YOU ARE YOUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY

Photo by KOMMERS on Unsplash

Making Your Chemistry Work For You

Do you sometimes feel “crazy” (out of balance or out of your norm) without any apparent reason? If you’re like me, perhaps that happens more often than it should…

Why? Our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are direct results of the chemical processes in our brain, including the balance and interaction of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. This is a complex topic, as brain chemistry profoundly influences who we are, but it is also influenced by factors such as our thoughts, diet, sleep and stress.

How Brain Chemistry Affects Us

• Neurotransmitters are key: The brain uses chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, to control mood, movement and sleep.

• Balance is critical: An imbalance can affect mental and physical health. For example, low serotonin levels are linked to depression, while too much dopamine can be linked to conditions like schizophrenia.

• Thoughts have power: What we think about can change our brain chemistry, and our brain chemistry can affect our thoughts and emotions as well. For example, stress can release cortisol (a stress hormone) and chronic stress can lead to a negative feedback loop that worsens anxiety.

• Habits and learning: Dopamine plays a role in reward and habit formation. When we have a pleasurable experience, a burst of dopamine can make us more likely to repeat the behavior.

Factors That influence Your Brain Chemistry

• Diet: Our brain needs specific nutrients from food, like amino acids, vitamins and minerals, to create neurotransmitters.

• Sleep: Getting enough quality sleep is essential for maintaining balanced brain chemicals.

• Exercise: Physical activity helps maintain a healthy balance of brain chemicals and hormones.

• Stress management: Limiting chronic stress is vital, as it can cause the release of hormones like cortisol, which can have negative effects on our brain and body over time.

A Two-way Street

The good news is that the relationship between our mind and our brain chemistry is not one-sided. While our physical state influences our thoughts, our thoughts can also influence our brain's chemistry. This means we have the power to influence our own brain chemistry through our lifestyle choices and mental habits. With awareness, we can put it to good use!

Holistic Tools That Help Balance and Improve Brain Chemistry

• Meditation, breath work and other mindful practices, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, etc.

• Social and creative engagement

• Hypnotherapy also improves brain chemistry by creating new neural pathways and altering brain connectivity. It enhances activity in brain regions related to attention and self-awareness, while reducing activity in self-conscious areas, leading to changes in thought, emotion and behavior. Additionally, it can induce a state of relaxation that decreases stress-related brain activity and increases the production of beneficial neurotransmitters and endorphins.

Contact me for more information or to book your session. Wishing you good brain health!

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 10/16/25

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