A lack of serotonin can lead to a multitude of serious medical issues ranging from sleeping and eating disorders to full blown panic attacks and clinical depression. Being one of your body's most important and widely used neurotransmitters, this opiate-like chemical regulates numerous bodily processes, both physiological and emotional. The good news is that your body will display some distinct and recognizable signs in the event that your serotonin levels drop below the healthy level.
Detecting a Serotonin Deficiency
Step 1
Identify your symptoms. Serotonin deficiencies can lead to fatigue, mild to severe anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, disturbances in sleep patterns like insomnia and frequent waking, odd changes in eating habits like loss of appetite, bulimia and excessive cravings for sweets, and difficulty thinking and concentrating.
Step 2
Examine your lifestyle. In many cases, issues with serotonin levels are self-induced or environmental. Insufficient supplies of dietary protein, toxic substances such as heavy metals and certain drugs, and high levels of stress can all impede the chemical's usage and production.
Step 3
Go to your doctor. If the evidence points to a deficiency then you need to take a serum serotonin level test. This will determine the amount of serotonin circulating in your blood, and therefore, how much your body is producing. However, this is not a routine exam, so your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
Tips and Warnings
- Protein, specifically the amino acid tryptophan, is a building block; without it you can't make serotonin. Serotonin receptors, which can be damaged by prescription and illegal drugs, are important because they allow your neurons to transmit messages via serotonin pathways.
- Serotonin deficiency is not to be taken lightly. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your levels are low.
