What Neurotransmitters Feel Like
Neurotransmitters aren’t just chemicals in the brain—they shape how we feel, move, connect, and respond. You won’t sense them directly, but you do feel their effects. In therapy, naming these feelings can help demystify emotional states and reduce shame. Here’s a felt-sense guide to what some major neurotransmitters often feel like.
Dopamine – The Spark
Dopamine feels like drive, momentum, craving, excitement. It’s the buzz before a reward, the click of insight, the feeling that something good is just ahead. It’s highly motivating. Think of it as your brain’s “go get it” chemical.
In balance: you feel energized, focused, curious.
Too much: edgy, restless, addictive chasing.
Too little: flat, unmotivated, foggy.
Serotonin – The Steady Glow
Serotonin feels like contentment, safety, and inner stability. It’s the warm, settled feeling when your world is in order. You might feel it after a walk in nature, a nourishing meal, or a moment of belonging.
In balance: calm, grounded, steady.
Too much: rigid, emotionally numb.
Too little: anxious, hopeless, obsessive.
Oxytocin – The Warmth
Oxytocin feels like emotional closeness. It shows up during hugs, eye contact, shared laughter, breastfeeding, orgasms, and moments of deep trust. It’s the embodied sense of “I’m safe here.”
In balance: loving, open, trusting.
Too little: lonely, guarded, disconnected.
Endorphins – The Inner Morphine
Endorphins feel like a flood of relief, a gentle euphoria, or even giggly joy. They buffer pain and show up in laughter, crying, dance, and intense physical exertion. They often arrive after you’ve survived something.
In balance: uplifted, soothed, resilient.
Too little: over-sensitive to pain (physical or emotional).
Norepinephrine – The Inner Alert System
Norepinephrine feels like vigilance, alertness, and readiness. It’s what sharpens your senses under pressure. It can help you feel alive in a crisis—or frozen in anxiety.
In balance: alert, capable, responsive.
Too much: wired, hypervigilant, panicky.
Too little: sluggish, inattentive.
GABA – The Brake Pedal
GABA feels like a calming exhale. It’s the chemical that says, “Slow down, you’re okay now.” It reins in runaway thoughts and body tension. You feel GABA when something finally lets go.
In balance: peaceful, relaxed, still.
Too little: tense, ruminating, jumpy.
Acetylcholine – The Focus Beam
Acetylcholine feels like smooth, sustained attention. It’s what lets you learn, digest, and stay in the moment. It also supports dreaming and REM sleep. You might notice it as that pleasant, clear-headed engagement with what’s in front of you.
In balance: attentive, receptive, mentally sharp.
Too little: distracted, foggy, forgetful.
Final Thought
This isn’t a science lecture—it’s an invitation to notice your inner chemistry. Many clients feel empowered when they recognize that moods, urges, and energy levels aren’t random—they’re embodied. Therapy can help track these patterns and respond with compassion, not judgment.
Start paying attention to how you feel in your body—not just what you think. That’s where the story of your neurotransmitters lives.