Low Serotonin Levels Questions?
Question by Brandon Lee: Low serotonin levels questions?
Ok so I’m 15 I’ve had what I had was only depression but now after some research I believe my serotonin levels are low. I’ve had “depression” for a month and a half now, so my serotonin levels have been low for at least a month and a half. My meds don’t work by the way.. My doctors are to stubborn to get me on an antidepressant that works. Anyways can low serotonin levels cause personality changes? Changes in thoughts? Changes in every way you think? Are these changes reversible? I’ve felt emotionally numb since I got “depression” yet I’m over sensitive to anything lately. Everything gets me upset. Even when I know someone’s joking I get upset.. Also another thing I’ve been having is thoughts of frantic suicide.. I would never kill myself though. My final question is why would a 15 year old have low serotonin levels?
Best answer:
Answer by Tolin
The medication they have given to you is probably Fluoxetine a common SSRI, SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, this increases the amount of serotonin available in the brain and reduces the Physical effects of depression. But there is more than one cause of depression if it was a result of a loss (bereavement) from faulty thinking (Cognitive) or another less common cause then the medication will only do so much.
Low serotonin levels will cause you to behave differently and the other problems you have described. The best thing for you to do is take the Medication on time each day and it will work. If after a month of taking the medication regularly you still feel depressed, the chances are that the cause of the problem is not so much biological. You would need to see a Psychologist about it at this point.
Suicidal Ideation is not uncommon in people who are depressed, if you feel like it is becoming more of a plan than a thought there are people you can talk to about it, I’ll put a link below but I’m sure you already know about it since you said you have been doing some research.
http://www.samaritans.org/ or 08457 90 90 90 (UK) I think there is a national helpline if you are in the US.
Answer by Albert
It was known before serotonin-activating drugs (i.e., SSRIs) were introduced by the medical allopathy that they increase the risk of suicide. The myth of serotonin as the happy substance has been created by the medical profession in spite of the fact that much research tied serotonin to brain degeneration, inflammation, hypertension, muscle pain, metabolic disruption, cancer, and so forth (read http://www.supplements-and-health.com/tryptophan-side-effects.html ).