Day 19

To continue with the topic from yesterday, about Amino Acids, I want you to try this Mood-Type Questionnaire.
This is taken from the book Mood Cure by Julia Ross.

To find out more:  http://www.moodcure.com/take_the_mood_type_questionnaire.html

Answer these questions for 2 points each.  Add up your score and the end of each section.  If the number you get is more than the number noted then you might be depleted of one of the amino acids.

Type 1. Under a Dark Cloud: Low in SEROTONIN

• Do you have a tendency to be negative, to see the glass as half-empty rather than half-full?
• Do you have dark, pessimistic thoughts?
• Do you really dislike the dark weather or have a clear-cut fall/winter depression (SAD)?
• Are you often worried and anxious?
• Do you have feelings of low self-esteem and lack confidence? Do you easily get to feeling self-critical and guilty?
• Does your behavior often get a bit, or a lot, obsessive? Is it hard for you to make transitions, to be flexible? Are you a perfectionist, a neatnik, or a control freak? A computer, TV, or work addict?
• Are you apt to be irritable, impatient, edgy, or angry?
• Do you tend to be shy or fearful? Do you get nervous or panicky about heights, flying, enclosed spaces, public performance, spiders, snakes, bridges, crowds, leaving the house, or anything else?
• Are you hyperactive, restless, can’t slow down or turn your brain off?
• Have you had anxiety attacks or panic attacks (your heart races, it’s hard to breathe)?
• Do you have facial or body tics, or Tourette’s?
• Do you get PMS or menopausal moodiness (tears, anger, depression)?
• Do you hate hot weather?
• Are you a night owl, or do you often find it hard to get to sleep, even though you want to?
• Do you wake up in the night, have restless or light sleep, or wake up too early in the morning?
• Do you routinely like to have sweet or starchy snacks, wine, or marijuana in the afternoons, evenings, or in the middle of the night (but not earlier in the day)?
• Do you find relief from any of the above symptoms through exercise?
• Have you had fibromyalgia (unexplained muscle pain) or TMJ (pain, tension, and grinding associated with your jaw)?
• Have you had suicidal thoughts or plans?

Total Score:
(NOTE IF MORE THAN 12)

Type 2. Feeling the Blues: Low in NOREPINEPHRIN or Thyroid

• Do you often feel depressed – the flat, bored, apathetic kind?
• Are you low on physical or mental energy? Do you feel tired a lot, have to push yourself to exercise?
• Is your drive, enthusiasm, and motivation quota on the low side?
• Do you have difficulty focusing or concentrating?
• Are you easily chilled? Do you have cold hands or feet?
• Do you tend to put on weight too easily?
• Do you feel the need to get more alert and motivated by consuming a lot of coffee or other “uppers” like sugar, diet soda, ephedra, or cocaine?

Total Score:
(NOTE IF MORE THAN 6)

Type 3. Over Stressed: Low in GABA or Cortisol

•  Do you often feel overworked, pressured, or deadlined?
•  Do you have trouble relaxing or loosening up?
•  Does your body tend to be stiff, uptight, tense?
•  Are you easily upset, frustrated, or snappy under stress?
•  Do you often feel overwhelmed or as though you just can’t get it all done?
•  Do you feel weak or shaky at times?
•  Are you sensitive to bright light, noise, or chemical fumes? Do you need to wear dark glasses a lot?
•  Do you feel significantly worse if you skip meals or go too long without eating?
•  Do you use tobacco, alcohol, food, or drugs to relax and calm down?

Total Score:
(NOTE IF MORE THAN 8)

Type 4. Too Sensitive for Life’s Pain: Low in ENDORPHIN

• Do you consider yourself or do others consider you to be very sensitive? Does emotional pain, or perhaps physical pain, really get to you?
•  Do you tear up or cry easily – for instance, even during TV commercials?
•  Do you tend to avoid dealing with painful issues?
•  Do you find it hard to get over losses or get through grieving?
•  Have you been through a great deal of physical or emotional pain?
•  Do you crave pleasure, comfort, reward, enjoyment, or numbing from treats like chocolate, bread, wine, romance novels, marijuana, tobacco, or lattes?

Total Score:
( NOTE MORE THAN 6)

Type 5. Mood Swinger: Unstable BLOOD SUGAR

•  Do you crave a lift from sweets or alcohol, but later experience a drop in mood and energy after ingesting them?
•  Do you get dizzy, weak, or headachy if meals are delayed?
•  Do you have a family history of hypoglycemia, diabetes, or alcoholism?
•  Are you nervous, jittery, irritable, inattentive on and off throughout the day; but calmer after meals?
•  Do you have crying spells?
•  Do you have intermittent mental confusion, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating?
•  Do you have heart palpitations, rapid pulse?
•  Do you have frequent thirst?
•  Do you get night sweats (not menopausal)?
•  Do you get sores on legs that take a long time to heal?

Total Score:
(NOTE MORE THAN 12)

The Amino Acids You Might Need:

• 5HTP or/ Tryptophan to raise Serotonin levels
• GABA, Taurine, and/or Theanine to raise GABA levels
• Tyrosine or phenylalanine to raise levels of stimulating neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine
• DLPA or D-phenylalanine to increase the availability of Endorphin
• Glutamine to keep blood sugar levels stable and all neurotransmitters firing strongly and in concert

For everyone:

I recommend an Omega 3 supplement.  Omega 3 is the best good-mood fat. There is a correlation between the rate of depression and the amount of Omega 3’s one takes.  People report that they come alive when they are taking Omega 3’s.  Omega 3 comes in 2 forms.  One that comes from fish and is ready immediately for brain use.  The other from flaxseeds, chia seeds and other seeds and nuts that has to be worked by certain enzymes before they are absorbed into the brain.  The best source of Omega 3’s are from Wild Salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies and mackerel. They have 3 times more than other fish and 5 times more than flaxseed oil. Since it is very hard to eat the amount of fish needed, get a supplement of Omega 3’s and take 1200-2400 mg/day.

Vitamin D is also very important.  If you don’t get enough Vitamin D from the sun, then I recommend a Vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is a hormone that regulates the adrenals, the thyroid and calcium.  DO not exceed 400 mg/day. If you are out in the sun then no supplement is needed.  More and more studies are coming out about just how important vitamin D is in preventing and healing many diseases.

Magnesium works in great partnership with Vitamin D and calcium.  These can all help with mood and improve sleep.  Magnesium protects us from insomnia, depression, stress, anxiety, anger, heart attack, Alzeihmers, constipation, low blood sugar, PMS, osteoporosis, and chronic fatigue.