. So it’s okay to feel good.

While it’s clear that the “bliss receptors” are centered in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that makes evaluative and complex decisions, there isn’t a clear reason.

Scientists can never ask why. They can only ask ‘what’ and ‘how.’ 

But we know that the vibration in these receptors mediates, or leads, to the whole organism feeling bliss. And how that endorphin vibration is really the bliss of union and divine union.

So when we create that kind of resonance internally, we are in line with that divine self. True bliss represents an optimal state of functioning. This state is the natural function, but our society interferes. You don’t have to teach this to native peoples. Most of us have lost touch with that reality. Most of us seem to be locked in a grim struggle constantly rushing off to the next thing. 

So while it may be natural to be in bliss, we have to learn again to feel our natural state of bliss, to feel the spiritual nature of everything around us, every moment. This doesn’t have to do with church. It doesn’t have to do with whether you were bad or good. 

It’s about feeling good.

1. Emotions are the biochemical link between mind and body

Emotions and bodily sensations are thus intricately intertwined, in a bidirectional network in which each can alter the other.

The mind-body connection. 

For centuries, scientists and philosophers have debated the relationship between mind and body. Dr. Candace Pert's groundbreaking research has revealed that emotions are the missing link in this complex interplay. Emotions are not just abstract feelings, but have a physical basis in the form of biochemical substances called neuropeptides and their receptors.

Emotional intelligence. 

This discovery challenges the traditional view of emotions as purely mental phenomena, suggesting instead that they are integral to the functioning of our entire organism. By understanding and harnessing the power of our emotions, we can potentially influence our physical health and well-being. This concept of emotional intelligence extends beyond psychological well-being to encompass physiological processes throughout the body.

Implications for health. 

The recognition of emotions as a bridge between mind and body has profound implications for healthcare. It suggests that addressing emotional issues may be crucial for treating physical ailments, and conversely, that physical interventions may impact our emotional state. This holistic approach to health challenges the compartmentalized view of traditional medicine and opens up new avenues for treatment and prevention of diseases.

2. Neuropeptides and receptors form the molecules of emotion

Let's look at the brain as a machine for not merely filtering and storing this sensory input, but for associating it with other events or stimuli occurring simultaneously at any synapse or receptor along the way—that is, learning.

Biochemical messengers. 

Neuropeptides are small protein-like molecules that act as messengers in the body. They are produced by neurons and other cells, and can bind to specific receptors on cell surfaces. This binding process triggers a cascade of cellular events that can influence mood, behavior, and physiological processes.

Widespread distribution. 

Contrary to earlier beliefs, neuropeptides and their receptors are not confined to the brain. They are found throughout the body, including in the immune system, gut, and other organs. This widespread distribution forms the basis of the psychosomatic network, allowing for communication between different bodily systems.

Learning and memory. 

The interaction between neuropeptides and receptors plays a crucial role in learning and memory formation. When we experience an event, the associated emotional state is encoded along with the sensory information. This explains why certain memories can evoke strong emotional responses, and why emotional states can influence our perception and interpretation of events.

3. The psychosomatic network connects all bodily systems

Information! It is the missing piece that allows us to transcend the body-mind split of the Cartesian view, because by definition, information belongs to neither mind nor body, although it touches both.

Interconnected systems. 

The psychosomatic network is a complex web of communication that connects the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. This network allows for rapid information exchange throughout the body, coordinating responses to internal and external stimuli.

Information flow. 

At the heart of this network is the concept of information flow. Neuropeptides and their receptors act as the carriers of this information, transmitting messages that can influence every aspect of our physiology. This flow of information is bidirectional, allowing for feedback loops and complex interactions between different bodily systems.

Holistic functioning. 

The psychosomatic network challenges the traditional view of the body as a collection of separate systems. Instead, it presents a holistic model where mental, emotional, and physical processes are intricately connected. This understanding has profound implications for how we approach health and disease, suggesting that interventions in one area can have far-reaching effects throughout the entire organism.

4. Emotional expression is crucial for health and well-being

All honest emotions are positive emotions.

Emotional release. 

Expressing emotions is not just psychologically beneficial, but physiologically necessary. When emotions are repressed or denied, the flow of information through the psychosomatic network can become blocked, potentially leading to physical and mental health issues.

Toxicity of repression. 

Chronic suppression of emotions can create a state of "emotional toxicity" in the body. This can manifest as physical symptoms, mood disorders, or a general sense of unease. By contrast, allowing ourselves to experience and express the full range of emotions – including those we might label as negative – can help maintain the free flow of information through the psychosomatic network.

