Mind & Spirit, Uncategorized
December heralds the busyness that goes with Holiday Celebrations.

In addition to the fewer daylight hours, the added pressure that accompanies Christmas can unfortunately for many people make the holiday season less than cheery.

When stress goes up, your mood can go down. Stress influences many biological and biochemical processes that begin in the brain and spread through nearly all body systems. When the stress response is triggered, the adrenal glands produce the classic stress hormones – epinephrine and cortisol – while the brain releases neurotransmitters that can increase emotional response and influence memory and concentration. Some neurotransmitters have excitatory effects, whereas others are thought to help promote a sense of calm (GABA), happiness (dopamine), and well-being (serotonin). Continue reading →