We’ve Been Chasing the Wrong Neurotransmitter
A lot of people struggle with anxiety and depression. Common interventions usually include an SSRI. But what is an SSRI anyway? What does it even do?
SSRI’s or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, operate on the theory that depression is a lack of serotonin, which is known as the happiness neurotransmitter. The idea is that people become depressed because serotonin produced in your brain is prematurely reuptaken or reabsorbed without being fully utilized. The medication is designed to prevent this premature reabsorption.
There are some inherent problems with this.
While it is true that serotonin is related to overall happiness, the lack of serotonin is not a proven cause of depression.
Depression is a state when we are numb, unfeeling, or detached. The neurotransmitter most responsible for that feeling is endorphins. We hear of endorphins as in a runners high, something that feels good. But the reality is, endorphins are the body’s way of giving us pain relief. When we physically exert ourselves, endorphins allow us to endure the pain. In a depressed person that system has malfunctioned somehow. Either the endorphins are too high and the person is numb, or the person’s endorphins are too low and they feel everything.
We don’t repair a dysfunction of endorphins with serotonin. The dance between our neurotransmitters is much more complex. We have to look at the each individual case and determine which neurotransmitters to target in order to rebalance the system.
Lastly, ninety five percent of serotonin is produced in the gut. If we are only dealing with 5% of serotonin in the brain, reuptaken or not, it doesn’t make sense to target there. Instead we should find ways to increase or support serotonin production at its source. This can be done by creating a healthy microbiome through foods and supplementation.
If you haven’t been successful with SSRI’s it’s no wonder! There are much safer, cheaper, and more logical ways to approach depression treatment.