Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life. However, if these feelings persist for more than three months that they’re already affecting your day-to-day life, then it’s time to give your doctor a visit. What you’re going through may no longer be just a simple response to normal stressors, but a disorder that needs to be addressed properly.
What happens in stress and anxiety?
Stress and anxiety are stimuli that trigger a cascade of signals in the brain. The stressor will trigger the hypothalamus to secrete hormones. Excitatory neurotransmitters will also be released. These will travel to other parts of the brain like the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, and amygdala and will stimulate them to produce and release chemicals involved in the flight or fight response. Pulse and respiratory rate will increase; muscles will tense up; and GI symptoms will also be present like nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms include increased anxiety, fear, shortness of breath, etc. will also be felt. Once the stressor has passed, everything will go back to normal. The hormones and neurotransmitters will be reabsorbed back into the cells and their effects inhibited.
However, in people suffering from stress and anxiety disorders, the effects are more pronounced and last longer. The exact cause of this disorder isn’t clearly defined, but studies have shown that an imbalance in the hormones and neurotransmitters responsible for the fight or flight response seems to play a role. They are abnormally higher in people suffering from the disorder, so the attacks are easily triggered and the symptoms are worse and prolonged.
How to deal with stress and anxiety disorders
Medications are typically given to patients suffering from stress and anxiety disorders. These work to normalize the hormone and neurotransmitter levels. For example, since serotonin (an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes mood stability) is low in this type of mental disorder and excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate and norepinephrine are high, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are given to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. With more serotonin in the brain, it can balance out the high level of excitatory neurotransmitters and their effects.
In addition to medications, there are healthy foods you can also incorporate into your diet that can help boost your serotonin level. These do not contain serotonin though, but they are high in tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin. Some of these include banana, tomato, pineapple, and walnuts. Salmon, turkey, and tofu are also good sources of tryptophan.
Another way that you can boost your serotonin level is to have a regular exercise regimen. Studies have shown that exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, can increase the production and release of serotonin.
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