Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Low Serotonin

Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps with regulating mood. It sometimes acts like a hormone as well. Given all the roles it plays, it makes sense that having low serotonin can cause such a range of symptoms, both physical and emotional.

Symptoms of low serotonin include:

• Depression
• Negative thoughts
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Low energy
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Chronic pain
• Changes in appetite
• Binge eating
• Loss of interest in sex
  

This article goes over what serotonin does, the range of possible low-serotonin symptoms, how low serotonin is diagnosed, and what you can do to boost your levels, if needed.

What Serotonin Does

Serotonin is a regulator of many processes in the body. When it's out of whack, these processes are no longer regular.

Serotonin's dual nature as a neurotransmitter and hormone means that it's found throughout your body. Perhaps surprisingly, there's more serotonin in your gut than in your brain. The effects of low serotonin can be many, and seemingly unrelated symptoms may, in fact, be all related to it.

Take fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), for example. Both are thought to be tied to serotonin deficiency. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also involves serotonin dysregulation and happens to be extremely common in those with either of these conditions.

Learning to spot the signs of low serotonin can help you get a diagnosis and treatment.

Physical Symptoms of Low Serotonin

Some of the physical symptoms linked to low serotonin are:

• Chronic fatigue even though you get adequate rest
• Disturbed sleep
• Loss of appetite or carb cravings (possibly from the body's attempt to make more serotonin)
• Hot flashes and temperature changes that are not linked to your environment
• Headaches
• Stomach pains

Certainly, some of these symptoms can crop up in anyone's life from time to time. The key here is to recognize whether you have clusters of symptoms that tend to occur together.

Serotonin levels can fluctuate, leading to symptom flares and remissions (times when symptoms are gone or at low levels).

Emotional Symptoms of Low Serotonin

Emotional symptoms associated with low serotonin include:

• Social withdrawal
• Sadness and frequent crying spells
• Low self-esteem and self-confidence
• Changes in personality
• Feeling emotionally sensitive and taking things personally
• Irritability

The presence of emotional symptoms does not confirm a mental health issue. However, serotonin is involved in certain mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder.

Talk to your healthcare provider about if you have any of these symptoms of low serotonin.

How Do I Know If My Serotonin Levels Are Low?

Measuring neurotransmitters is not a reliable way to diagnose low serotonin. Instead, healthcare providers rely on a review of your symptoms to make a diagnosis.

If you have physical and emotional symptoms that you think could be from low serotonin, it’s important to reach out to your primary care provider or a mental health provider for an evaluation.

How Can I Raise Serotonin Levels?

There are many ways to fix low serotonin. Some people find that a combination of strategies work best for raising their serotonin levels and keeping them in a range that supports their physical and mental health. 

Antidepressant medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, and tricyclics can treat low serotonin. Your provider may prescribe one to you. Know, however, that these drugs can take some time to work.

In the meantime, your provider can suggest other strategies that might help boost your levels, including:

• Eating a nutritious diet that includes foods like nuts and seeds, animal protein, and soy, as well as probiotic rich fermented foods
• Exploring herbs and supplements like ashwagandha
• Getting plenty of fresh air and sunlight during the day
• Being physically active in a way that you enjoy
• Making quality sleep a priority
• Managing your stress levels
• Reaching out for support from family and friends and/or providers

Continuing these strategies even after you start medication can also be helpful.

Summary

Serotonin is an important brain chemical that also works like a hormone. If you don't have enough serotonin, you can have physical and emotional symptoms that can be disruptive to your daily life.

Conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia might be related to serotonin deficiency.

If you think you might have low levels of serotonin, talk to your provider. There are different ways to raise your levels and keep them up so you can feel and function at your best.