Healthy emotional habits. 

Developing healthy habits for emotional expression is crucial for overall well-being. 

This might include:

• Journaling or creative expression
• Talking with a trusted friend or therapist
• Engaging in physical activities that facilitate emotional release (e.g., dance, martial arts)
• Practicing mindfulness to become more aware of our emotional states

5. Consciousness and intention can influence bodily processes

Full consciousness must involve awareness of not just mental but emotional and even basic physical experiences as well.

Mind over matter. 

Conscious awareness and intention can have a direct impact on our physiology. By becoming more aware of our bodily sensations and emotional states, we can potentially influence the flow of information through the psychosomatic network.

Visualization techniques. 

One powerful way to harness this mind-body connection is through visualization. By consciously imagining specific physiological processes, we may be able to influence them. For example, visualizing the release of endorphins might help alleviate pain or improve mood.

Practical applications. 

This understanding of the power of consciousness has practical applications in various fields:

• Pain management
• Stress reduction
• Immune system enhancement
• Addiction treatment
• Performance optimization in sports and other areas

6. Dreams provide valuable insight into the bodymind connection

Dreams are direct messages from your bodymind, giving you valuable information about what's going on physiologically as well as emotionally.

Nightly processing. 

Dreams serve as a nightly process of information integration and emotional processing. During sleep, the psychosomatic network is engaged in sorting through the day's experiences and emotions, potentially releasing stored information and rebalancing the system.

Dream journaling. 

Keeping a dream journal can be a powerful tool for tapping into the wisdom of the bodymind. By recording and reflecting on our dreams, we can gain insights into our emotional and physical states that might not be apparent during waking hours. Dr. Pert suggests writing down both the narrative content and the associated emotions of dreams.

Health insights. 

Dreams may serve as an early warning system for physical health issues. By paying attention to recurring themes or sensations in our dreams, we might become aware of developing health problems before they manifest as obvious symptoms. This underscores the importance of taking our dream life seriously as part of a holistic approach to health.

7. Alternative therapies can effectively tap into the psychosomatic network

Many psychologists have interpreted depression as suppressed anger; Freud, tellingly, described depression as anger redirected against oneself.

Body-based approaches. 

Many alternative therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, work by directly engaging with the body's psychosomatic network. These approaches can help release blocked emotions and restore the free flow of information throughout the body.

Emotional release techniques. 

Therapies that focus on emotional release, such as bioenergetics or certain forms of yoga, can be particularly effective in addressing emotional blockages. These approaches often combine physical movement or manipulation with conscious awareness to facilitate the release of stored emotions.

Integrative healthcare. 

An ideal healthcare approach would integrate these alternative therapies with conventional medical treatments. This could involve:

• Combining massage or acupuncture with traditional pain management techniques
• Using mindfulness practices alongside psychotherapy
• Incorporating body-based therapies into treatment plans for chronic diseases

8. Environmental toxins disrupt the body's natural balance

Environmental pollutants within our bodies are mimicking and disrupting the action of our sex hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—which run the male and female reproductive systems.

Toxic burden. 

Our modern environment exposes us to an unprecedented number of chemical toxins. These substances can interfere with the delicate balance of our psychosomatic network, potentially leading to a wide range of health issues.

Hormone disruption. 

Many environmental toxins act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with the body's natural hormone balance. This can have far-reaching effects on our physical and emotional health, as hormones play a crucial role in the psychosomatic network.

Detoxification strategies. 

To counter these environmental threats, Dr. Pert and other experts recommend:

• Eating organic foods when possible
• Avoiding processed foods and those with artificial additives
• Using natural cleaning and personal care products
• Supporting the body's natural detoxification processes through diet and lifestyle choices
• Regular exercise to promote sweating and toxin elimination

9. Meditation and mindfulness reduce stress and promote healing

Meditation, by allowing long-buried thoughts and feelings to surface, is a way of getting the peptides flowing again, returning the body, and the emotions, to health.

Stress reduction. 

Meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to significantly reduce stress levels. From the perspective of the psychosomatic network, this can be understood as a rebalancing of neuropeptide levels and receptor activity throughout the body.

Emotional processing. 

Regular meditation practice can facilitate the processing and release of stored emotions. By creating a space of non-judgmental awareness, meditation allows suppressed feelings to surface and be integrated, promoting emotional and physical healing.

Practical techniques. 

