Neurotransmitters and Mood
How do neurotransmitters affect mood? We’ll discuss what neurotransmitters cause depression and anxiety, and how to increase neurotransmitters naturally.
Understanding how neurotransmitters affect mood is essential for addressing various mood disorders. Neurotransmitters play a critical role in regulating emotions, behaviors, and overall mental health. A deeper understanding of how neurotransmitters affect mood can help in managing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders more effectively.
Neurotransmitters are the main chemical messengers of mood, and they include “uppers”, which lift your mood and stimulate excitement and activity, and “downers” which calm and relax. Neurotransmitter imbalances are pivotal treatment areas for mood disorders, and they can be tested and treated individually. For example, serotonin is often linked to feelings of happiness and well-being, while dopamine is associated with motivation and reward. Imbalances in neurotransmitters can result from many areas, including genetics, gut health issues, and hormone imbalances in the adrenals, thyroid, and sex hormones. Research indicates that lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, also significantly impact neurotransmitter levels.
Understanding how neurotransmitters affect mood can lead to better treatment strategies and improve overall well-being.
Depression has 4 main presentations and can be a result of several different neurotransmitter imbalances, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, or phenylethylamine. The two main branches of depression are 1) serotonin dependent, which presents as a weepy, sad, melancholic ‘blues’ type of depression; and 2) dopamine/norepinephrine dependent depression, which presents as a tired, lethargic, brain-fogged, and unmotivated type of depression. Each type may respond differently to treatment, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches in managing depressive symptoms.
Anxiety may present as low serotonin, excesses of epinephrine and norepinephrine (the chemicals related to ‘fight or flight’ response), or may represent a lack of GABA. Treatments that focus on enhancing GABA levels, such as certain dietary supplements and lifestyle changes, can help alleviate anxiety symptoms effectively.
Other mood issues such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, PMDD, OCD, and PTSD can be assessed through analysis of neurotransmitters, and treated via holistic psychiatry to help bring mood back into balance, without the need for drugs. Holistic approaches often include nutritional support and lifestyle modifications that can enhance neurotransmitter function and promote emotional well-being.
Understanding how neurotransmitters affect mood provides insights into the biochemical imbalances that may contribute to these symptoms.
Neurotransmitters and Mood Mini-Course
Did You Know?
More than 90% of serotonin is made in the gut, so mood and neurotransmitter health depends heavily on gut and microbiome health. This connection underscores the need for a balanced diet rich in probiotics and fiber to support gut health, which can, in turn, influence mood positively.
Cortisol, the main stress hormone, is required in optimal amounts in order to form certain neurotransmitters, so neurotransmitter balance depends heavily on your stress management and adrenal health. Techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, and adequate sleep can help regulate cortisol levels, thereby supporting neurotransmitter synthesis.
Drug abuse reflects an imbalance in neurotransmitters, because each drug has a specific effect on certain neurotransmitters. Abuse patterns form when a person has a neurotransmitter imbalance, then finds that a drug can help correct the imbalance to help them feel better, and then self-medicating and addiction set in with recurrent use. Adjusting neurotransmitter balance can help break the cycle of drug abuse. Education about the effects of drugs on neurotransmitter levels can aid in prevention and treatment strategies.
What's Causing Your Depression?
When I say lifestyle, what I mean is the basic requirements of life—food, exercise, sleep, stress, and substance use. In short, it means the way you live—too much excitement or stress, too little sleep, forcing your body to deal with constant alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or poor diet. These contributors are the foundation of the chemistry of your body and mind, and will influence how your brain chemistry operates; and they may contribute to episodes of depression along the way if they are out of balance.
Most of us thrive when we keep our pace of life in the slow to medium range. Unfortunately the modern lifestyle doesn’t make this easy for us, because we are often saturated with responsibilities, work, tasks, information, commutes, and expectations to keep up with the pace of others. Depression can develop when dealing with difficult life situations, especially when the situation is long term.
Neurotransmitters are the main chemical messengers of mood, and they include "uppers", which lift your mood and stimulate excitement and activity, and "downers" which calm and relax. Neurotransmitter imbalances are pivotal treatment areas for mood disorders, and they can be tested and treated individually. Imbalances in neurotransmitters can result from many areas, included genetics, gut health issues, and hormone imbalances in the adrenals, thyroid, and sex hormones.
Depression can be a result of several different neurotransmitter imbalances, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The two main branches of depression are serotonin dependent, which presents as a weepy, sad, melancholic 'blues' type of depression; and dopamine/norepinephrine dependent depression, which presents as a tired, lethargic, brain-fogged, and unmotivated type of depression.
Resources for Neurotransmitters and Mood
For more information on how neurotransmitters affect mood and what you can do about it, explore various treatment options tailored to individual imbalances.
Grab the free 7-day mini-course and get a breakdown of how neurotransmitters affect your mood, what might be throwing yours off, and what you can actually do about it. You’ll learn which labs can help identify imbalances, plus discover other biological factors that could be playing a role.
Or, if you’re ready to see the whole picture how to treat the root causes of depression and anxiety biologically, check out the Holistic Mood Assessment. Because understanding your brain? That’s the first step to feeling like yourself again.
Check out the Neurotransmitter supplement protocols on Fullscript (you’ll need to sign up for an account to view the protocols and receive an ongoing 10% discount on your purchases). Here you will find individual protocols related to each neurotransmitter.
Understanding how neurotransmitters affect mood is at the core of mental health. Your mood isn’t a mystery, it’s chemistry.
