Do you feel down in the dumps for no reason, even on bright, sunny days? Don’t go to the shrink yet. Work on upping the serotonin levels to get your spirits high.
Twentyfive-year-old Radha Dixit (name changed on request) had absolutely no reason to feel the force of gravity more than others. She had a nice job, was in a healthy relationship and had great friends. But, she was not happy. She wasn’t elated when she learned she had got a promotion. Nothing excited her, and something was always bothering her. The bad news was that she couldn’t tell what.
It was only after she reached a stage of depression did Dixit seek medical help. But then, she got the good news—she just needed some serotonin in her body.
“Serotonin is a neurotransmitter connected to the emotional side of the brain,” says Dr Murali Raj, head of the department of psychiatry, Manipal Hospital. It contributes to motivation, happiness and feelings of reward like happiness after winning a match. “One experiences depression, anxiety, insomnia when the level of serotonin n the brain drops. Without it, satiation is hard to achieve.”
There are two kinds of neurotransmitters in the human brain — one that helps us concentrate and the other that makes us feel calm and happy. Serotonin takes care of the latter.
“Shortage of serotonin can lead to depression — both mild and severe. Exercising, practising yoga and meditation, sleeping and eating right can aid in increasing the serotonin level in people going through mild depression. When a person is severely depressed, he or she needs to be treated with anti-depressants to increase the serotonin level,” says Dr B Kapur, consultant psychiatrist, Lakeside and Columbia Asia Hospital.
Most cases of depression and anxiety are managed with drugs that increase the serotonin level. “Anti-depressants like Prozac and Mirtazapine take at least 10-12 days to have an effect. They need to be taken for at least eight months and then gradually stopped. Discontinuing medication abruptly might cause the depression to relapse with more intensity,” he warns.
However, most doctors say that it is best to deal with depression employing natural methods. Diet and weight management consultant Dr Anju Sood explains: “Taking anti-depressants may help, but it could also lead to addiction. Eating healthy and maintaining a good lifestyle is the best way.”
Serotonin levels can also be managed with cognitive behaviour therapy. “It changes the pattern of thinking. The idea is to make people see the positive side of things and keep them from constantly brooding over the negative side,” says Dr Raj.
You must have heard of people recommending exercise as a way to release endorphins (happy hormones that make one feel good) in the body. Serotonin is also released during and after exercise. So what’s the difference between the two?
“Both endorphin and serotonin are chemicals released in the brain and their effect on the human body is also more or less the same. But there is a slight difference in their chemical structure,” says Dr Bhupendra Chaudhry, consultant psychiatrist, Manipal Hospital.
“Endorphin and serotonin go hand in hand,” says Dr Sood. Working out elevates one’s mood by raising serotonin levels in the brain; most psychiatrists prescribe it to those suffering from depression, anxiety, phobias, addictions and so on.
So why worry when you can deal with bad moods yourself. Stop waiting, get on that treadmill and work out to bring that good mood.
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