There are many forms of meditation and mindfulness practices, including:

• Transcendental Meditation (TM)
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
• Guided visualization
• Breath awareness
• Body scan meditation

10. A holistic approach to health integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being

Health and happiness are often mentioned in the same breath, and maybe this is why: Physiology and emotions are inseparable.

Multidimensional wellness. 

True health encompasses not just physical well-being, but emotional and spiritual dimensions as well. Dr. Pert's research on the psychosomatic network provides a scientific basis for this holistic approach to health.

Lifestyle choices. 

Achieving optimal health involves making conscious choices in multiple areas of life:

• Diet and nutrition
• Physical activity
• Emotional expression and processing
• Stress management
• Sleep and rest
• Social connections
• Spiritual or contemplative practices

Personal responsibility. 

This holistic approach empowers individuals to take an active role in their own health. By understanding the interconnectedness of mind, body, and emotions, we can make informed choices that support our overall well-being. This shift from a passive to an active stance in healthcare has the potential to revolutionize how we approach both prevention and treatment of disease.

What are the key takeaways of the book, 

Molecules of Emotion?

Biochemical Basis of Emotions: 

Emotions are not just psychological experiences but have a biochemical foundation, with neuropeptides acting as messengers in the body.

Unity of Body and Mind: 

The book argues for a holistic view of health, where the mind and body are seen as one integrated system, challenging the Cartesian dualism that separates them.

Role of Receptors: 

The discovery of opiate receptors illustrates how our bodies have natural mechanisms for experiencing pleasure and pain, influenced by emotional states.

What are the best quotes from 

Molecules of Emotion 

and what do they mean?

• "The body is not a mindless machine; the body and mind are one.": 

This quote encapsulates the central theme that our physical and emotional health are interconnected, challenging the traditional view of separation.

• "God is a neuropeptide.": 

This provocative statement suggests that spirituality and consciousness can be rooted in biological processes, inviting readers to reconsider the relationship between science and spirituality.

• "If one is going to kill the king, then one should never wound him, but finish the job and be done with it.": 

Reflects the competitive nature of scientific research and the importance of decisiveness in achieving success.

How does 

Molecules of Emotion 

challenge traditional scientific views?

Mind-Body Dualism: 

The book challenges the Cartesian view that separates the mind and body, arguing for their unity through biochemical interactions.

Emotions as Biological Processes: 

It presents evidence that emotions are not merely psychological phenomena but have tangible biological underpinnings.

Integration of Thought: 

The author bridges Eastern philosophies emphasizing the mind-body connection with Western scientific approaches, advocating for a holistic understanding of health.

What role 

do neuropeptides play in our emotions 

according to 

Molecules of Emotion?

Chemical Messengers: 

Neuropeptides act as chemical messengers, transmitting signals between cells and influencing emotional states and physical responses.

Link to Health: 

They are integral to understanding the connection between emotions and physical health, suggesting that emotional well-being can impact overall health.

Regulation of Behavior: 

Neuropeptides are involved in regulating behaviors, including stress responses, pain perception, and feelings of pleasure.

How does 

Molecules of Emotion 

address the mind-body connection?

Interconnected Systems: 

The book argues that the mind and body are part of a unified system where emotions influence physical health.

Scientific Evidence: 

It provides studies demonstrating how emotional experiences can lead to physiological changes, supporting the mind-body connection.

Practical Implications: 

Readers are encouraged to recognize the importance of emotional health, suggesting that addressing emotional issues can lead to improved physical health outcomes.

What is the significance of 

the opiate receptor in 

Molecules of Emotion?

Discovery: 

The identification of the opiate receptor plays a crucial role in how the body responds to pain and pleasure, linking emotional states to physical sensations.

Implications for Addiction: 

Understanding the opiate receptor has significant implications for addiction treatment, revealing interactions with substances like morphine and heroin.

Foundation for Research: 

The discovery opened the door for further exploration into neuropeptides and their receptors, advancing understanding of mental health and emotional well-being.

How does Chopra define 

the psychosomatic network in 

Molecules of Emotion?

Interconnected Systems: 

The psychosomatic network is a complex system where the mind and body communicate through biochemical signals.

Role of Neuropeptides: 

Neuropeptides act as messengers conveying emotional information throughout the body, influencing both emotional states and physical health.

Holistic Healing: 

The network underscores the importance of holistic healing approaches that address both emotional and physical aspects of health.

What practical advice 

does Chopra offer for emotional healing in

 Molecules of Emotion?

