Hey team,
I’ve been interested in the hormones/neurotransmitters responsible for happiness for quite some time. Whether I’ve been interested in them because I’m a completely miserable person and want to be happy OR because I’m a completely happy person and want to know why is a question that I will leave up for debate. 😉
For the sake of this post, let’s just focus on serotonin. We don’t want TOO much happiness all at once now, do we? (I have such an urge to post another wink-face. I am hot on the winks today.)
So serotonin is a neurotransmitter (brain chemicals that communicate information throughout our brain and bodies) that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. It’s also largely responsible for the regulation of your appetite (90% of serotonin is located in the gastrointestinal tract). It’s fair to say serotonin is pretty important.
You can get serotonin through your diet (amino acids in healthy proteins), sunlight, or massage. Exercise – particularly aerobic – is also thought to increase both serotonin production and release. You can also reduce sugar intake and try including fermented foods in your diet – I knew I liked kombucha for a reason other than to feel hip!
I’ve tried all of the above (curbing my sweet-tooth is the most challenging) but what I have yet to try is supplementation.
I have a friend who regularly takes 5-htp and SAM-e and says they work wonders. Another friends takes magnesium and seems to like it (but doesn’t that one, like, loosen your stools and cause you to fall asleep?). I’m also interested in trying zinc but that’s just cuz I like the name.
I’m curious to know if you guys have taken serotonin supplements and, if so, how they have worked out for you? Are there any that you would recommend? What about the other natural methods for boosting serotonin levels – have you tried those? If so, which work best for you?
Here’s to happiness,
JM
Links:
- https://www.psychologytoday.
com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/ 201111/boosting-your- serotonin-activity - https://bodyecology.com/
articles/boost_serotonin_ happiness_heals_brain.php - http://www.besthealthmag.ca/
best-you/mental-health/how-to- boost-your-happy-hormones/ - https://bebrainfit.com/
serotonin-supplements/
Ive followed your instagram for awhile, good job on 7m btw. But stumbled across going mental. Spent probably an hour reading blogs. Love this content and i think a vlog would be a good idea, at least try it.
Well, gotta say that this topic is out of my league. Some of my psychology friends are in the camp of “serotonin is a big deal”, others not as much. All I can say is that there seems to be a subtle difference in my mood based on the weather of the day. If the sun is out, I generally seem to be happier (although the difference may be negligible on average), and on cloudy, grey days, it seems easier to feel kind of down about things. Again, maybe not a drastic difference between the two, but for as long… Read more »
Hey Jennette, your such an inspiration to a lot of people. If I have a rough day I read one of your blogs, I’ve been having a rough time, considering telling people about my true sexuality. Your blogs definitely, but onto the topic of your blog, personally I wouldn’t take this sort of medication but some people really need it, which I do understand, as my friend does suffer from anxiety. Watching your youtube videos I wouldn’t think you would need them, but viewing the comments, you weren’t saying you were a miserable person, and I understood that when I… Read more »
For those who struggle to Anxiety attack (panic attack) i just want to suggest the effective medicine that i use. I just take 4 Cymbalta (Duloxetine), Clozapine 100mg thrice a day, Clonazepam .5mg thrice daily, and Valerian root 500 mg thrice a day. i just want to help and to know how hard it is to have mental sickness. I hope that many people will be helped by this comment.
Miss McCurdy I hope your holiday is going well and I wanted to wish you a Happy Belated Birthday!
thank you much!
You are very welcome.
Hi jennette !! Really interesting what you wrote, well, I have never used any supplements and I think it would not be bad for someone to use, but, in my point of view, you should increase your serotonin by controlling your diet and seeking what is best for you .. After all, everything in life has to be controlled, does not it? But there are foods that have serotonin, it would be a great ally for you, one of them is the banana, it contains tryptophan, the precursor to serotonin. But what really helped me in this respect is the… Read more »
love these thoughts and thank you! gonna eat a banana today 🙂
Wow! I lovebananas 🙂
Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do to help. With such things I have difficulties 🙂 I have not tried any supplements. I do not get joyful from eating chocolate. From acute food, my stomach begins to stiffen.
