most of the previous answers explained what serotonin is (a neurotransmitter that is involved with satisfaction and happiness) but no one said that too little of it will decrease the heart rate (thus, depressive symptoms) and too much of it leads to over-complacency (to the point of not being reactive to stimuli)...also, you can maintain your serotonin by making accomplishments that you are proud of...
try doing that instead of taking a drug to get enough serotonin...
2006-08-11 16:08:04
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answer #1
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answered by Cor 3
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How you feel emtionally (good or bad) depends on how your brain sorts out what's going on in your life. Your brain depends on all of your senses and perceptions (sight, hearing, smell, etc.) to send it messages to organize. The messages travel along perceptual nerve-paths loaded with transmitters and receivers, with spaces (synapses) between them -- just like water running between the rocks we hop onto to cross a stream. In those synapses are chemicals that allow the messages to keep moving along the path. Seratonin is one of those chemicals, and the others are Dopamine and Norepinephrine. Seratonin matters the most.
Our bodies put those chemicals into the synapes each and every time we need them to be there, then absorb them again, until the next time.
Sometimes we don't make enough or those chemicals to do the job right, and sometimes we can't replace them fast enough to allow clear and precise messages to our brain. If that happens, we suffer from "depression." That's when we take certain antidepressants called Selective Seratonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), so that plenty of Seratonin is available in our systems when we need it.
2006-08-12 10:15:24
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answer #2
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answered by Major 1
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seratonin is the happy chemical in your brain, when you're not producing enough it can lead to depression. you can increase the levels by eating a healthy diet, regular exercise and sex.
i would also like to add, that while anti depressants can be very helpful they can also be more of a hinderance. once on them they are very difficult to come off, and you will one day want to come off them. they can have some really awful side effects and if you just forget to take one, you can often feel the effect after a couple of hours from when you usually take it. they can also have the opposite effect and make you feel a lot worse, even suicidal.
another point to consider is, when taking them you are putting that chemical into your system by hand, not through your brain making it itself. i honestly believe that while they can be ok, it is much much better to try to cope without them. all the while you're putting that pill into your body, you're relying on something other than yourself to make that chemical. you may not feel able to cope but eventually you will, i had to fake confidence to get where i am today, and it works.
2006-08-13 15:34:26
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Seratonin is a chemical in the body (mainly in the brain or central nervous system) known as a monoamine neurotransmitter. It is also know as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).
It is know to regulate sleep, mood and "horniness". It is also involved in depression and migraines.
It is made from a chemical called tryptophan, which is a essential amino acid (a constituent of proteins) and a "building block" of life.
I occurs, like most proteins, in food. It occurs in abundance in red wine and strong cheeses( as tyramine, which gets converted to 5--HT). Which may account for having funny/vivid cheese dreams when consuming significant amounts of the former and latter before bed-time.
2006-08-11 19:36:53
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answer #4
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answered by Sid R 1
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants for treating depression, anxiety disorders and some personality disorders. These drugs are designed to allow the available neurotransmitter serotonin to be utilized more efficiently. A low level of utilization of serotonin is currently seen as one among several neurochemical symptoms of depression. Low levels of serotonin in turn can be caused by an anxiety disorder, because serotonin is needed to metabolize stress hormones [citation needed].
These medications evolve their effects at the serotonin transporter. They increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell. They have no or only weak effects on other monoamine transporters, thus having little direct influence on the level of other neurotransmitters. That distinguishes them from the older tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), thus they are named selective. SSRIs are considered to be considerably safer than TCAs, since the toxic dose is much higher and they are said to have fewer and weaker side effects and drug interactions.
2006-08-12 09:08:03
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answer #5
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answered by skyeblue 5
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Serotonin is neurotransmitter found in large amounts in various parts of the brain.It is also found in other parts of the body,especially the gut.It helps regulate mood,appetite,sleep,sexual functioning etc.It is made in the body from the amino acid Tryptophan.
There are natural means of increasing levels of serotonin,i.e.through diet,excercise etc.
Certain anti-depressant drugs can also increase levels of serotonin.
2006-08-11 16:56:15
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answer #6
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answered by ? 3
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Seratonin is what your short of when you are depressed,im not sure ..apart from anti-depressants how you increase it ,but i bet someone else does .
2006-08-11 16:47:32
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answer #7
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answered by Pat R 6
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Seratonin is the happy hormone! Yay happy! :-D
2006-08-12 17:12:11
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answer #8
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answered by Moi? 3
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Well you can take Ecstasy, or LSD that will send your Serotonin levels to new heights. But I don't recommend it. ( trust me) Serotonin regulates your mood, not enough will result in depression or anxiety. St Johns wort has been a good natural remedy too.
2006-08-11 16:47:48
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain in the morning and is related to sunshine and your body clock, it kicks u into action, as oppased to melatonin that is produced at night which shuts ur brain down so u can rest and sleep
2006-08-11 19:06:06
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answer #10
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answered by danchip 2
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