Meditation and Mindfulness: 

Regular practice can help individuals connect with their emotions and promote a sense of inner peace.

Body Awareness: 

Engaging in bodywork, such as massage or yoga, is recommended to release stored emotions and enhance the flow of neuropeptides.

Journaling and Dream Work: 

Keeping a journal and recording dreams can help individuals process their feelings and gain insights into their emotional states.

How does Chopra 

connect spirituality to health in 

Molecules of Emotion?

Spiritual Dimension of Healing: 

Spirituality is seen as essential for health, fostering a sense of connection and purpose.

Unity of Mind, Body, and Spirit: 

True healing requires addressing all three aspects, advocating for a holistic approach that incorporates spiritual practices.

Personal Transformation: 

Chopra shares his spiritual journey, encouraging readers to explore their spirituality to enhance emotional and physical well-being.

Dr. Candace Pert

in, Molecules of Emotion

Song of the Open Road

 

Walt Whitman

Corbis/VCG

1

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are,

I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go,

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,

I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)

2

You road I enter upon and look around, I believe you are not all that is here,

I believe that much unseen is also here.

Here the profound lesson of reception, nor preference nor denial,

The black with his woolly head, the felon, the diseas’d, the illiterate person, are not denied;

The birth, the hasting after the physician, the beggar’s tramp, the drunkard’s stagger, the laughing party of mechanics,

The escaped youth, the rich person’s carriage, the fop, the eloping couple,

The early market-man, the hearse, the moving of furniture into the town, the return back from the town,

They pass, I also pass, any thing passes, none can be interdicted,

None but are accepted, none but shall be dear to me.

3

You air that serves me with breath to speak!

You objects that call from diffusion my meanings and give them shape!

You light that wraps me and all things in delicate equable showers!

You paths worn in the irregular hollows by the roadsides!

I believe you are latent with unseen existences, you are so dear to me.

You flagg’d walks of the cities! you strong curbs at the edges!

You ferries! you planks and posts of wharves! you timber-lined sides! you distant ships!

You rows of houses! you window-pierc’d façades! you roofs!

You porches and entrances! you copings and iron guards!

You windows whose transparent shells might expose so much!

You doors and ascending steps! you arches!

You gray stones of interminable pavements! you trodden crossings!

From all that has touch’d you I believe you have imparted to yourselves, and now would impart the same secretly to me,

From the living and the dead you have peopled your impassive surfaces, and the spirits thereof would be evident and amicable with me.

4

The earth expanding right hand and left hand,

The picture alive, every part in its best light,

The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is not wanted,

The cheerful voice of the public road, the gay fresh sentiment of the road.

O highway I travel, do you say to me Do not leave me?

Do you say Venture not—if you leave me you are lost?

Do you say I am already prepared, I am well-beaten and undenied, adhere to me?

O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you,

You express me better than I can express myself,

You shall be more to me than my poem.

I think heroic deeds were all conceiv’d in the open air, and all free poems also,

I think I could stop here myself and do miracles,

I think whatever I shall meet on the road I shall like, and whoever beholds me shall like me,

I think whoever I see must be happy.

5

From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,

Going where I list, my own master total and absolute,

Listening to others, considering well what they say,

Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,

Gently,but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.

I inhale great draughts of space,

The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine.

I am larger, better than I thought,

I did not know I held so much goodness.

All seems beautiful to me,

I can repeat over to men and women You have done such good to me I would do the same to you,

I will recruit for myself and you as I go,

I will scatter myself among men and women as I go,

I will toss a new gladness and roughness among them,

Whoever denies me it shall not trouble me,

Whoever accepts me he or she shall be blessed and shall bless me.

6

Now if a thousand perfect men were to appear it would not amaze me,

Now if a thousand beautiful forms of women appear’d it would not astonish me.

Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons,

It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.

Here a great personal deed has room,

(Such a deed seizes upon the hearts of the whole race of men,

Its effusion of strength and will overwhelms law and mocks all authority and all argument against it.)

Here is the test of wisdom,

Wisdom is not finally tested in schools,

Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it to another not having it,

Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof,

Applies to all stages and objects and qualities and is content,

Is the certainty of the reality and immortality of things, and the excellence of things;

Something there is in the float of the sight of things that provokes it out of the soul.

Now I re-examine philosophies and religions,

They may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds and along the landscape and flowing currents.

Here is realization,

Here is a man tallied—he realizes here what he has in him,

The past, the future, majesty, love—if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.

