Emotions and Body Chemicals

1. Emotions and Body Chemicals

2. What is emotions • Mental state that arises spontaneously For example: Anger Happy Fear/Anxiety Sad/depressed

3. Interesting facts about emotions • Affected by society • Affected by time • Affected by intensity

4. Where Emotions develop in Body? Lymbic System -Hypothalamus -Amygdala -Hippocampus

5. Hypothalamus • This triggers the physical manifestations such as the pounding heart and dry mouth that come with fear.

6. Amygdala The Amygdala influences the manners in which we behave when emotionally aroused. For example, laughing when happy, and crying when distressed. It is particularly active in emotional reactions associated with fear, anger, flight and defense.

7. Hippocampus The Hippocampus is responsible for our memories of incidents that carry a strong emotional flavor

8. Body Structure Body is a system of -digestion, respiration, elimination etc And this system is made up 1. Glands -adrenal, mammary etc. 2. Organs- heart, liver, lungs, etc. 3. Glands and organs are comprised of tissues -fat, bone, muscle etc. 4. Tissues are composed of cells.

9. Cells • Cells are the fundamental functional (physiological) and structural (anatomical) parts of the human body as well as all other living organisms. • Some sources told us that the average adult human body is made up of "50 million million" (50 trillion) cells, while others put the figure closer to 10 trillion. Science NetLinks, a resource for science teachers, stated that there are approximately "ten to the 14th power" (that's 100 trillion) cells in the human body.

10. Cell continued…. • So just like other body parts….our brain is also composed of cells. The number of cells in brain is in millions. Then we have receptors on the surface of the cell. Example could be golf ball/ satellite dish/ locks anything…….detail is in the next slide 

11. How our brain works? • The brain is a complex communications network consisting of billions of neurons, or nerve cells. Networks of neurons pass messages back and forth within the brain, the spinal column, and the peripheral nervous system. These nerve networks control everything we feel, think, and do. • To send a message, a brain cell releases a chemical (neurotransmitter) into the space separating two cells, called the synapse. The neurotransmitter crosses the synapse and attaches to proteins (receptors) on the receiving brain cell. This causes changes in the receiving brain cell, and the message is delivered.

12. Chemicals (messengers) • Ligands (general terms chemicals) which mean substance that bind selectively to a specific receptor site on the surface of a cell and can be natural or man-made substances. There are three kinds of ligands --Neurotransmitters- serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA and acetylcholine.generally made in the brain to carry information across the gap, between one neuron and the next. --Steroids- harmones testosterone, progesterone and estrogen. --Peptide –amino acids made up of protein

13. What Ligands do? It is the function of ligands (body chemical) to transmit a message to the receptor cell that coordinate body functions such as metabolism, (digestion and elimination), and respiration on a cellular level. These cellular processes in turn bring about dramatic functional changes in tissues, glands, organs, and entire body systems. At the same time peptides not only coordinate almost all body functions on a physical level, but also on an emotional level. These powerful biochemicals are concentrated in the limbic system (see above), the seat of the emotions, and play an important role in governing our emotions as well.

14. Video Presentation Here is the video which shows the better how it works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqqq5eme4X0

15. Chemical effect • Neuropeptides (messenger molecules) cause chemical changes in the body that can improve or weaken the immune system. Once immune cells receive the stress response alarm, they undergo changes and begin to produce powerful chemicals. These substances allow the cells to regulate their own growth and behavior, enlist the help of other immune cells, and direct these to the areas of invasion or other trouble spots. Studies show that the HIV virus interferes with a peptide associated with feelings of self-esteem. In one study, patients with full blown Aids, who had therapy to boost their sense of self and strengthen emotional bonds, survived statistically longer than expected. • Another example: Rheovirus, which causes common cold, uses receptors for norepinephrine. If an individual is happy, these receptors are filled with norepinephrine so happy person is less likely to get a cold.

16. Examples • Few Body Chemicals and their effects: • Adrenanline- bad chemical/anger • Endorphins – pain killer, produced by brain • Serotonin – feel good

17. Ayurveda Our ancient science of life which is called Ayurveda in Sanskrit says the same thing that depression/stress is the main cause of the physiological imbalances or, as the sages would say, “It’s ama”.  Stress puts blockages in our physiology, thereby impeding the flow of life energy, dampening the digestive fire and generating “ama”.    Chronic stress affects what scientists call the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA).  The hypothalums(explained above) is the master controlling region in the brain and the pituitary gland is the master controlling gland of the endocrine system. 

