Re: Several differences between dopamin and serotonin deficiency

Thanks for posting this. I've been taking 5-HTP for my serotonin deficiency for the past 2 months, and my sleep has improved BIGTIME. As a result, I'm less anxious about life, and the small, dumb things that used to annoy me greatly now just bounce off my thickened skin. I've been walking around often enough with a smile of "well-being", and i've been enjoying it immensely. Many of the dark clouds in my mental existence have been steadily dwindling. My self-confidence and self-esteem has improved greatly. I used to be anxiety-ridden at times, but now living seems much more do-able.

I started using the HTP because I've been pursuing bowel-cleansing, and read that Enterochromaffin cells in the intestine/gut (EC cells) are responsible for endogenous 5-HTP production from tryptophane, which then gets sent to the brain for serotonin production. When I learned that, I gave the 5-HTP a try, and was pleasantly surprised. In retrospect, my guess is that because I get enough tryptophane in my diet, there's a downstream problem with tryptophane metabolism, perhaps in my gut, perhaps in my head -- I can't tell which. I'm not sure what to do about it, other than continuing with bowel cleanse, liver-flushing and of course HTP.

From your situation, (you mention that HTP doesn't work for you) you said you use tryptophane-rich foods to help boost your serotonin. It's curious that the HTP wouldn't work for you and others. Do you have any ideas why that might be? I read somewhere that there are some who belive that taking B vitamin complex can interfere with serotonin production...do you think that this might explain why the HTP doesn't work? I know you said you need the B complex to make dopamine... Maybe you could try taking the HTP first in the morning and then take your B complex after the HTP has been absorbed?? Good luck with all that.

Anyway, I only wish I had had this knowledge sooner, in order to deal with my serotonin (-) form of depression. I'm trying to accept the shortcomings of industrialized medicine, but I still feel a certain anger that all of the psych's, shrinks, counselors, etc. that I've visited in the past only wanted to talk about "feelings" and put me on meds. My conclusion is that Psychotherapy doesn't pay enough attention to the vital connection between digestive physio-chemistry and mental health. Hopefully that will improve with time.

Thanks for posting this distinction between these 2 kinds of depression; it helps me understand it all a little better. I feel very fortunate to actually be able to identify my problem, put my finger on it, rather than being mired in ignorance and unpleasant, frustrating mystery. Think about all the people who will never figure it out. Tweet