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How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#71
One of the key findings is positive thinking can increase serotonin. “Self-induced changes in mood can influence serotonin synthesis.”

For those interested in a practical approach to positive thinking, check out “How Full is Your Bucket” by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton [1]. They discuss the 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions and how it’s the key to a happy relationship [2].

[1] https://www.amazon.com/How-Full-Your-Bucket-Rath/dp/15956200...

[2] https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-ac...

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#72
post #64
post #63

So many people (including doctors) seem to be set on the idea that serotonin makes you happy and therefore is the solution to depression. This is only half true, and not in the way that most think. Serotonin (if high) makes you numb [1]. But that might be the lesser of two evils when it comes to depression [2], which is why it’s become popular as a mechanism to treat it. It not a solution, it’s just masking the under…

That does beg the interesting question that if you don't feel depressed, are you really depressed?

If you don’t feel anything - are you really living? Look up emotional bluntness and anhedonia.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#73
post #68

Interesting 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 should not necessarily be attributed to increasing serotonin though. Sunlight increases a lot of things - endorphins, hormones, nitric oxide, etc.

Vitamin D too

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#74
post #57

People in this thread are repeating the myth that exercise is a treatment for depression, when all the evidence we have shows that it probably isn't. The article links to an old version of the NICE guidance. The new version of that is here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg90 It's important to note that exercise isn't being touted as a treatment for depression, but as something that may help people with sub-clinica…

I keep wondering as I read more and experience more things if the cause of some depression is as simple as nothing to look forward to. Joining a club, taking up a hobby, visiting a church, learning a new skill, etc. all seem to help people with their condition. We're wired to connect and to hope and dream. For some people exercise does that but it just makes me tired and want to crash (even when I was in shape and playing football in school). It is a difficult issue and I worry with our technology induced isolation that it will worsen.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#76
post #66
post #63

So many people (including doctors) seem to be set on the idea that serotonin makes you happy and therefore is the solution to depression. This is only half true, and not in the way that most think. Serotonin (if high) makes you numb [1]. But that might be the lesser of two evils when it comes to depression [2], which is why it’s become popular as a mechanism to treat it. It not a solution, it’s just masking the under…

That is one alternative hypothesis. The reality may be even more complex than that. We don't really understand these brain systems and of course they're all tangled up in feedback loops with each other. I do wonder though if it does make you numb if that isn't always bad. For some people depression might be related to an excess of sensitivity or some past trauma. Numbing that a bit might help them move past it and mi…

I think numbing might be useful if, for example, you’re currently incapable or illequiped to deal with whatever underlying thing is causing it, but its not a soltuion by itself, but rather a delaying tactic until the point when you can deal with or treat the issues.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#77
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a supplement, they're entirely different according to the FDA.

according to lobbyists

5-HTP is created by your body, from L-Tryptophan, which is an amino acid. Your body converts many micro-nutrients into various amino acids and hormones. Some vendors pre-convert these things so they are in a safer form to use. 5-HTP is much safer to consume than L-Tryptophan.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#78
post #40

TLDR: Four methods. 1) PET/CT stimulation 2) Exposure to bright light 3) Exercise 4) Diet

> PET/CT stimulation I didn't find the definition for PET/CT in the article. It sounds like PET/CT scans.

Yeah, I know the usual terminology is for a PET "scan", which sounds passive, so I'm not sure if they're doign something different here.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#79
post #32
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had mood/sleep problems since 14 years old (16 years go), waking up more tired than the night before. Found Tryptophan (and 5htp), actually slept. My guess is people with stress/gastro issues don't get the adequate serotonin for "normality"

> My guess is people with stress/gastro issues don't get the adequate serotonin for "normality". If your gut has issues with absorbing fructose, then the free fructose seems to connect with tryptophan, which hinders the tryptophan from being absorbed.

Can you elaborate? This would be mindblowing. I have fructose malabsorption, and have had sleeping issues most of my life. Never occurred to me they could be related. Please say more.

Re: How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs (2007)

#80
post #64
post #63

So many people (including doctors) seem to be set on the idea that serotonin makes you happy and therefore is the solution to depression. This is only half true, and not in the way that most think. Serotonin (if high) makes you numb [1]. But that might be the lesser of two evils when it comes to depression [2], which is why it’s become popular as a mechanism to treat it. It not a solution, it’s just masking the under…

That does beg the interesting question that if you don't feel depressed, are you really depressed?

You are not, on present definitions.

This is one of those things that a lot of members of the public at large do not seem to know; they think that depression is defined as some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is not. Depression is defined in the DSM more or less as, being sad too often, except in cases of mourning etc. where people are often incredibly sad. It is literally defined as an overabundance of feeling.

This matters to me because I no longer have depression—I am “cured!”—because I am no longer too sad often enough to qualify for the diagnosis. I did not use medicine but developed better coping mechanisms. The cause of my depression is still around—my negative thoughts will on average trigger one or more additional negative thoughts until I am paralyzed with self-doubt and negativity. Indeed, and this is somewhat hard to explain to folks who have never had this problem, I will sometimes luxuriate in those negative emotions because they have a sort of familiarity or nostalgia, I spent so much time being so sad that it is sometimes desirable to feel unpleasant again. That sort of complicated “if you seek out sadness is it really sadness” type of question is 100% interesting and valid.

But I developed coping mechanisms to deal with those sorts of emotional overloads and recognize that they are happening and escape them, and I do not frequently return back to those unhealthy thought patterns. In that respect I am cured. The psychiatrists define depression so that that is what cured looks like: we have not necessarily addressed whatever the underlying cause is, but we have treated the symptoms.

So it is literally impossible to be depressed if you don't feel sad often enough; it is part of the definition. Anyone who says “oh I get really sad and maybe even suicidal, but I am not depressed” is making a nonclinical statement that would not be directly translatable as a clinical one.

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