It is clear that experiencing changes in hormone levels, environmental factors, psychological disturbances derived, for example, from a crisis or bereavement, major, drastic life changes and, of course, sustained stress, can lead to a marked alteration in our motivation and mood. In other words, our mood can be both stable and vulnerable, and there is a wide range of causes that can disrupt it in an almost immediate and inevitable way. In fact, according to psychotherapist Susan Zinn, 60% of our motivation and emotional stability is determined by three crucial components that depend on ourselves:
- Firstly, our overall satisfaction with life; whether our emotions are positive in relation to past experiences, the present and our outlook for the future.
- Secondly, feeling that what we do in life is meaningful or something we can feel proud of.
- And thirdly, truly feeling engaged in our day-to-day life without losing a sense of purpose.
But what about the other 40%?
The remaining forty per cent of happiness is defined, among other factors, by our genetics. However, this does not mean that we are inevitably destined to be happy or unhappy, although it is possible that, naturally, some people find it a little harder than others.
What are the consequences of emotional disturbances?
Emotional instability can affect our sentimental, social and working lives. Low mood states, in the worst cases, can increase the risk of developing sleep disorders, mental health conditions such as depression, as well as heart disease and diabetes if they intensify and persist over time, becoming chronic due to the stress each person is experiencing and managing in a particular way.
How can we “learn to be happier”?
The fact that we have a genetic predisposition to feel more or less motivated also depends on our environmental sensitivity. That is, some people are more susceptible to their surroundings and can therefore significantly change their thoughts, feelings and behaviour in response to both negative and positive events.
And it is not far-fetched to think that our brains can be reconfigured to move towards a happier and more emotionally stable state, so that our responses to negative events become less overpowering. We can achieve this through a healthy lifestyle and by gradually adopting increasingly healthy habits. It is a process and, ultimately, the path to happiness is nothing more than taking better and better care of ourselves.
Exercising regularly, following a balanced diet, ensuring good rest and reducing screen time, are crucial factors in maintaining emotional stability, and with professional follow-up we may also need supplementation due to deficiencies in essential vitamins.
It is also important to learn how to manage situations of greater stress from their core, because we must not forget that there are many environmental factors that contribute to emotional imbalance. If we also know that our genetic makeup predisposes us to lower motivation, it becomes even more important to gain confidence in how to address it. Breathing exercises, encouraging calmness and, above all, learning how to handle the situation in the best possible way so that stress or adverse circumstances do not ultimately overwhelm us.
How can personalised health, based on genetic and biochemical data, help us?
The interpretation of our genetic and biochemical data can provide us with very valuable information. Knowing certain parameters, such as vitamin D levels—since scientific evidence shows that a deficiency is directly associated with low mood—can, through professional-guided supplementation, help us feel more motivated and upbeat. The same applies to the so-called “happiness hormones”: serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin.
By studying certain genetic variations found in dopamine-related genes such as DRD2, and genes involved in serotonin production such as TPH2 and HTR1A3, we can obtain information that allows us to design a habit-change programme aimed at strengthening emotional wellbeing.
Remember that when facing emotional instability, the best course of action is always to consult a trusted professional to carry out, if necessary, genetic and biochemical analyses; because information is power.
References
- Sarris J, Thomson R, Hargraves F, et al. Multiple lifestyle factors and depressed mood: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the UK Biobank (N = 84,860). BMC Med. 2020;18(1):354. Published 2020 Nov 12. doi:10.1186/s12916-020-01813-5
- Anglin, R., Samaan, Z., Walter, S., & McDonald, S. (2013). Vitamin D deficiency and depression in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(2), 100–107. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.106666
- Park C, Rosenblat JD, Brietzke E, et al. Stress, epigenetics and depression: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;102:139–152. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.010
