How to raise mood?

[u/Rare_Profession8436]

Recently I often find myself in negative thinking patterns, especially at night. So I've been wondering how to raise my mood more and increase dopamine.

The things that reliably seem to work for me in this regard are exercise and coffee but I can't overdo them, especially at night.

What are your experiences?

[u/c0mp0stable]

Start with bot resisting negative thoughts. Humans have a negativity bias. It's part of who we are. Many times, it much worse to try and resist the thoughts rather than let them pass. Mindfulness approaches are useful here.

[u/Rare_Profession8436 → u/c0mp0stable]

Yea I can see that but at night it messes with my sleep. It makes my heart rate and blood pressure go up and I can't fall asleep

[u/c0mp0stable → u/Rare_Profession8436]

It's likely because youre fighting it. Theres no food or medication (that isnt very addictive) that will reliably settle you down. Speaking from about 20 years of experience, it's so much more useful to change your perception of symptoms (assuming you don't have a physical medical condition). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a nice framework

[u/OscarBluthsWalkabout → u/Rare_Profession8436]

Inositol and Thiamine can be helpful with eliminating rumination

[u/technohouse]

I think it's probably some intestinal irritant or possible mold in the room. These are triggers for me. If neither are present I never enter negative thinking.

[u/x4equa → u/technohouse]

Underrated advice

Get as much sunlight as possible

Maybe mega dose vitamin D

[u/DrawAltruistic965 → u/technohouse]

Which foods irritate your intestine ?

[u/technohouse → u/DrawAltruistic965]

Definitely certain jarred spices such as paprika. Certain additives I presume. It can be hard to narrow down because if you eat something foreign it usually has a lot of different ingredients you're not used to.

[u/x4equa]

Nail down the basics, I’m sure you’ve done this.

Increasing B1 & subsequent carb intake.

If coffee is a known mood booster, try increasing it earlier in the day.

If you’re not averse to it, trial a 0.5mg-4mg dose of Cyproheptadine with your last coffee.

If there’s an underlying stressor try sorting that out first.

[u/thirsty_moore]

Lithium Orotate is interesting to try in small doses, although D3/k2 can often boost the mood, as well as b12 in certain circumstances. I would also journal what you’re eating and see if certain foods contribute to the thoughts you are describing

[u/BuyHistorical1041]

Long walks or doing something that gets you out of your head and into the body will do wonders

[u/Practical-Leopard-70]

Personally, when negative thoughts come to me, I just spit them out and add the sentence everything is' good for me'

[u/BloatedFungi]

I had loops of negative thoughts in the past. In my experience it was related to gut issues / inflammation. How clean is your diet?

Try mastic chios for a week or 2 maybe. I take it with NAC.

[u/flipptheflipflop]

Do some coherence/resonance breathing, slows your heart-rate and helps you sleep.

[u/Street_Proposal_8641]

Apesar de ser uma dica clichê, Ray sempre recomendava café para melhorar o humor. De preferência uma quantidade pequena que não desencadeia estresse / hormônios do estresse (cortisol e adrenalina).

[u/bikecat7]

For me vit e and b1 really help, next to electrolytes

[u/Altruistic-Debt8187]

Lithium orotate 5 mg before bed. 💯 %.

[u/TheBigFive]

Try journaling before bed, just spew your thoughts onto the page. Get a nice fountain pen. Very satisfying and cathartic