Anxiety / Depression and Brain Health

Anxiety / Depression and Brain Health

Sometimes, a little anxiety is good for us. Anxiety induces hyper-alertness and improves performance. So, in a dangerous situation, anxiety can help you focus on the threat, act fast, and escape danger. Imagine seeing a shark while you are swimming in the sea. Your heart will start to race, and your heightened senses will alert your brain to go into flight mode as soon as possible. So, you’ll quickly change your course and swim back ashore to avoid any danger. In instances like this, anxiety may actually save you.

But the body’s danger sensors are not always right. Sometimes, our brain creates false moods. Your anxiety levels can spike even when there is no danger. For example, imagine that you are swimming in a public pool and you feel the same fear you felt when you saw the shark. That emotion is a false sign.

The imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain are the reason behind false emotions. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals all across your body. They communicate from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell.

These four types of neurotransmitters commonly undergo imbalances and cause a variety of false emotions and moods.

• Serotonin

Serotonin regulates happiness, anxiety, and mood. Low serotonin levels can make you negative, obsessive, worried, and irritable.

• Catecholamines

Catecholamines are your body’s response to stress and danger. It handles the fight or flight responses of the body. The adrenal glands of your body make many catecholamines such as adrenaline and dopamine. Low catecholamine levels put you down and can cause lethargy and flat mood.

• GABA

GABA is responsible for relieving anxiety and improving your mood. Low GABA can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

• Endorphins

Endorphins are released in response to stress and pain. They boost happiness and reduce pain. When your body is low on endorphin, it makes you hypersensitive to pain and emotions. For example, when you are crying while watching TV, it might be a false emotion caused by low endorphin levels.

If there is an imbalance of these neurotransmitters, they can cause distinctly different moods. The balance of neurotransmitters can change according to several factors.

Poor diet

Amino acids are the building blocks for these neurotransmitters. So, if your diet doesn’t contain enough protein and healthy fat, your brain will have trouble making enough neurotransmitters for the body. Drinking too much coffee, caffeinated soda, or diet sweetened drinks can also lower your brain’s stock of neurotransmitters. For a proper balance, it’s important to make sure that your diet is rich in nutrients required to produce neurotransmitters.

Chronic stress

If you are experiencing chronic stress because of your job, family, financial problems, or health, you need a high supply of neurotransmitters.

Sedentary lifestyle

If you have a mostly sedentary lifestyle, try exercising or going out for a walk. Exercise helps the brain to restock on feel-good neurotransmitters. Many of my patients say that they immediately feel better after an evening walk or visiting the gym a few times a week.

Genetics

If neurotransmitter imbalances are common among your family members, it may affect you as well.

There are many ways to improve neurotransmitter balance in your brain. I use different supplements, herbs, homeopathy, meditations, holistic counseling, and IV neurotransmitter balancing formula to support the balance of your brain chemicals.