But in the mornings I like to make coffee. It raises the mood and most likely stands Serotonin
Coffee and good music are my recipe. 🙂
I’m very sorry to hear that you are an unhappy. I hope here you will find what you are looking for. Good luck in this difficult business.
Konstantin! Thanks for the thoughts. I was only joking with my miserable comments in the blog. I think happiness comes and goes but in general I consider myself a good level of happy. thanks for your concern though!!
I LOVE coffee but I’ve been trying to cut back a bit cuz it serves my anxiety. How much do you have?
Your blogs are great. Well that’s all right and it was a joke. But I’ll still be a little worried. I think that every joke has a grain of truth. I drink a maximum of three servings of coffee a day. Double espresso in the morning and afternoon or evening cappuccino or latte. But I like the coffee that I cook myself. Every morning I grind the grain, then I cook it, then I enjoy the result.I like the process and the result. It cheers me up, at least for half a day. I saw in the instagram that you… Read more »
First you tell me “I think it’s necessary to be vulnerable with myself in order for my own personal growth and happiness!” Now you tell me that you need to take pills to feel happy??? I wholeheartedly disagree. All that topic serotonin, seems to me is to take away responsibility for your own happiness. I know what makes me happy I do not need to go to the lab every 5 minutes to check my serotonin levels. The problem is not “how being happy”, the problem is “not assimilating the state of happiness”. An example: Many people are happy playing… Read more »
You have had a medical test? If the results were low serotonin levels, then you should use supplements. Otherwise I do not recommend using something because a friend uses it and it works for him. How to assimilate happiness? First you must be able to be happy remembering happy moments of your life, losing in the memories as if you were living them again. Forgetting for a moment of the present and its problems, that nothing will happen if you leave a moment. Second you must be able to be happy doing something (I would recommend to play something is… Read more »
YES YES to doing something you’re passionate about. Writing/directing/producing are my “happy” places. As well as hanging out with my wonderful friends, spending time with family, going to eat good food, watching great movies, spending time in nature, etc. There’s much to be grateful/happy for. I appreciate your commitment to happiness!
It’s very reasonable. But what to do to people who do not experience pleasure from anything?
If a person has never experienced pleasure in his life, I do not think he needs it. But if there was a trigger in the life of that person what was the absence of experiencing pleasure, that person needs psychological or medical help. Sorry for the late reply
Luis! I appreciate this thought-out comment. I’m wondering if my post came across differently than I intended it…. this GM blog in general is a vehicle for me to connect with others who are passionate about improving and learning about their minds. By posting about serotonin, I in no way meant I NEED AMPLE SEROTONIN PELLETS PRONTO OR I’LL NEVER BE HAPPY. In fact, as mentioned in the post, I’ve never even tried serotonin supplements. I just wrote this post because i think serotonin is an interesting hormone and I wanted to collect some opinions about its relevance and contribution… Read more »
hi, jennette! great blog and subject and no I haven’t personally tried serotonin supplements or anything similar and I don’t think that you should take them to be happy even if you feel miserable which I’m sorry to hear about but I actually have a favor to ask can you please talk to me (dm me) on Instagram its @_.xrose tysm <3
ok my miserable joke definitely didn’t play. hahha. i was only kidding, thanks for your concern!
what do you mean?
Jennett took your advice and refused to accept supplements. 🙂
Hey Jennette! I think you shouldn’t take supplements of anything. I think if you want to be happy you just need to realize your desires, to do what makes you happy. People think the happiness is something rare and unreachable, but this is not true: when I went to Africa, I saw a lot of children very very poor, but very very happy. They were playing with junk, they were building a little castle with junk and they were playing the roles of the princess, the knight and the dragon. I saw their faces, they seemed the most happy children… Read more »
Reading my post I noticed it can be misunderstood. I’m sure your idea of supplements is just for a good purpose and it is an attempt to make your life better. With my comment I want to tell you that supplements aren’t so good and can only adjust the diet, the happiness depends from other things.
