I absolutely love DNA testing and my favourite report of all time is the NERVOUS SYSTEM report. This report is gold dust for understanding how we create, experience and breakdown key neurotransmitters, namely: Serotonin, Dopamine and Gaba. But it also crucially covers: NorAdrenaline, Adrenaline and Melatonin too. An essential for anyone suffering: anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD and more.
History of Nervous System Breakdowns and Depression:
This is me, I have a long history of being 'under par' from a mental health perspective. Over my life to date, that has ranged from anxiety and depression to two full breakdowns and an ADHD diagnosis. I WISH I had known about, and done, this report when I was younger. I could have saved a lot of symptoms.
How much Serotonin do you make?
Serotonin is our happy hormone, contentment, the feeling that all is good in the world. It makes us feel happy but also helps manage our appetite and our stool peristalsis or bowel transit time. In my report I found out that I had severely downregulated genes to make serotonin in the gut (where over 90% of it is made!) and also downregulated genes to make it in the brain (where the rest of it is made). On top of this, I found I had gene snps downregulating my gene receptors for serotonin, meaning that I didn't "feel" what I was making, albeit it small. And just to top things off, my genes to breakdown serotonin and "wash it away" are super fast, so I can't hold onto it once I've made it and enjoy the feeling, I break it down straight away. (think of the plug being taken out of the bath, and all the water draining away).
Knowing this vital information about my genetic make up has enabled me to:
understand myself
be compassionate with myself
forgive myself
and support my mental health and moods going forwards.
I have employed various diet, lifestyle and supplement techniques to support my production and experience of serotonin, and it's enabled me to live a happy, and depression-free life. :)
Do you have good Gaba production?
Gaba is our relaxation neurotransmitter or "off switch". When we have low production of Gaba, or if our Gaba receptor genes are downregulated and we can't "feel" the amount of Gaba in our bodies, we can be:
Anxious
Worried / Catastrophising / sense of doom
Can't switch off our brain / circulating thoughts / overthinking
Can't get to sleep
Can't relax / always on the go
We need Magnesium, B6 and Zinc to make our Gaba. And we can support our Gaba receptors with Peppermint, Valerian, Lemon Balm and several other herbs and nutrients.
Did someone say ADHD?
There are several factors that can lead to an ADHD diagnosis, and genetics is one of them. I have gene variances in my dopamine pathway, meaning that I don't make enough of it, it's cleared too quickly from my receptors, I break it down very quickly and dopamine is inhibited. Knowing this has been essential to managing my condition and thriving with ADHD.
If you or someone you love have suffered in the past, or presently, with the mood disorders listed, or others then do consider this easy test. It's a simple cheek swab and is your blueprint for life, always relevant and personalised for you. Check out the DNA packages for several reports.