Depression — Part 5 Of 5 — Sensitivity Training

Brian Gwaltney
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

We all get a little to sensitive some times

This final piece is all about endorphins. Endorphins are probably another word you are familiar with yet might not know exactly what they are. In short, they are the happiness chemicals in our body. There are around 15 chemicals that fall into the endorphin category and they are all responsible for making us feel warm and fuzzy.

Many of us are short on endorphins. When endorphin levels are low, we tend to be far more sensitive to everything around us. With too few endorphins in our system an innocent comment from someone that would normally go unnoticed becomes very hurtful.

Low endorphin levels are so common, most of us have our own way of coping with them whether we are aware of it or not. Here is a list of endorphin releasing foods and activities: alcohol, chocolate, marijuana, tobacco, sweet and fatty foods, sex, and adrenalin inducing activities like bungee jumping. How many do you take part in on a regular basis to improve your mood?

Like most things, there are a wide range of causes for endorphin levels to drop. A lot of it is hereditary, the foods we eat make a major difference, our level of stress and trauma as children can play a big role, and even genders. Typically, women have lower levels than men and women’s levels change depending on where they are in their cycle.

Thankfully, we can raise our endorphin levels and become less sensitive if we need to. DLPA is the supplement of choice for decreasing sensitivity. It is another amino acid like many of the other supplements I have written about in this series.

DLPA is the abbreviation for the D and L types of phenylalanine. The combination does wonders for endorphin production by making things less painful. All amino acids including DLPA are available in food-primarily animal sources. With a healthy diet, supplementation of any kind is probably unnecessary, but sometimes it takes a little extra to get a jump start.

Of course, I don’t expect anyone to continue using the supplements discussed in these articles forever. My hope is that supplements along with positive lifestyle changes will create a long-term solution for all your mood needs.

I hope this series has been informative and useful. I know I have been vague on the specific recommendations, but that has been intentional. Playing with brain chemistry is not something you want to take lightly. It is best to do a lot more research and consult with a doctor familiar with mood disorders and treatments.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any follow up questions to any of the topics I write about.

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Brian Gwaltney

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Personal Trainer, Web Developer, Businessman, Traveler. Creator of www.yourstrengthcoach.com.

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