18. Ayurveda cont.. • Depressed individuals show this pattern of impairment in the HPA.  During the depressive episode, the levels of adrennorcorticotroic harmone (HCTH) and cortisol secretion increase.  The levels of serotonin, norepinenphrine, dopamine and other biochemicals fluctuate as an adaptive response to the changes in the HPA.  Another affected biochemical is melatonin, a hormone associated with sleep.  Also, when serotonin is substantially reduced by acute and chronic stress, there is an increase in the activity of the locus coeruleus, a part of the brain that affects anxiety, anger, fear and frustration. 

19. Ayurveda in simple words.. In simple terms- Any aggravation of the doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and produces ama (toxins). Ama enters the blood stream and circulates throughout the body, clogging the channels and tissues. This accumulated toxicity will slowly affect the vital life energy (prana), the immunity (ojas) and the cellular metabolic energy (tejas), and result in disease. So, ama is the basic internal cause of all ailments, and it is due to the aggravation of vata, pitta, or kapha. According to Ayurveda, the key to optimal health is to help the body eliminate toxins and reestablish the balance of the doshas.

20. How to control/change emotions? • Eating habits-Food is one of the main reason which affects our emotions through the direct effect of taste, through the effect during digestive (virya), and the effect after digestion (vipaka). The resulting doshas and gunas stimulate the occurrence of particular Emotions. Thus all foods are moodfoods. • Positive thoughts- Nothing more important that our own thought process. Most events outside us don't prompt emotions. It is the interpretation of the event that prompts the emotion. • Consider laughter -A genuine deep belly laugh floods our cells with happy brain chemicals.  After a belly laugh, we feel purified, lighter. 

21. Continued… • BreathingExercise-Breathing exercises has positive effect on the brain and the endocrine system.  Studies suggest that the practice of these technique increases serotonin levels, more important, it also reduces cortisol levels.  Hence we can reduce the stress and treats the depression For example: Kapalbhati and Bastrika breathing excersises both stimulate the network of nerves in the abdominal cavity that regulates digestion and metabolism.  These exercises trigger the release of two stimulating substances: epinerphrine and norepinephrine.  The latter, is one of the brain chemical that is deficient in depression.  Increasing the levels of this biochemical in the bloodstream uplifts mood and improves physiological performance in every way.  These also increase resistance to stress through the probable release of feel good hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin. 

22. ….continued • Meditation -The high and low pitch "tones" of the chant resonating within the body also enhance Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flow. This occurs because the vibrational sound of the chant has a stimulating effect on the liquid medium of the CSF as it circulates around the brain and spinal cord. Lower pitch "tones" resonate in the chest and abdomen areas, and affect the CSF within the spinal column. Higher pitch “tones” resonates in the head, and therefore impact on the CSF as it circulates within the cranium. • Medicines – From tranquilizers and sleeping pills to alcohol and marijuana, many classes of drugs temporarily inhibit activity in the locus coeruleuse, thus reducing anxiety, anger, fear and frustration.  Nevertheless, the effect of these substances is only transient at best and their side effects are negative.  For example: The antipsychotic drugs Haldorl, Thorazine, Risperdal block receptors dopamine; this can cause GI & immune side effects; it releases prolactin in women which causes constant PMS.

23. Conclusion • We can control our emotions by different ways but you need to weigh them before applying in your life……

24. References • http://www.healthstresswellness.com/index.asp?pgid=72 • http://www.healtouch.com/csft/bodywork.html • http://www.healtouch.com/csft/yoga.html • http://truthseekerjournal.com/1997archive/124_1/15_chemical.html • http://al.turtlecounseling.com/blog/Relationships/Skills/FeelingsandEmotions/_archives/2005/4/7/562962.html • http://lipgravy.com/whitefeatherlibrary/emotionsandfeelings.html • http://www.charisma.org.uk/chapt-8.htm • http://www.rasas.info/body_mind_emotions.htm • http://kr.buddhism.org/~skb/down/papers/152.pdf