Only the kernel of every object nourishes;

Where is he who tears off the husks for you and me?

Where is he that undoes stratagems and envelopes for you and me?

Here is adhesiveness, it is not previously fashion’d, it is apropos;

Do you know what it is as you pass to be loved by strangers?

Do you know the talk of those turning eye-balls?

7

Here is the efflux of the soul,

The efflux of the soul comes from within through embower’d gates, ever provoking questions,

These yearnings why are they? these thoughts in the darkness why are they?

Why are there men and women that while they are nigh me the sunlight expands my blood?

Why when they leave me do my pennants of joy sink flat and lank?

Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?

(I think they hang there winter and summer on those trees and always drop fruit as I pass;)

What is it I interchange so suddenly with strangers?

What with some driver as I ride on the seat by his side?

What with some fisherman drawing his seine by the shore as I walk by and pause?

What gives me to be free to a woman’s and man’s good-will? what gives them to be free to mine?

8

The efflux of the soul is happiness, here is happiness,

I think it pervades the open air, waiting at all times,

Now it flows unto us, we are rightly charged.

Here rises the fluid and attaching character,

The fluid and attaching character is the freshness and sweetness of man and woman,

(The herbs of the morning sprout no fresher and sweeter every day out of the roots of themselves, than it sprouts fresh and sweet continually out of itself.)

Toward the fluid and attaching character exudes the sweat of the love of young and old,

From it falls distill’d the charm that mocks beauty and attainments,

Toward it heaves the shuddering longing ache of contact.

9

Allons! whoever you are come travel with me!

Traveling with me you find what never tires.

The earth never tires,

The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first, Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first,

Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop’d,

I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.

Allons! we must not stop here,

However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling we cannot remain here,

However shelter’d this port and however calm these waters we must not anchor here,

However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to receive it but a little while.

10

Allons! the inducements shall be greater,

We will sail pathless and wild seas,

We will go where winds blow, waves dash, and the Yankee clipper speeds by under full sail.

Allons! with power, liberty, the earth, the elements,

Health, defiance, gayety, self-esteem, curiosity;

Allons! from all formules!

From your formules, O bat-eyed and materialistic priests.

The stale cadaver blocks up the passage—the burial waits no longer.

Allons! yet take warning!

He traveling with me needs the best blood, thews, endurance,

None may come to the trial till he or she bring courage and health,

Come not here if you have already spent the best of yourself,

Only those may come who come in sweet and determin’d bodies,

No diseas’d person, no rum-drinker or venereal taint is permitted here.

(I and mine do not convince by arguments, similes, rhymes,

We convince by our presence.)

11

Listen! I will be honest with you,

I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but offer rough new prizes,

These are the days that must happen to you:

You shall not heap up what is call’d riches,

You shall scatter with lavish hand all that you earn or achieve,

You but arrive at the city to which you were destin’d, you hardly settle yourself to satisfaction before you are call’d by an irresistible call to depart,

You shall be treated to the ironical smiles and mockings of those who remain behind you,

What beckonings of love you receive you shall only answer with passionate kisses of parting,

You shall not allow the hold of those who spread their reach’d hands toward you.

12

Allons! after the great Companions, and to belong to them!

They too are on the road—they are the swift and majestic men—they are the greatest women,

Enjoyers of calms of seas and storms of seas,

Sailors of many a ship, walkers of many a mile of land,

Habituès of many distant countries, habituès of far-distant dwellings,

Trusters of men and women, observers of cities, solitary toilers,

Pausers and contemplators of tufts, blossoms, shells of the shore,

Dancers at wedding-dances, kissers of brides, tender helpers of children, bearers of children,

Soldiers of revolts, standers by gaping graves, lowerers-down of coffins,

Journeyers over consecutive seasons, over the years, the curious years each emerging from that which preceded it,

Journeyers as with companions, namely their own diverse phases,

Forth-steppers from the latent unrealized baby-days,

Journeyers gayly with their own youth, journeyers with their bearded and well-grain’d manhood,

Journeyers with their womanhood, ample, unsurpass’d, content,

Journeyers with their own sublime old age of manhood or womanhood,

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe,

Old age, flowing free with the delicious near-by freedom of death.

