Delfador wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:24 pmErgogenicHealth wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 2:53 am Finally... some discussion around cortisol/corticosteroids.
Firstly: Low cortisol will lead to LOW dopamine symptoms, and complete emotional BLUNTING.
See this article by my friend:
Thyroid sets the idle for your system, cortisol is your gas pedal. Getting these two right/wrong, will have life-changing consequences.
"Greater motivation and enthusiasm to do things. Both the locus coeruleus (noradrenaline) and the ventral tegmentum (dopamine) are very rich in cortisol receptors. In fact, cortisol drastically elevates dopamine (much more than testosterone). Cortisol also strongly elevates noradrenaline and in high doses, it decreases serotonin. Thus high levels of cortisol make us driven (dopamine), alert (noradrenaline), rigid and obsessive and stressed (decrease in serotonin)¹."
https://thingsvarious.medium.com/cortis ... 3ba8af54e8
I have chronically high cortisol and adrenaline. I'm not driven, i'm crippled with parasympathetic overactivity. So you're incorrect.
You're basically suggesting that stress would elevate our dopamine, so no.
This is what he said:
Cortisol and dopamine: Cortisol enhances every aspect of dopamine signaling. From the number of dopamine receptors to all the way down the signalling cascade affecting cellular response and gene expression. (Less scientific version: It increases both the number of dopamine receptors as well as how sensitive the responding cells are to the activation of these receptors).
Greater drive to get physical and move. With low cortisol people want to lead a quiet, secluded life that does not have much action or movement.
Reduction in “burnout”-symptoms. In fact, low cortisol is the most common biochemical correlate to burnout syndrome. More about burnout (and its treatment) in Section 4.
If we change a hormone, we change personality. Changes in hormone levels will not just affect how we feel and react in the short-term (e.g. women during their menstrual phase of the cycle vs. their “normal” follicular phase), but if these changes are sustained (e.g. menopause, hormone replacement), this will eventually ripple into many of our thinking patterns and character traits (i.e. your personality will change somewhat). Even brain wiring will be changed over time. For more about personality changes with hormone replacement, read Section 5 in my main guide.
Less irritability. U-shaped curve. Low levels of cortisol cause nervous/obsessive/aggressive behavior. This is partially due to low cortisol not being able to reduce levels of CRH (an “anxiogenic” neuropeptide), which downregulates neurotransmission of serotonin.
Less “obsessivity” and neuroticism. U-shaped curve. Same mechanism as above. People with low levels of cortisol are often quite obsessive and neurotic. Firstly, same mechanism as above. Secondly, low levels of cortisol often cause constant, low-level hypoglycemia, which elevates CRH drastically. On the other hand, very high levels of cortisol cause obsessivity and neuroticism as well, because very high levels of cortisol downregulate serotonin synthesis, secretion and signalling. Levels of CRH and serotonin are major regulators of someone´s levels of “calmness”.
Better mood and less negativity. U-shaped curve.
Better stress resilience. U-shaped curve
Less brain fog. Much better concentration. Multiple mechanisms are at play. Firstly, blood pressure is elevated and low blood pressure causes “absent-mindedness” and brain fog. Secondly, low levels of cortisol often cause anemia, which impairs oxygen delivery to the brain. Thirdly, cortisol potently stimulates noradrenaline and dopamine (the neurotransmitter-systems most stimulants work on).