What I Missed, What I’m Reclaiming: The Hormonal Path Back to Alignment

Jul 25
3 min read

I used to get irritated with routines.

My father would pull the blanket off, push me out of bed, and insist on a shower and Derasar walk before anything else. I remember the rigid order — barefoot in the morning light, his bath done, eyes steady. It was non-negotiable. My aunt once said, “Jami le toh ek kaam pate,” — as if stopping was weakness. I used to feel annoyed and silently mutter, “Hu kaam chu, j pataa che.”

grand kids with grand father at temple, derasar, palitana

But in that chaos, there was one hidden gem I now recognize as a natural mental health booster — the act of waking up with the sun, showering, and stepping out to the temple. No screens. No distractions. Just senses — raw, aware, open.

There were no lazy mornings, except on periods. Even vacations had rhythm.

In the name of not repeating what was done to me, I let go of this gift with my own children. I didn’t want to push. I didn’t want to become the force that once suffocated me. So we flowed. Slept in. Holidays passed without sunrises. And school routines were externally imposed, not sacredly chosen.

Now, one’s a teen. The other, an adult. And honestly, I don’t know if I got it right. Maybe I did. Maybe I missed a chance to bring alignment. But the past is not my battlefield anymore. What they choose is their journey now.

But mine?

Mine can start again — with just one thing, one commitment, one consistency, one step at a time.

-Parita

Hormones: The Postmen of the Mind

Think of hormones as postmen. They pick up letters (sensory input like sight, touch, smell, sound) from your environment and rush them to different departments of your brain:

Dopamine goes to the reward office: “This feels good, do more.”
Serotonin delivers to mood management: “Stay calm. You’re safe.”
Oxytocin knocks on social and connection desks: “You’re not alone.”
Endorphins dash to pain control: “This hurts less now.”

They don’t just float in your bloodstream randomly. They respond to what your senses take in — light, music, hugs, smells, achievements, or even silence.

Now imagine if the postmen are sleepy. Or they misread the address. Or no one’s home to receive the letter. That’s what happens in mental health disorders:

In Depression, serotonin delivery slows down. Even small joys don’t register.
In OCD, the postmen repeat the same delivery route — again and again — even after the message was already received.
In Anxiety, adrenaline is like a postman on a bike with broken brakes — overdelivering danger alerts.
In Tics or Restless Leg Syndrome, dopamine overshoots. It creates involuntary movements as the brain tries to regulate itself.
In ADHD, dopamine messages don’t stick — so focus gets lost midway.
In PTSD, cortisol hijacks the route. Messages get stuck in fear loops.

These are real. Backed by science. And often need structured help — therapy, medication, regulation.

But what we often forget is this: the first message always came through the senses.

Quick Hormone Science:Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands (like the pituitary, hypothalamus, and adrenal). They travel via the bloodstream and influence your brain’s neurotransmitters. The balance and timing of these hormones impact mental health. Some disorders (like Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder) involve disrupted hormone signaling pathways, which can be measured through cortisol levels, serotonin reuptake, or dopamine transporter imbalances.

Re-alignment: One Step from Each Hormone

Instead of overhauling your life, what if you just picked one daily sensory act per hormone?

Hormone	Natural Sensory Trigger	What You Can Do Today
Dopamine	Movement & progress	✅ Make your bed & play music while you do
Serotonin	Sunlight & stillness	✅ Sit near a window for 10 mins in the morning
Oxytocin	Connection & touch	✅ Gently hug a loved one or your pet
Endorphins	Laughter & rhythm	✅ Watch something that makes you laugh out loud