Euphoria

Head | Neurology | Euphoria (Symptom)


Description

Euphoria is a desirable and natural occurrence when it results from happy or exciting events. An excessive degree of euphoria that is not linked to events is characteristic of hypomania or mania, abnormal mood states associated with bipolar disorders. Technically, euphoria is an affect, but the term is often colloquially used to define emotion as an intense state of transcendent happiness combined with an overwhelming sense of contentment. It has also been defined as an affective state of exaggerated well-being or elation.

Causes

Euphoria is generally considered to be an exaggerated physical and psychological state, sometimes induced by the use of psychoactive drugs and not typically achieved during the normal course of human experience. However, some natural behaviour, such as activities resulting in orgasm, love, or the triumph of an athlete, can induce brief states of euphoria.

Pharmacologically-induced euphoria is possible through: alcohol, Passion Flower (a widely used as a sedative that has calming effects), Cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), opium. As a symptom euphoria is a prominent symptom of hypoxia, effectively preventing sufferers from recognizing their hypoxic state.

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