Euphoria is an intense feeling of happiness, excitement, and joy that seems to lift you off the ground. It's that overwhelming rush when something wonderful happens, like winning a championship game in the final seconds or finding out you got the lead role in the school play after weeks of hoping.

Athletes sometimes experience euphoria after achieving a personal best or winning a hard-fought competition. The feeling comes from your brain releasing special chemicals that can make you feel almost dizzy with happiness. Your heart might race, you might laugh uncontrollably, and everything seems bright and possible.

Euphoria is temporary and intense, different from steady contentment or regular happiness. Think of happiness as a warm sunny day, while euphoria is more like the thrilling moment at the top of a roller coaster. Scientists who study the brain have learned that euphoria happens during peak moments, like reuniting with someone you love after a long separation, accomplishing something you worked incredibly hard for, or experiencing something unexpectedly amazing.