Serotonin - your natural happiness drug!

Time and time again you will hear me say that I believe that our bodies, hearts and minds have an innate ability to work healthily and effectively for us. Unfortunately, we constantly put pressure on all aspects of ourselves, or allow external pressures to affect us and our natural rythmn's and balance become out of synch. The consequences; feelings of stress, anxiety, depression - to name but a few afflictions.

Serotnonin is our bodies own natural chemical process that affects how we feel. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. It is this process that triggers feelings of happiness and is, therefore, believed to help regulate our moods, aiding sleep, calming anxiety and relieving depression. Your body makes serotonin out of the amino acid tryptophan and low levels are recognised widely as being associated with depression, anxiety, apathy, fear, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia and fatigue. Most prescription medication targets serotonin. 

We, therefore, need to recognise and understand for ourselves what it is that we need to do to change the levels of serotonin in our bodies to promote a natural and healthy response to depleting levels. 

Our diet, thoughts, emotions, behaviour and our connection to nature all affect our bodies natural chemistry. Relaxation, exercise, breathing and good nutrition all have a positive impact on our bodies' chemical processes. It is also no coincidence that time spent in nature has an effect on our serotonin levels. Energy from the sun and the earth helps  regulate our own natural balance. It is not just a mental process that makes us think we feel better, our chemical balance actually changes when we are in a more natural space.

It is possible to use all of the above techniques to manage your body's serotonin levels. Start to pay attention to the little things that make you feel good and systematically start to include them in your daily routine, to encourage your body to manage and to balance your serotonin levels. If you find yourself saying that you do not have the time or even the inclination - then ask yourself the question, which is more important. Your health and happiness or continuing to feel anxious, stressed or even depressed?!

What can you do that will help you to raise your body's serotonin levels?! Take time to express gratitude in the morning for all that you have. This immediately puts you into a constructive and positive frame of mind in the morning. Take a warm shower in the morning and visualise washing away any thoughts that don't serve you, any feelings of stress or anxiety. This in itself is enough to raise your serotonin at the beginning of the day. Take time to listen to your favourite music. Music that engages, relaxes and makes you feel happy. Eat nutritious food. We all know the feelings of guilt or indeed the actual physical reactions that our bodies have to food that does not make us feel good. So, don't go there in the first place. (Don't give yourself a hard time if you do) but simply make the choice to eat food that makes you smile and you choose to take the time to savour and to enjoy. Choose to spend time with loved ones and make it quality time. Take regular exercise and make sure that you recognise how the exercise makes you feel better and healthier. It is not about making yourself look better on a superficial level... it is about making yourself feel better from the inside out.

Start by making small changes on a daily basis and the effects will be felt on a much bigger scale... this I promise you.....

Let me know, as always, how you get on and share your experiences with me.

With love and blessings,

Nikola xx