Serotonin gift

With the holidays just around the corner, Choosing Therapy is here to help you find gifts for the people you love in your life. Whether your loved one is experiencing stress or anxiety or you just want to show them you’re thinking of their mental health, there’s something for everyone on this list. For our audience’s convenience, we include links to Amazon so recommended products can be easily purchased. Choosing Therapy also earns revenue from when people sign up for Circles group support programs. Choosing Therapy may earn a commission from Amazon when purchases are made using the links on this page. Read more about our Gifts for Anxiety Suitable gifts for someone with anxiety include weighted blankets, essential oils, art supplies, and journals. All of these gifts have qualities that can help soothe anxious feelings. 1. Weighted Blankets “Weighted blankets offer the soothing comfort of feeling embraced. They are helpful for restless or anxious sleepers. Do some research on the weight, fabrics, and price before purchasing. This is the best gift I have given my teenage granddaughter! Two top websites for reviews are: 2. Essential Oils “I love using essential oils to help my own feelings of anxiety and gives me the boost of confidence I need. Revive is a great brand that is affordable and high-grade. It’s important to make sure you understand the proper use of essential oils, but these “Items infused with essential oils, especially lavender, are designed to...

Educator, Researcher BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Learn about our • Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) produced within the • Too little serotonin has shown associations with depressed feelings, sadness, and fatigue. Too much serotonin, however, could result in serotonin syndrome, which could lead to symptoms of restlessness, hallucinations, and confusion. • Serotonin is also known as a hormone within the enteric nervous system of the body, primarily found within the gastrointestinal tract (gut). • In the enteric nervous system, serotonin plays a role in numerous biological processes such as controlling cardiovascular function, bladder control, and bowel movements. • Serotonin in the brain, however, is of interest to psychologists as its role as a neurotransmitter is thought to contribute to many important functions such as playing a role in mood, especially in relation to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. The scientific name for serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and is a neurotransmitter of the monoamine group that contain amino acids. The monoamine group of Within the brain, serotonin mostly originates in the brain stem within a cluster of nuclei called the Raphe nuclei. Serotonergic fib...

Share on Pinterest lesichkadesign/Getty Images If you’re living with depression or anxiety, you may have heard that neurotransmitters can play a role in how you feel. While many things can influence your mood, serotonin may be involved. Everyone has different levels of this chemical. But when serotonin levels are low, you may feel sluggish, gain weight, and have trouble sleeping, among other things. Several Serotonin — aka 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) — is a chemical substance your body produces naturally. It acts both as a Specialized nerve cells in the digestive system, brain, and spinal cord produce serotonin. External factors may affect how much serotonin you have or produce. When you eat foods containing the amino acid tryptophan, for example, your body synthesizes it to create serotonin. Serotonin affects several systems and functions throughout your body, from regulating your mood to helping you stay asleep. Mood Serotonin is believed to be a natural mood booster — that’s why it’s sometimes called a “happy chemical” or “happy hormone.” Researchers think it plays a role in managing This is known as the One challenge is that experts can’t measure the amount of serotonin in the brain (only your bloodstream), so it’s difficult to know exactly how this neurotransmitter affects your mood or the right amount needed to improve it. So far, research on the link between serotonin and mood is still mixed. However, the serotonin hypothesis has been the driver for Digestion • suppr...

Like other mental health conditions, Both dopamine and serotonin are involved in depression, though experts are still trying to figure out the details. Dopamine Dopamine plays a big role in motivation and reward. If you’ve ever worked hard to reach a goal, the satisfaction your feel when you achieve it is partly due to a rush of dopamine. Some of the main • low motivation • feeling helpless • a loss of interest in things that used to interest you Serotonin Researchers have been studying the link between serotonin and depression for more than 5 decades. While they initially thought that low serotonin levels caused depression, they The reality is more complicated. While Among people with moderate to severe depression, Instead, Another factor: The main difference Dopamine system dysfunction is linked to certain symptoms of depression, such as low motivation. Serotonin is involved in how you process your emotions, which can affect your overall mood. Dopamine and serotonin both also play roles in psychological conditions other than depression. Dopamine Nearly all pleasurable experiences — from eating a good meal to having sex — involve the release of dopamine. That release is part of what makes some things • • • Experts evaluate something’s potential to cause addiction by looking at the speed, intensity, and reliability of the dopamine release it causes in the brain. It doesn’t take long for a person’s brain to associate certain behaviors or substances with a rush of dopamine. ...