How Dopamine and Cortisol are Related

Related: Dopamine

Although it's generally believed that they do not affect each other directly, there might be an indirect relationship between these chemicals.

Activities that increase dopamine levels, tend to reduce stress and anxiety caused by Cortisol.

Vice-versa is also true. Chronic stress and high [[Cortisol]] levels can interfere with Dopamine regulation in the brain.

According to [[Habits of a Happy Brain. Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin Levels]] Dopamine release can affect cortisol levels directly.

There was an example of the feeling of hunger:

Cortisol level gets elevated when we are hungry, causing us to feel stressed about it and emergently do anything with that. As soon as the goal is achieved and food is found the dopamine release neutralizes the cortisol "pain" and anxiety.