Neurotransmitters create and reflect your feelings, moods,
thoughts, and behaviors. This powerful group of chemicals
in the brain is responsible for physiological and
psychological changes in how you experience your life. All
behavior has a corresponding chemical pattern in the brain.

There are more than a dozen neurotransmitters. Two of them
- serotonin and dopamine - play a crucial role in
orchestrating your behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and
experiences and are commonly out of balance.

Serotonin

Serotonin is considered the feel good, inner peace,
well-being neurotransmitter. Optimal serotonin levels are
required for all positive affective states and all balanced
emotional conditions.

It's rare that your serotonin levels would be too high.
When your serotonin levels are low however, you may lapse
into a cycle of struggle and hopelessness. Here are ten
signs that you serotonin levels are too low:

1. You become reclusive and avoid situations that make you
anxious.

2. You believe that you are too weak to handle the strain
of conflict and challenge. You feel driven to avoid all
conflict and challenge and become fearful of starting new
ventures or taking calculated risks.

3. You feel overwhelmed, resentful, and victimized by your
circumstances.

4. You have a tendency toward compulsive behaviors,
perfectionism, and withdrawal. You worry a lot and see most
things in a negative way. You may be hyper-vigilant and
overly controlling.

5. You are impulsive, have a short attention span, feel
blocked and scattered, and easily fly off the handle.

6. You crave sweets and carbohydrates and tend to overeat
(especially comfort foods). You tend to eat more in the
afternoon or evening.

7. You are compelled to clean and organize things around
you. Once you start cleaning you may get "sucked" into the
activity and find it hard to stop.

8. You are prone to heat intolerance, panic, phobias,
fibromyalgia, and TMJ.

9. You are a night owl, experience insomnia, and have
trouble getting to sleep.

10. You feel depressed, hopeless and that you lack personal
power. You may feel sad and cry a lot.

Dopamine

Dopamine is your excitatory neurotransmitter. When your
dopamine levels are balanced, you experience heightened
states of alertness and awareness.

When your dopamine levels are too high, you may be caught
in distorted perceptions of reality, dangerous risk taking,
and increased aggression. Here are ten signs that your
dopamine levels are too high:

1. You have an excessively demanding sex drive.

2. You are an information and news junky.

3. You feel trapped when you do not have something risky
and exciting to do. You may engage in dangerous risk taking.

4. You fear being alone and having nothing to do. You
cannot tolerate relaxation or calm. Peace and quite bore
you.

5. You are prone to violence and aggression. You may
deliberately create conflict to get a thrill.

6. You feel a lack intimacy and you do not want to make
deep connections with others.

7. You are a junk food junkie.

8. You feel insecure, paranoid and try to control your
environment in overt and destructive ways.

9. You are chronically stressed, frustrated, and anxious.
You are a workaholic, driven by success, and burned out.

10. You are overly competitive and determined to win at all
costs. You are demanding and lack the trust of those around
you.

When your dopamine levels are too low you lack a strong
vital inner force. Here are 10 signs that your dopamine
levels are too low:

1. You lack energy and stamina.

2. You have no drive or motivation.

3. You are not able to concentrate.

4. You lack focus.

5. You are not able to move memories into long term storage.

6. You become depressed and lack future orientation. It
will be all you can do to get through the day.

7. You have trouble thinking and keeping your thoughts
organized.

8. You are not able to be creative.

9. You are not able to pay attention.

10. You have no adventuresome spirit. You want to avoid
making any changes in your life.

Your behaviors and your experience affect your biochemical
profile and your biochemical profile affects your behaviors
and your experience. By picking up on the yellow flags that
tell you when your brain chemistry is out of balance you
can take specific steps to put your self back "at choice"
and in charge again.

Optimizing you brain chemistry and neurotransmitter profile
can produce phenomenal results in improving your
well-being, achieving your dreams, and living the
successful, healthy and integrated life you deserve.

About the Author:

Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood &
Energy Wellness Center for Women and a Brain Chemistry
Profile Clinician. Discover ways to positively affect your
neurotransmitter profile at
http://evenstaronline.com/brainchemistry