Let’s check-in and ask the question… how are we? How is our mood really – happy, sad, meh?
Are you having more blue days than not? Could you be suffering from depression?
Serotonin – The Joy Factor
Depression is PHYSICAL and is often caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Serotonin is our joy neurotransmitter. It’s the one that gets us saying “yes!”, motivates us, and helps us see the glass as half full.
Symptoms of Depression or Low Serotonin
Feeling blue and activities that normally give you joy don’t
More Anxiety and Worry
Lack of motivation and focus
Poor Sleep either too much or too little
Craving Carbohydrates
Increase in Pain
Chronic Stress Lowers our Serotonin
Like a broken record I keep saying, stress is bad for us. Stress has a physiological effect on our brains and it goes something like this.
Under healthy stress states, our body converts the amino acid tryptophan (yes, the turkey one) into serotonin and eventually melatonin (the sleep one).
When we are under stress for too long, the stress hormone cortisol becomes elevated.
With too much cortisol, instead of going to serotonin, tryptophan gets converted into quinolinic acid. Stay with me! Quinolinic acid is a nasty toxin to our brains. High quinolinic acid has been linked to depression and can increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
To put it in blunt terms, cortisol kicks your serotonin to the curb. And if we’ve been stressed for a long time, it will eventually affect our mood. It’s inevitable.
Not only that, stress is bad for our brains.
So yes, it’s in your head, (specifically in your brain!), but no, you are not imagining it. You can’t necessarily think your way out of it. It is not a sign of weakness, lack of willpower, or necessarily in your control.
It’s not as simple as telling yourself to snap out of it.
If you could choose to feel more joy you would. Trust me, no one chooses to feel blue. Depression hurts.
So what can you do?
First recognize that if you are feeling blue, it is not your fault. Be kind and gentle with yourself and know that you are not alone. This feeling is shared by many.
Second, remember simple strategies to boost serotonin.
Go for small wins, I’m talking about setting the bar really low right now until you get some traction.
Drink ONE glass of water. Do you feel better?
Go for a TEN MINUTE walk. Does it turn into 30?
Take 10 SLOW and DEEP breaths.
Eat brain loving foods like RAW walnuts (which coincidentally, or not, are shaped like a brain) and other nuts and seeds as your go-to snack.
Be gentle and kind with yourself.
Third, did you know that there are many vitamins, nutrients, and botanicals that can naturally reduce cortisol and support your serotonin levels?
Get Support
Don’t forget we are here to listen and to help. You are not alone.
