I have a seasonal depression diagnosis and lifting weights has been by far the best treatment for me. Meditation, light therapy, and vitamins/nootropics are all good on their own, they each sort of take away some of the symptoms, but I wouldn't say the depression isn't still there. But weightlifting is incredible. I feel amazing after a heavy session - deadlifting and benching especially give me a kind of euphoria. Gym fixes my lack of appetite, lack of social energy, disorganization, lack of motivation to work on my hobbies, work focus, anxiety, everything. I can't recommend lifting enough.
How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
41–50 of 106 posts
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is believed that 50 years ago depression was less researched and therefore less diagnosed/recognised. Also, social stigma of mental disorders was stronger and people generally kept quiet about it. The bottom line is: it was always there, it's just that we talk about it more nowadays.
I thought the same thing, but the data does not support this view. See my other comment in this thread - if you look at the symptoms of depression/anxiety rather than specific diagnoses of it, the trends are pretty clear.
If there were no data, how can you say that the data do not support this view?
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#43Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood:
- Alterations in thought (meditation)
- Exposure to bright light (outdoors)
- Exercise
- tryptophan supplementation taken WITHOUT food for greater uptake
- α-Lactalbumin found in Milk but not really a great option
Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. Nothing lifts my mood more than going for a run outside, in the heat of the sun.
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#44Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood: - Alterations in thought (meditation) - Exposure to bright light (outdoors) - Exercise - tryptophan supplementation taken WITHOUT food for greater uptake - α-Lactalbumin found in Milk but not really a great option Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. Nothing lifts my mood more than going for a run outside, in the heat of th…
That's a big article and thanks for summarizing it!
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
I took niacin once in pill form and it made my body burst out into a fierce itch rash that lasted about an hour.
That's know as a "niacin flush" AFAIK - you might have taken too much too soon
From the article, they mentioned that taking tryptophan or eating foods with tryptophan in them, reduces the uptake of tryptophan due to amino acid competition:
> There is competition between the various amino acids for the transport system, so after the ingestion of a meal containing protein, the rise in the plasma level of the other large neutral amino acids will prevent the rise in plasma tryptophan from increasing brain tryptophan
So possible OP took it on an empty stomach which spiked the levels in the body?
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
Those are reasons to want a serotonin hit, but they don't explain the huge cultural trend towards depression. Just look at 50 years ago. We were working in about the same way that we work today, in basically the same environments. Same amount of light, same lack of physical labor. How did we get more depressed in the same environment over such a short period of time?
For those who want more data on this [1]. [1] https://www.thecut.com/2016/03/for-80-years-young-americans-...
I really wanted to like that article but it does not exhibit sufficient scientific rigor. It's a little too dumbed down to be of value here, which is a shake since I think the underlying issue is quite real.
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
I thought the same thing, but the data does not support this view. See my other comment in this thread - if you look at the symptoms of depression/anxiety rather than specific diagnoses of it, the trends are pretty clear.
If there were no data, how can you say that the data do not support this view?
Who says there is no data? http://www.csun.edu/~dma/Twenge,%20Gentile,%20DeWall,%20Ma,%...
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#48Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood: - Alterations in thought (meditation) - Exposure to bright light (outdoors) - Exercise - tryptophan supplementation taken WITHOUT food for greater uptake - α-Lactalbumin found in Milk but not really a great option Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. Nothing lifts my mood more than going for a run outside, in the heat of th…
Didn't read the article but surprised 5-HTP not mentioned?
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#49Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood: - Alterations in thought (meditation) - Exposure to bright light (outdoors) - Exercise - tryptophan supplementation taken WITHOUT food for greater uptake - α-Lactalbumin found in Milk but not really a great option Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. Nothing lifts my mood more than going for a run outside, in the heat of th…
Didn't read the article but surprised 5-HTP not mentioned?
No mention of 5-HTP. I was surprised too.
Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have had problems sleeping for years, and used 5-HTP in the past. Like many things (e.g melatonin) I found it worked at first but doesn't seem to be anywhere near as effective as it used to be. Do you still find it effective after 4 years of use?
Are you taking tolerance breaks?
I don't take it regularly any more.
But effectively yes, I would run out, not order any for a few weeks / months then order some.