Re: Serotonin

Hi EC Parent,
If your son is not interested in taking SSRI's then i would research the following amino acids: L-Tyrosine, N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), L-Theanine, SAM-E etc…

Another option is to consider having him work with a therapist, specifically a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. EC can trigger OCD symptoms due to the constant monitoring of the lips. "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" is another symptom that can manifest with EC. It's possible that "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" can manifest due to long-term, repeated social shame/embarrassment interacting in public with peeling lips.

Visiting a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist is a proactive, short term therapy that will work directly on disfunctional thought patterns and anxiety symptoms. I would search "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Anxiety" and research to see if it appeals to you & your son.

I believe that EC has a tremendous emotional/psychological component to it that often overshadows the physical symptoms of chronic lip peeling…

Consider this: if our lips became healed, stopped peeling and looked normal, would we still have lingering trauma and social anxiety due to years of shame/embarrassment etc…? To some people, yes.

I hope all this helps your son in some way…
Cheers,
Yossarian Tweet