Hormone Charts Compilation in 7 Visual Aids

Whenever I conclude a series, I like to create visual aids that include links to each article. A one-stop “at-a-glance” review. Each visual aid includes the link to the article that expanded on it. This way, you get the main points while deciding for yourself if you need more information. Well, this time we have just concluded a series on our hormone charts, from low, ideal, to high. These charts were the focus of four separate articles. Five if we count the one we used in our wrap-up on attachment styles with relationship hormones. But I will include that as well, with the link to the article.

If these charts seem a bit daunting, rest assured that each hormone chart was used multiple times with different areas highlighted as we went along per article. Also, to those of whom English is not your first language, I know that technology has not yet advanced enough to translate visual aids for you. However, I’m confident that I explained the context of each chart accurately enough in their corresponding articles.

What are Sympathetic Nerve Hormones?

The short answer is, they are stress hormones. The sympathetic nerve is half of our Autonomic Nervous System, or ANS for short. So, the sympathetic nerve is in charge of our fight/flight response. These hormones connect to our nervous system and send signals to our organs and the brain. My article on the ANS (here is the link) was the introductory article to this whole series using the hormone charts.

Cortisol and its two converters: epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are stress hormones. Dopamine is both a stress hormone and a happy hormone. That’s because cortisol shares one of its converters (norepinephrine) with dopamine.

More insights into the above chart is available here.

Three Hormone Charts for the Parasympathetic Nerve

The parasympathetic nerve is the other half of the ANS. And it’s in charge of calming the system. Three separate visual aids were used in a single article. Each highlighted as we went along. The main hormones covered were: serotonin, endorphins, GABA, and melatonin. These charts prove the importance of nutrition, rest, and exercise for both physical and mental health.

Serotonin is placed in between cortisol and its two converters to show how it acts as a counterbalance to our stress response. Notice the connection between the digestion problems if cortisol is imbalanced and how serotonin is in charge of our gut health. This chart addressed the importance of proper nutrition.
Endorphins are dopamine’s other converter. This chart shows the benefits of exercise. It’s how we get the “runner’s high” without the crash, thanks to the GABA release. Also included are other ways we can build good dopamine besides physical activity.
This chart shows what we need for good sleep and how getting enough of it is key to improving our quality of life.

If you want deeper insights on the past three charts, that article is here.

Social Bonding Hormones

Oxytocin and vasopressin, the so-called “love hormones” are really concerned with our social life in general. Our ability to bond (or not) is a side effect of our social experiences. Just one more thing. Both hormones have separate receptors to the brain and to the body. In other words, it’s entirely possible to have a deficiency to the body but ideal levels to the brain, and vice versa.

A more comprehensive understanding of the above hormone chart is here.

Hormone Charts in Action

This was one of the seven visual aids in the wrap-up article on attachment styles and how the inner child wound can, but not always lead to an attachment disorder.

Need more insights? That article is here.

Obviously, in a secure attachment, the four hormones are in the ideal zone. Anxious attachment style is linked with (high) dopamine, particularly when their attachment system has been activated. Avoidant attachment style is linked with serotonin.

Next was the biological science of enablers. Ever wonder why enablers enable abusers? That’s because their hormonal imbalance is identical to substance addictions. Just check out their hormone chart. So much is going on, I ran out of room for the title.

Spoiler alert: all hormones fall in the deficient (low) column, with the sometimes possibility of cortisol and norepinephrine being too high.

Want more insights into the above chart? Or if there’s an enabler in your life who needs a little educating, that article is here.

Bonus: I have a companion article for you. It’s a fun, albeit nerdy example of how we can use these hormone charts to check in with ourselves and others. We will be using a famous man in history as our case study. His name is Ulysses S. Grant. And I will be using last chart I showed you, combined with what we know about Grant to study his hormonal imbalance. That article is here.

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