OWELLDepression, anxiety, panic attacks, and serotonin levels.
Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters responsible for our mood and affects the adequate perception of reality. When the serotonin levels are low, we start to feel depressed and have negative thoughts, even in positive situations.
Serotonin helps to regulate our stress levels and helps to raise the quality of life. Deficiency in serotonin levels is negatively affecting our life. Surplus levels of serotonin also have side effects, and this may happen if you take antidepressants.
But there are natural ways of raising your serotonin to its optimum levels.
One of the most difficult ones is to force yourself to think positive. Release all your negative emotions. Talking to friends, family. Try finding positive solutions to the situation, making progress (even little steps) in your projects. Smile even it doesn't feel like it. It will send signals back to your brain and help to raise serotonin levels. Surround yourself with positive people. Don't stay alone in your room.
Sunlight. Sunlight, when it reaches our eyes, raises serotonin levels. Wintertime serotonin levels are lower than summertime.
Training. It doesn't matter what. Cardio, Pilates, yoga, weight training, all of this will affect your serotonin levels. Physical activities clear out the way for Tryptophan to reach your brain. Just do the exercise that you enjoy doing. Choose the most comfortable way of training for you.
And Tryptophan. Seratonin forms from Tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that our body doesn't synthesize. We get it from food. Foods high in other amino acids will reduce Tryptophan absorption that will keep your serotonin levels low.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates raise insulin levels. Insulin's role here is to transport other amino acids and clear out the way to the brain for Tryptophan. And as said earlier, Tryptophan forms serotonin.
If you feel that you struggle, these steps are not difficult to do, and you will see the effect on the first and second days.
I experienced a lot of stress last year, from an unhealthy relationship to building a company and between all a dieting for competition. I went to a deep depression at the beginning of the year. I couldn't breath, I had anxiety and panic attacks. This steps helped me to come out of it very quick.
Knowing these biological processes in your body will help you to stay positive, make the right decisions for your life, avoid making emotional mistakes and help the person you love who experiences difficult times.
In the next post, I will make a post of supplements that I use to help raise serotonin levels and it works.
Take care of yourself and each other. Be kind.