Posted by Michael Bell on May 15, 2003, at 23:40:19
In reply to Re: STRESS CYCLE - theory about anxiety treatment, posted by Caleb462 on May 15, 2003, at 22:34:09
Caleb462 - no offense, but you're mistaken. Stress does cause opioid levels to diminish. Opioids are released to combat the stress. Once released, the overall levels of opioids diminish. Eventually a point is reached reaches where there are not enough of these "feel good" chemicals to adequately fight all the stress, and so the physiological responses are in evidence. Interestingly, you say that high opioid "activity" causes low GABA/high dopamine, and I think you're making my point without realizing it. High opioid "activity" is taking place BECAUSE the opioids are being released to combat the stress. In other words, opioids are released during stress (hence the high activity), which causes the "stock" levels to decrease. It's the same type of idea with dopamine. When dopamine is released, the overall brain levels of the neurotransmitter decrease, and the supply is restocked through either more dopamine production, reuptake, etc.
And no, I'm not selling BCalmed. Though I probably should, if it would let me keep my cable on for more than a month at a time, heh heh. I laughed when I read that b/c I had just been thinking today that with all the money I've spent on medication & supplements, I should've probably just taken that money and invested in one of these companies!
And finally... of course the brain is much more complex than just adjusting the "highs and lows" of neurotransmitter levels. Trust me, I have no doubt that we've barely even tapped the surface of the brain's potential and physiology. But the fact that no one truly knows how the brain really works should not stop people from theorizing and discussing these things. We don't know how a lot of things in this world work, but we'd still be in the dark ages if we never challenged ourselves to find out how they do. My point was just that maybe there's another system that we've been forgetting about.
Later.
> > The stress cycle goes like this (imagine it as a four-step process): [STEP 1]: Any kind of stress (environmental, psychological, physical, etc.) causes the body's OPIOID levels to decrease. This causes us to experience a sense of urgency, and can lead to irritability and anger. [STEP 2]: Low OPIOID levels in turn causes two main reactions to happen at the same time: DOPAMINE levels increase (feelings of alertness and anxiety) and GABA levels to decrease (insecurity, anxiety, unexplainable panic). Continuous dopamine release eventually leads to mental fatigue. [STEP 3]: Meanwhile, low GABA levels also leads to two simultaneous occurrences - a decrease in SEROTONIN (insomnia) and increase in NOR/EPINEPHRINE(physiological signs of anxiety - racing heartbeat, quick emotional response, ETC.) [STEP 4]: The low SEROTONIN levels force OPIOID levels lower, and the cycle continues.
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> Sorry, but this is just plain wrong. Low opiod activity does not cause high dopamine/low GABA. In fact, it's the exact opposite - high opiod activity causes this reaction. Agonism of mu-opiod receptors INHIBITS the release of GABA onto dopamine-containing neurons, causing a jump in dopamine activity. So HIGH (not low) opiod activity = high dopamine/low GABA. You've got it backwards.
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> > For a great and simple diagram of this cycle, check the following link: http://www.metromkt.net/calm/20brain3.html
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> Are you trying to sell Becalm'd? I apoligize if you aren't, I just found it strange that you're taking information from a site trying to sell a product - this is not a reliable source.
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> I agree that the brain's opiod system is crucial to mental/emotional/social well-being, and is neglected in psychiatry. But your neuropharmacology is all wrong. Also, I don't believe problems can be simplifed down to mere neurotransmitter "lows" and "highs". The brain is much more complex than this. The fact is no one completely knows how the brain truly works, and therefore no one completely knows the facts of psychiatric disorders.
poster:Michael Bell
thread:226952
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/226968.html