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