just saw this! spot on!!! And fyi, i haven’t purchased any supplements yet 😉
Thank you for this thoughtful comment! I think you make a great point by bringing up the kids in Africa who seemed so happy. I agree with you that happiness is found in the imagination and following your dreams, I also think human connection plays a part. Almost every comment on this post has been coming from a kind place, compassionate, but also trying to get me to “just be happy” without supplements. This is totally not how I meant the post! … I literally just like the hormone serotonin and was inspired to write this post because of a… Read more »
Hello. I am, I think, sorry to hear about your possible miserableness, and happy to hear about you being a completely happy person. I don’t know your personal life, only you do, so only you can tell us if you’re feeling “depressive” or extremely happy. Obviously, happiness is better, but you should try to settle for something in between. I’ve found that too much happiness leads to mis-judgement. As to taking supplements. I highly do not recommend them. I mean if you have some serious thing where you’re missing a lot of something vital to your health and there are… Read more »
Blitz, thanks for the thoughtful comment. I also think that the way you read the GM post connected with my intention in writing it (discussing happiness and lightheartedly talking about serotonin to gauge general opinions). I agree with you that sorting out our feelings is the absolute best way of dealing with them. For me, this means uninterrupted time in nature to think, process, and get to the core of the feeling. I would say I have a pretty healthy idea of happiness, in that it’s balanced and level. I’ve worked hard to ensure that my happiness is no longer… Read more »
I can think about this. Probably this can help me. Thank you.
Hey Howdy Hey! Well from my experience I would have to suggest NOT taking anything prescribed from doctors unless you want to have lucid dreams with Sam & Carly because this is exactly what happend after I took something the hospital gave me. Yes I would totally love to do that on purpose but it only worked once and the second time I tried taking another pill while watching episode 10 on Crowded I ended up getting a blood blister in my hand the same day. Maybe I did not eat enough because your suppose to take it with food?… Read more »
thanks for this thoughtful comment! i love your mention of funny tv shows, that’s always a great mood boost.
Hey! Sorry for the late reply my phone just wouldn’t load till now but THANKS FOR REPLYING! It means the world to me. <3 <3 <3 Its a honor being on your team! A bulba a day keeps the doctor away! Ill try drinking some Star Bucks tea and if it fills right ill report back. I'm switching to boost mobie now. Its a honor sharing with you, good NiGHTS!!! <3 <3 <3
You can absolutely, positively, control your moods with your mind and your diet. I believe that, as I am proof. Your mind will follow where it is led, and smiling all the time through the muck and the mire, playing the jams, singing out loud at the top of my lungs, (haven’t done that in a minute), … All these things to direct your mind have the exact opposite effect of a psychosomatic illness, instead of depletion, your “good stuff” is produced and regulated more effectively! Not sure how I know these things, but if you’d like, I can look… Read more »
Ha, guess I could’ve clicked on the links! (lol) Much love to you all!
love this comment!! you seem great.
I would be scared to take any supplements. Chemicals that makes you happy is how any drug works, and something that makes you boost serotonin is generally tends to be addictive. I’m not open minded about this, knowing any drug was legal and ok to use as medicine before discovered harmful.
appreciate your thoughts!
I’ve never been much of a natural supplement person because I feel like they don’t work as well for me due to how serious I have considered my depression and anxiety to be in the past. I wasn’t really up for trying a bunch of natural things to see if they may or may not work, I wanted to get a medication that was specifically meant to help me and has helped others. But I’m not knocking down people who do find help in natural supplements just because they never worked for me. Sex is one that might be the… Read more »
This made so much sense and I wish you the best of luck with handling/managing your anxiety/depression/ADD. Really cool how you’re taking charge of it 🙂
I’m Bipolar and on Paxil which has something to do with Serotonin, but I honestly have no clue what, lol. I’ve never learned much about it. I will say I love fermented foods. I love making different things in that line.
have you tried kimchi? i’ve never liked it but I love kombucha lol
To be honest ma’am, I don’t like kimchi myself, lol. I’m definitely trying kombucha though.
What type of Komucha do you recommend?
