| Emotional Intelligence is all about | | | | Glenmullen, author of ?Prozac Backlash,? ( ) |
| self-awareness, understanding how emotions | | | | it can also be enhanced by talk therapy and |
| work within you and others. Our feelings are | | | | by aerobic exercise such as jogging or dance. |
| regulated by neurotransmitters such as | | | | |
| serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Here | | | | Touch also increases serotonin during massage |
| are some things to know about serotonin, | | | | and decreases pain levels, improves sleep |
| called the ?feel good? neurotransmitter. | | | | patterns, decreases fatigue, anxiety, |
| | | | depression and cortisol levels in |
| Research indicates that low levels of | | | | fibromyalgia patients, according to the |
| serotonin in the brain can lead to the | | | | International Journal of Neurology. |
| underlying inability to handle | | | | |
| powerfulfeelings which can results in | | | | Another important source of serotonin can be |
| impulsive acts, aggressive behaviors, poor | | | | increased light. Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., |
| judgment, and self-destructive tendencies. | | | | National Institute of |
| According to the Society for Neuroscience, in | | | | |
| experiments,monkeys with less serotonin are | | | | Mental Health, feels that the intensity of |
| the ones who take daring jumps from the trees | | | | the light is what counts, not the spectrum. |
| and injure themselves. Rats low inserotonin | | | | However full-spectrum light used in the |
| do risky things in experiments, and also | | | | poultry industry causes chickens to live |
| accept small immediate rewards instead of | | | | twice as long, be calmer and less aggressive, |
| waiting for a bigger prize. | | | | and produce eggs 25% lower in cholesterol. |
| | | | Apparently, even human cholesterollevels drop |
| Restoring levels of serotonin in the body | | | | when people are exposed to sunlight. |
| relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety. | | | | |
| According to Carolyn Meltzer, MD, serotonin | | | | Non-full-spectrum lighting, which is often |
| receptors decrease significantly with age, | | | | used in work places, has been shown to create |
| upto 55%, so as you age, keep this in mind. | | | | hormones ACTH and cortisol in levels |
| | | | considered stressful. |
| How do we get more serotonin or use what we | | | | |
| have better? According to Dr. Allan | | | | Being around water can help some people feel |
| Lieberman, MC, FAAEM, vitamin B6 and | | | | better. Research has shown that a cruise can |
| magnesium can elevate it. Some natural | | | | be beneficial to your wellness. |
| sources are bananas, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, | | | | |
| tomatoes, plums, avocadoes, pineapple, | | | | There are more tips about feeling better in |
| eggplant and walnuts. | | | | "Depression: The Need to Go Within," ( ) by |
| | | | Susan Dunn. |
| Antidepressants work with the serotonin you | | | | |
| produce; they don?t make more of it. Your | | | | In sum, part of emotional self-awareness |
| body produces serotonin through L-tryptophan. | | | | means becoming aware of what physical factors |
| L-tryptophan is present in pork, duck and | | | | innate to you enhance your mood ? the foods |
| turkey. According to Harvard psychiatrist | | | | you eat, the chemicals you put into your |
| Joseph | | | | body, the exercise you get or don?t get, and |
| | | | yoursurroundings. |