Mental health is a phrase on everyone’s lips (and in everyone’s news feed) especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. But just because the term is trendy, doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Many people have had their own mental health journeys, including RSnake. His experiences led him to explore mental health in-depth with guest Julie Korioth, Founder and CEO of Speak as One.
What is Mental Health?
According to the American Psychological Association, “Mental health is a state of mind
characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom
from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive
relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life.”
As you can see from the definition, mental health depends on a number of factors. It
requires individual emotional health, the ability to relate to others in a positive way, and
resilience in the face of adversity.
Despite the prevalence of mental health tips and tricks online, living an emotionally
nourishing life can be a complex process that never ends.
RSnake shared his own experience with poor mental health due to stress associated
with working in cybersecurity. “We’re very similar in security to mob bosses and spies.
We all have the same sort of job where we can’t talk about it with anybody, and if it goes
wrong, it goes really, really wrong. And so, you always end up being hypervigilant,” he
said.
The hypervigilance was warranted. RSnake was followed and received death threats.
He explained that he began to notice his mood deteriorating rapidly. He eventually took
a few self-assessments and found he rated highly for post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). This set off some alarm bells for him, and he began to explore evidence-based
ways to improve and protect his mental health.
Korioth also had first-hand experiences with mental health difficulties including anxiety
and panic attacks. “The panic attacks really came on after my divorce,” she said. “I felt
like I would be sucker-punched, like it was coming out of nowhere and I didn’t know
exactly what was causing it.”
She described having to pull over to the side of the road while driving because she felt
like she couldn’t breathe.
As a result, Korioth began to look deeply into healing her own trauma and supporting her
mental health through a number of therapies.
Sometimes mental health problems are best solved with introspection, or different
types of cognitive or talk therapy. But many issues can be traced to chemical
imbalances in the brain.
The Role of Dopamine in Mental Health
The neurotransmitter dopamine has been thoroughly researched, and made headlines
as a result. An article in The Guardian called it “the Kim Kardashian of
neurotransmitters.”
Dopamine plays a major role in all kinds of human behaviors, including the sensations
of pleasure and reward. Some research has linked it to the high that drug addicts and
binge eaters experience.
But dopamine plays other roles in the brain and nervous system too. It is also involved in
planning, focus and interest, heart rate, kidney function, sleep, and much more.
It’s also important to note that dopamine isn’t the only neurotransmitter involved in
addiction. Glutamate and GABA, among others, have also been found to play a role in
addictive behavior.
Some known diseases are also associated with having either too little or too much
dopamine. Schizophrenia, for example, has been linked to having an overactive
dopamine system in certain areas of the brain.
There may also be a connection between dopamine and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Some research found that adults with ADHD had fewer dopamine
transporters and receptors in parts of the brain related to focus and concentration.
A lack of dopamine uptake is associated with an inability to feel pleasure, a major
symptom of depression.
Scientists have also discovered that people with Parkinson’s disease have low levels of
dopamine.
Obesity has also been linked to having fewer dopamine receptors. However, the science
isn’t clear whether obesity is caused by a lack of these receptors, or if living a certain
lifestyle is to blame for the changes in people’s brains.
The Role of Dopamine in Addiction
People initially believed drug and alcohol addicts simply lacked the willpower to stop
using. The discovery of dopamine’s involvement in addiction changed all this. According
to a 2010 essay, drug addiction is now largely understood to be a brain disease. The
essay’s authors argue it should be treated no differently than diabetes.
The effects of dopamine have been linked to many addictive drugs. Research on people
addicted to cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine show that dopamine plays a key
role in providing the high drug users and smokers feel.
Research shows the drugs trigger a fast release of a higher amount of dopamine than
would be released with other, more natural experiences.
When people use drugs regularly, the brain adapts by making less dopamine and
downregulating its receptors. This could be why addicts need more and more of a drug
to get the same feeling over time.
Since dopamine also plays a role in impulse control, the lower production of dopamine
could be one of the factors that makes it more difficult for drug-addicted individuals to
stop taking drugs.
But dopamine may not be the only neurotransmitter to blame. Some scientists point out
that drugs like opium and marijuana don’t trigger dopamine release. Yet people still
become addicted to them.
Dopamine Deficiency
Although an overactive dopamine system is not desirable (as with schizophrenia), having an underactive dopamine system also has serious consequences for mental and physical health. Reading about dopamine, people may start to wonder if they are deficient in dopamine. Since this neurotransmitter plays so many roles, and symptoms can overlap with other conditions, dopamine deficiency is hard to diagnose. It’s not as easy as getting a blood test in a lab. Some symptoms of dopamine deficiency include:
- Feeling tired - An inability to concentrate - Anxiety - Moodiness - Depression - Low sex drive - Insomnia
Doctors tend to treat the condition they can diagnose, not dopamine deficiency. They
may recommend anti-depressants, other medications, or lifestyle changes to treat the
problem.
There are some natural ways to boost dopamine levels. But it’s best to check in with a
health care provider before trying anything new.
Diet
Gut and brain health are linked. There are even nerve cells in the gut that signal
dopamine, and bacteria that help create it.
Getting enough protein is key to helping the dopamine system function in the body. An
enzyme called l-tyrosine helps the body to produce dopamine. This enzyme is found in
chicken, beef, eggs and almonds.
Another important part of helping the digestive system function is the presence of
healthy bacteria in the gut. Some research has found that taking a probiotic supplement
helped individuals with depression, anxiety, and stress. Beneficial probiotics can also be
found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, and tempeh.
Exercise
It’s not called a “runner’s high” for nothing. Research has linked exercise and dopamine
for quite some time. It is known to boost the amount of dopamine and the number of its
receptors in the brain.
Research has found that the dopamine system received a boost in treadmill-running
rats. There has also been research on humans that found aerobic exercise significantly
increased dopamine activity in the area of the brain that processes rewards. The study
noted there could be a reciprocal benefit; as people exercise more, they feel a sense of
accomplishment and pleasure that creates more desire for exercise.
Sleep
“Sleep is so important and underrated,” said RSnake. Sleep deprivation can cause
irritability and anger, depression, and memory loss.
A lack of sleep impacts the dopamine system. Research shows that people who are
sleep deprived, even for one night, have a decrease in dopamine receptors, making it
more difficult for their brains to react to dopamine when released.
The Takeaway
Scientists have made huge strides in the past few decades towards a better understanding of mental health and the role various neurotransmitters play. Although there is still much to learn, this research is helping remove stigma around addiction and other mental health issues, and shedding light on techniques people can use to improve their mental health. To find out more about practices that helped RSnake and Korioth, check out Season 3 Episode 8 of the RSnake Show.