Serotonin – the Humanizing Neurochemical
Serotonin and Mood
Serotonin , or 5 Hydroxytryptamine, is one of three major mood- defining chemicals in the brain. It is manufactured inside certain brain cells , from a protein ingredient called tryptophan. Many ask me if Serotonin is the “happiness” chemical . Not quite , but , like money , it helps.
It is the “ chemical of satisfaction”. Of peace . Of mediation and moderation .It’s associated with increased patience, tolerance toward ones fellow man , as well as feeling less affected emotionally by usual triggers- all those small daily occurrences that annoy or irk or upset us. And it promotes healthy sleep patterns.
I think that the remarkable thing about serotonin is that it seems to be the chemical that defines us as human , and not animal . What makes us uniquely human, different from other mammals? We all have animalistic basic drives, but what causes behaviour to be moderated ?
Free Choice
Humans have the implicit ability to choose their behaviors and actions. Instead of merely reacting to environmental stimuli , we have the ability to consider … and thus Respond.
If a lion is hungry , he must eat. And if there’s no food , he will eat you!
But you can decide that you’re skipping a meal for diet purposes, or because you are fasting for religious reasons .
An animal is incapable of this.
Reaction versus Response
As serotonin networks slow down , you would find yourself less able to temper your inner emotional responses. This leads to a problem controlling consequent behavioural reactions. A common example of this is a road rage episode. When serotonin networks are functioning at the correct speed , you should be able to do the following: look at the person who offended you, count to ten , breathe, and calmly decide whether to strike that person , or walk away , or hum a melody . I’m not judging these responses, but merely making the point that there is an ability to choose ones behavioural output – to respond instead of react. A dysfunctional serotonin system seems to render us more ‘animalistic’ Serotonin helps our ‘Human-ness’
A Glass of Milk?
How can we raise the frequency of our serotonin circuits , thereby refining our behaviour ? The answer is that this can be achieved in a variety of different ways – from listening to certain types of music ( try the featured Bach piece), practising mindfulness, taking serotonin boosting medications, and eating specific foodstuffs.
Have you ever heard – perhaps from a granny – that if you are stressed or can’t sleep, you should drink a glass of warm milk? Now, milk contains tryptophan, the essential building block of serotonin. I am still intrigued that a Ugandan patient remembers being given this remedy by his grandmother. and my gran from Paarl imparted the very same pearl. Clearly the drive to fire up ones serotonergic circuitry, to be calmer, sleep better and behave responsibly, in human fashion, is an age-old wisdom.