I’ve never taken any supplements and I don’t intend on it either. Sure the current studies suggest that they will help you in some way or another and it probably is true, but to me it is unknown what side effects they may cause long term? Reading what Jimmy mentioned below about him becoming dependent on ADHD medicine, It makes you wonder if taking the supplements will just make you want more and then the body gets used to the extra and you cannot go back to you as you were without them. When I’m feeling down, I tend to… Read more »
Can confirm that you eventually develope a treshhold where you reach an imunity to certain meds or by products and that withdrawl is a b*tch… Self inflicted medical Rehabilitationmade me happy though because I forced myself to do things i usually dont do that often (force myself to Draw or sketch stuff; take long walks (Barefoot!) on the beach or in the sand; climb a tree…, lie down in the grass.. thesesorta thing :D). But like with all products that you eventually consume – you need more to reach the same effect. We all know this from painkillers, coffeine, alocohol,… Read more »
love this comment and that you’re a part of the GM community, Jimmy 🙂 a levelheaded voice! very great.
The pleasure is to be here is all mine 🙂
Wanted to reply sooner on the other entries you made, but was unsure if my (often very brutaly honest) answers might upset people.
Also I’m typing from either my samsung, my windowsphone or my tablet and neither has really great spellchecking. the samsung and the tablet are a reaaaal bummer so my apologizes for grammatical errors that I might tend to overlook while typing!
Kyle. I love this post.
I think you’re spot on with forward thinking, hoping, and dreaming. For me, writing or building stories/characters/worlds I want to write about makes me so happy. What does forward thinking and dreaming look like for you?
Loving who you are and recognizing emotions. Yes!!
So happy to have you in this GM community. A positive, lighthearted voice.
look at me, I’m just an aspirant cocoon To be butterfly, or whatnot, maybe to be your friend that flies in the sky with a song and I dream of a nice world look at me, I’m just a fish in his aquarium Desiring to see the sea the day you want count on me, count on me To make you a little happier, to be your friend And I’ll tell you always: You can count on me. look at me, I’m just a star in the sky shining when I see you, and at night protects you I would… Read more »
I don’t know if you like it. I feel a bit embarrassed and insecure.
I want to delete my comment, but I can’t find the option …
feel what you feel, but i am touched you wrote me a song!!
I was afraid you did not like the song. That was the reason I wanted to delete the comment, but now that I see that you liked it, the song was worth it and I’m so glad!! ^^.
how sweet!!!
Ahh serotonin. Seems like it could be a cure all. So I have definitely tried this. Like you had mentioned, I tried most all of the natural ways to release it and gain more. Never really helped…. I mean maybe right in that moment, but later the day it was back to that bad mindset. To answer your questions though, about natural methods and my favorite! Well here I go being vulnerable like your last post I guess? But orgasms release serotonin and I mean, makes you feel great in the time after one. As for supplements! Everyday I take… Read more »
Lol at the vaulnerable part Gracie but I agree with you a lot on all of this cuz meds have helped me but aren’t a cure all. I don’t really take supliments but I’ve been taking D vitamins lately cuz my doctor said I have a low D and should be taking 4000 m daily but jeez I really don’t want to pay 6 bucks a month in hopes that I will have more energy and be less lethargic
I take Vitamin D too, (4000m) it’s supposedly meant to help my chronic migraines… but idk if it does. I still get the migraines, maybe not as much, but like I said who knows if that’s from Vitamin D or not.
Lol we are on the same dosage, idk if everyone has a low d like Jenn thinks but I know I don’t have as much energy as I should and I get tired a lot and want to sleep more hours than I should so that’s why I’ll take whatever if it will help my body work the way it should.
doesn’t, like, everyone have low vitamin D? were humans just built without enough vitamin D? what kind of cruel joke is this? hahaha
Lol at this, this is why I love this girl she’s funny
I love that you just casually mention orgasms hahah.
I’m weary of taking medicine, call me old-fashioned, I’m not sure. It’s interesting to hear how medicine worked for you. I have a few friends on medication for anxiety/depression and it’s interesting to hear their views on it as well. I am really glad you’re not feeling as anxious/depressed.
I’ve heard good stuff about b12!!
I think it is dangerous to simply take supplements based on the experience of others. The best advice that I can give is to discuss the reason you believe that you need these types of supplements with your doctor, what types of supplements would be safe and suitable and have your doctor monitor your progress. Secondly, discuss supplements that you want to take with a pharmacist. They are the experts, far more so than a doctor, dietician or random fan.
🙂