Tryptophan: the turkey drug

What would Thanksgiving be without a dose of tryptophan?  This "drug" is an amino acid produced by the body and found in certain foods.  While tryptophan is widely known to cause drowsiness, what few people know is that our bodies use tryptophan to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects appetite and mood in addition to sleep patterns. Serotonin is one of the "happy" chemicals in our brains that help our cells communicate.  Other substances that induce serotonin production, or prolong its time in our synapses, are MDMA, psilocybin, and many antidepressant medications in the class of MAOIs.

What effects does this increased release of serotonin have?  For one thing, it may curb impulsive behavior -- so people who gorge on turkey are less likely to overdrink, overdose, have lots of sex (and not just because they're feeling gross) or overspend -- according to MSNBC, this may have an inhibitory effect on those sale-frenzied shoppers who hit the streets at 4am to get the best deal on a Wii or a flatscreen TV:
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/11/22/5511082-thanksgiving-dinner-may-curb-holiday-spending-study-shows

Concerned about those impulse buys?  Have some turkey for breakfast....or, for vegetarians, have some soybeans, spirulina, sesame seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds, as these are all excellent sources of tryptophan too!

Remembering the B

Often the B gets left out of the dialogue on LGBT concerns.  Same sex marriage becomes "gay marriage" and bullying becomes "anti-gay bullying."  Do gay adolescents have a rough time?  Sure, and so do lesbian adolescents.  Bisexual adolescents may go unnoticed because they "pass" as heterosexual, or may have an even harder time coping with feelings of being different.  This video, part of the "It gets better" series created by GLAAD and the American Institute of Bisexuality, reminds us to remember that not everyone who engages in same sex behavior is gay or lesbian.  And no matter what your sexual orientation -- even if you choose not to define your sexuality -- you have the right to live and love as you choose, without fear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nneRVsAzu6E

Passionate Couples

According to a recent feature in the October 2010 issue of the American Psychological Association's magazine, Monitor on Psychology, couples who have more passionate relationships also consider themselves more creative. Dr. Kelly Campbell and her colleagues at California State University surveyed approximately 1,400 individuals and found that people in the passionate -- generally early -- stages of their relationships were also more likely to self identify as creative (their findings held for individuals in long-term relationships who described their union as passionate).  While their sample was limited, comprised mostly of individuals in their mid-20s who identified as heterosexual and female, this study has valuable implications.  Often when couples come to therapy, they complain of sexual concerns -- not enough sex, or not enough intimacy around sexual acts, or boredom with the same routine -- and expect much of the focus to be on the nuts and bolts of their sex lives...how much, how often, what position....when really, the issues underlying their changes in behavior likely have more to do with individual concerns (for example, a life change like the birth of a child or a partner's promotion when the other partner is unemployed).  Frequently, one or both members of a couple have fallen prey to the societal myth that couples must be fused, share everything and do everything together, and in the attempt to achieve this merger, they have given up their individual pursuits.  The fear is that doing things apart means the couple is not compatible, or that they don't want to spend time together.

Maybe John liked to go rollerblading in the park before he met Arthur, but has since abandoned this interest in favor of their shared interest in independent films (which John genuinely enjoys), and he feels a vague sense of dissatisfaction when they are intimate and Arthur doesn't spend as much time touching his body as he used to.  The thought, perhaps not conscious, could be voiced as, "He should do what I want him to do sexually...because look at everything I've given up for him!" John comes to therapy reporting that he's gained a few pounds since they started dating and he stopped being as active, and he worries that Arthur no longer finds him sexually attractive.

The fact of the matter is, no one else can make us happy, or more fulfilled.  "Shoulds" are a red flag that some irrational belief is lurking, and a great place to start in therapy.  If we choose to sacrifice our own passions, it is no one else's responsibility to compensate for that lack of (self-)love in our lives.  One way couples can begin to work towards having a more passionate relationship is to find endeavors that they can share, or pursue individually.  Maybe Shirley and Peter can take a yoga class together, start or join a writing group, or go on weekend trips to places with natural beauty where Shirley can take photographs and Peter can go rock climbing.  When each partner feels better about him- or herself, they are less likely to have relational stress and are more likely to report more satisfaction in the relationship, which -- you guessed it! -- leads to more passion.  When Arthur admires John's toned calves, or Peter looks at Shirley's photos with pride, positive regard is nurtured.  Making yourself happy may be a challenge at first, but it's a challenge worth facing and, if you're part of a couple or a relational group, your lover, spouse or partners will reap the benefits as you come into your own creatively.

If you're interested in finding out more about the benefits of individual, couple or group therapy, contact us to set up an appointment today!

Original entry from "In Brief" can be found here: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/10/inbrief.aspx