That Weird Fleeting Uncomfortable Sauna Feeling? It’s Actually Making You Happier
Some of you may have heard me talking about this in the sauna but i have never committed it to paper until now! There’s a point in most sauna sessions – usually somewhere around minute 9 or 12 – where things start to feel…uncomortably weird. For me it is a rising uncomfortableness , i start fidgeting..for others it might be foggy, grumpy, slightly claustrophobic. for all of us our brain's yelling “Why are we doing this again?”
Posted on Thu 19 Jun 2025 · by Danny
That’s Dynorphin.... pinging around your body.
Dynorphin is a hormone and neurotransmitter your brain releases when you're under stress – particularly heat stress. It latches onto your opioid receptors and makes you feel uncomfortable. This is why you sometimes feel edgy, irritable, or just plain ready to bail mid-sauna.
Technically, you’re experiencing dysphoria – the opposite of euphoria.
It’s a safety signal. Your body thinks there’s a fire, so it’s telling you to get out. Fair enough. But you’re in a sauna, and once you understand the signal, you can ride it out.
Here’s the big twist: Dynorphin doesn’t just make you uncomfortable – it also triggers your brain to produce more Mu-opioid receptors.
Why does that matter?
Because Mu-opioid receptors are what endorphins bind to.
So the more receptors you have, the more sensitive your brain becomes to feel-good chemicals like:
Endorphins
Dopamine
Serotonin
So, basically, after your sauna session, your brain is primed to feel even more pleasure from whatever you do next – whether that’s running, dancing, baking bread, cuddling, or yes, even stamp collecting.
Some studies suggest this increased sensitivity can last up to 14 days after a single session. That’s a wild return on investment just from sitting in a hot box and getting a bit uncomfy for a few minutes.
So next time you hit that “ugh I’m done” moment in the sauna, remember:
You’re not just surviving discomfort – you’re tuning your brain to feel more joy.
Embrace the dysphoria. Ride the heat wave. Your happier self is waiting just on the other side.
Note: The idea that sauna-induced discomfort (via Dynorphin release) can increase Mu-opioid receptor sensitivity and enhance endorphin response for up to 14 days is based on animal studies. See: Land et al. (2008), "The dysphoric component of stress is encoded by activation of the dynorphin κ-opioid system," Journal of Neuroscience, 28(2), 407–414. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4458-07.2008