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