Self-destructive behaviors are part of our human experience

Some you have at the beginning of your life, others you develop

They appear to come from a synergy of emotional & biological roots

Understanding how & why they happen will improve your life

THREAD

Your brain is where all these behaviors start

Your amygdala (emotional brain center) tell your Nucleus Accumbens (reward brain center) that it needs to feel better

Neurotransmitters flood your prefrontal/frontal cortex that push you into action

Hello reward!

The main neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) involved in your self-destructive behaviors include:

Dopamine = motivation, pleasure, focus/memory

Noradrenaline= Energy, concentration, Alertness

Serotonin = Calmness, positive mood, sleep

Your brain uses neurotransmitters to cope with your emotional triggers

Mental health problems happen when reserves run out

You burn through it all but dont replenish fast enough

Your body doesn’t have the means to build neurotransmitters without the right food

Self-destructive behaviors come in all shapes and sizes

But they all negatively affect you

How that happens is different for everyone

Understand that it’s just a coping mechanism

What’s fascinating is that you’re aware of these behaviors

You repeat & repeat them like a broken record

The high feels awesome so you want more

Not noticing the damage you're causing to your brain

Eventually you get so unbalanced & realize that there’s a problem

The most common self-destructive behaviors include:

Addiction
Unhealthy Eating
Procrastination
Impulsiveness

All of these affect your brain chemistry by messing with neurotransmitters

Addiction to drugs, alcohol, sports, sex, TV (just to name a few) are a form of escapism

You hide from your problems with substances/actions that feel good

You get hooked on the rush & numb yourself

Eventually your brain needs more to feel something

It’s a vicious cycle

Unhealthy eating is another biggie

Your relationship with food is an emotional experience

Everyone is different

Some overeat (dopamine), others under eat (serotonin)

Either way, your health deteriorates

Procrastination or “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome the perfect example of how dopamine overpowers your will

What you’re supposed to do gets pushed to the side

Pleasure is what your brain needs

Putting off tasks = anxiety over time

Impulsiveness is reckless & sometimes dangerous

Spending money on that you don’t have or getting in a bad situation is a huge stressor

Your serotonin crashes trying to deal with the mayhem

Depression is often the end result

You might be wondering how to best deal with all this

The task is simple:

Eat good foods
Get proper sleep
Supplement your nutrient deficiencies
Getting therapy (for severe cases)

Best foods to keep your brain healthy include:

Red meat of all kinds
Cruciferous vegetables
Fish & seafood
Berries
Eggs
Grass fed Butter & all animal fats

Habits you should consider:

Hiking in nature
Dopamine fasting @DrSepah
Resistance training
Quitting sugar & processed foods
Eliminate toxic body products
Meditation

Supplements that boost serotonin/Improve sleep:

5 HTP
Zinc
B complex
Magnesium glycinate
Tryptophan
Inositol
Pharmagaba
L Theanine

Supplements that boost dopamine/Norepinephrine:

Tyrosine
Folate
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
SAM-e

You can overcome your self destructive behaviours

Focus on getting your body what it needs to thrive

Now that you understand emotional & biological side of your problems

Start dealing with them