Long term neurologic effects of happiness

Factual Questions
1

This is a semi-serious question, because I doubt that there’s any real danger, but my situation seems somewhat similar to the recently discussed MDMA effects. Except I’m not taking any drugs.

Recently, events in my life have taken a pleasant turn. I’ve begun dating a girl who makes me really Happy. By nature, I’m not usually happy. In fact, for most of my adult life, “not very depressed” would be a good day. But for the past week and a half, I’ve been exceedingly happy. Sometimes so much that I just burst out laughing.

I imagine that there’s some similarity in brain function between me now and someone on ecstacy (I’ve never tried ecstacy, so I don’t know first hand). I wonder if this state of mind will or can continue. Are my seratonin receptors/producers going to become fatigued? I’m just curious. Definitely not “worried”. :slight_smile:

I suppose the general question here is: What are the neurochemical processes involved, and can they operate on a level quite a bit higher than normal for extended periods of time?

2

How do you know that your present state isn’t “normal”, and you’ve been abnormally unhappy all your life?

I used to be an unhappy kid. Content in my miserableness. Doom and gloom. Don’t crack a smile, unless it’s to revel in someone else’s torment. Although I never knew it at the time, my mom (a happy person[sup]TM[/sup]) gave me the best advice I’ve ever had:

Cheer up.

Be happy that you’re, umm, happy. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Pursue that feeling for the rest of your life. Don’t worry, you won’t develop a biological tolerance to it. You won’t need more and more happiness to get your fix.