13

Allons! to that which is endless as it was beginningless,

To undergo much, tramps of days, rests of nights,

To merge all in the travel they tend to, and the days and nights they tend to,

Again to merge them in the start of superior journeys,

To see nothing anywhere but what you may reach it and pass it,

To conceive no time, however distant, but what you may reach it and pass it,

To look up or down no road but it stretches and waits for you, however long but it stretches and waits for you,

To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,

To see no possession but you may possess it, enjoying all without labor or purchase, abstracting the feast yet not abstracting one particle of it,

To take the best of the farmer’s farm and the rich man’s elegant villa, and the chaste blessings of the well-married couple, and the fruits of orchards and flowers of gardens,

To take to your use out of the compact cities as you pass through,

To carry buildings and streets with you afterward wherever you go,

To gather the minds of men out of their brains as you encounter them, to gather the love out of their hearts,

To take your lovers on the road with you, for all that you leave them behind you,

To know the universe itself as a road, as many roads, as roads for traveling souls.

All parts away for the progress of souls,

All religion, all solid things, arts, governments—all that was or is apparent upon this globe or any globe, falls into niches and corners before the procession of souls along the grand roads of the universe.

Of the progress of the souls of men and women along the grand roads of the universe, all other progress is the needed emblem and sustenance.

Forever alive, forever forward,

Stately, solemn, sad, withdrawn, baffled, mad, turbulent, feeble, dissatisfied,

Desperate, proud, fond, sick, accepted by men, rejected by men,

They go! they go! I know that they go, but I know not where they go,

But I know that they go toward the best—toward something great.

Whoever you are, come forth! or man or woman come forth!

You must not stay sleeping and dallying there in the house, though you built it, or though it has been built for you.

Out of the dark confinement! out from behind the screen!

It is useless to protest, I know all and expose it.

Behold through you as bad as the rest,

Through the laughter, dancing, dining, supping, of people,

Inside of dresses and ornaments, inside of those wash’d and trimm’d faces,

Behold a secret silent loathing and despair.

No husband, no wife, no friend, trusted to hear the confession,

Another self, a duplicate of every one, skulking and hiding it goes,

Formless and wordless through the streets of the cities, polite and bland in the parlors,

In the cars of railroads, in steamboats, in the public assembly,

Home to the houses of men and women, at the table, in the bedroom, everywhere,

Smartly attired, countenance smiling, form upright, death under the breast-bones, hell under the skull-bones,

Under the broadcloth and gloves, under the ribbons and artificial flowers,

Keeping fair with the customs, speaking not a syllable of itself,

Speaking of any thing else but never of itself.

14

Allons! through struggles and wars!

The goal that was named cannot be countermanded.

Have the past struggles succeeded?

What has succeeded? yourself? your nation? Nature?

Now understand me well—it is provided in the essence of things that from any fruition of success, no matter what, shall come forth something to make a greater struggle necessary.

My call is the call of battle, I nourish active rebellion,

He going with me must go well arm’d,

He going with me goes often with spare diet, poverty, angry enemies, desertions.

15

Allons! the road is before us!

It is safe—I have tried it—my own feet have tried it well—be not detain’d!

Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the shelf unopen’d!

Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearn’d!

Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!

Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead in the court, and the judge expound the law.

Camerado, I give you my hand!

I give you my love more precious than money,

I give you myself before preaching or law;

Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?

Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

Walt Whitman

Robustness

 

Robustness as the ability to withstand the elements—whether that’s pressure, pain, or challenges. 

Is about how well you can navigate the emotional ups and downs that come with putting yourself out there. 

It’s not about waiting until you’re impervious to being triggered or hurt. 

Instead, it’s about building the resilience to handle those moments when they arise.

“Robustness is a word denoting health, psychological or physical; the ability to meet the world with vigor and impact. To be robust is to be physically or imaginatively present in the very firm presence of something or someone else. Being robust means we acknowledge the living current in something other than ourselves.”

 

“Robustness and vulnerability belong together. To be robust is to show a willingness to take collateral damage, to put up with temporary pain, noise, chaos, or our systems being temporarily undone.”

 

“A robust response always entertains the possibility of humiliation, it is also a kind of faith; a sense that we will somehow survive the impact of a vigorous meeting.”

 

“A lack of robustness denotes ill-health, psychological or physical, it can feed on itself; the less contact we have with anything other than our own body, our own rhythm, or the way we have arranged our life, the more afraid we can become of the frontier where actual noise, meetings, and changes occur.”

 

Robustness isn’t developed in isolation. 

It’s forged at the intersection of your internal state and the external world.

In other words, you can’t build robustness by staying under the covers at home. 

You have to expose yourself to those elements.

David Whyte

in, Consolations