What chemical is released when overthinking?

Overthinking triggers the release of stress chemicals, primarily Cortisol (the main stress hormone) and Adrenaline, activating your body's "fight-or-flight" response, leading to increased heart rate, blood sugar, and focus on perceived threats, but chronic release depletes energy and impairs brain function, creating a vicious cycle with anxiety. Other chemicals like glutamate (excitatory) and GABA (calming) are also involved in the brain's anxiety circuitry.

What chemical causes overthinking?

Chemicals believed to cause anxiety include serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is largely associated with mood, sleep, appetite, and other regulatory functions.

Does overthinking release cortisol?

Overthinking can put you under constant stress and stress can increase levels of cortisol, which can wear down your brain's ability to function properly. It can even kill brain cells and reduce the size of the brain.

Does GABA stop overthinking?

Researchers recognize that healthy GABA levels may help reduce symptoms of a number of mental health and neurologic conditions, including (as mentioned above) anxiety, in addition to pain, sleep disturbances, and some cases of depression, according to one review study.

What chemical does your body release when you have anxiety?

Anxiety triggers the release of stress chemicals like adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and the hormone cortisol, initiating the "fight-or-flight" response by increasing heart rate, alertness, and energy. While these are key players, anxiety also involves imbalances in other brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and GABA, affecting mood and calming the nervous system, say Calm Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.
 

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What hormone is high during anxiety?

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugar, also called glucose, in the bloodstream, enhances the brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances in the body that repair tissues. Cortisol also slows functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation.

What triggers cortisol release?

Cortisol release is primarily triggered by stress (acute or chronic), physical challenges like injury, infection, or over-exercising, lack of sleep, and even normal daily rhythms (peaking in the morning). The brain's hypothalamus detects these stressors, signals the pituitary gland, which then tells the adrenal glands (atop the kidneys) to release cortisol to provide energy and manage the situation.
 

What depletes GABA?

Factors that deplete GABA include chronic stress, poor diet, alcohol/drug abuse, lack of B6, certain infections (like rubella), and some medical conditions (e.g., autoimmune issues, lead toxicity), all interfering with its production or function, leading to anxiety, insomnia, and other neurological symptoms.
 

What medication quiets the mind?

Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative medication. This means they slow down the body and brain's functions. They can be used to help with anxiety and insomnia (difficult getting to sleep or staying asleep).

Does GABA do the same thing as Xanax?

No, natural GABA doesn't work exactly like Xanax (alprazolam), but Xanax enhances GABA's calming effects by binding to GABA receptors (GABA-A) and making them more sensitive, boosting GABA's natural ability to slow brain activity, while oral GABA supplements might have a milder, slower effect by influencing brain levels or channels, but it's less direct and potent than the prescription drug. Think of GABA as the brain's natural brake; Xanax is like putting a super-booster on that brake, while supplements might just add a little more brake fluid.
 

What trauma causes overthinking?

Trauma, especially childhood abuse, neglect, or instability, often causes overthinking as a coping mechanism to regain a sense of control and safety in a world that felt unpredictable or dangerous. This leads to a hyper-vigilant nervous system, constantly scanning for threats, replaying past events, and trying to predict future negative outcomes to prevent harm, often manifesting as obsessive thoughts, perfectionism, and rumination.
 

What does high cortisol feel like?

High cortisol feels like constant stress: you might experience weight gain (especially belly fat), fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, headaches, high blood pressure, acne, and muscle weakness, along with distinct physical signs like a reddened face or easy bruising and purple stretch marks. It disrupts sleep, metabolism, and mood, leaving you feeling wired but tired, with potential for mood swings, low libido, and digestive issues. 

Which hormone is responsible for negative thoughts?

On other occasions people may experience random and uncontrollable thoughts that can easily elevate levels of cortisol in their blood. These negative thoughts and emotions are stressful and harmful to a person's overall mental and physical well-being.

How do you shut your brain off from overthinking?

To shut off overthinking, use mindfulness (breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 technique) to ground yourself in the present, challenge negative thoughts by questioning their truth, and distract with physical activity or a hobby; schedule specific "worry time" to contain anxieties, journal them, and focus on taking small actions rather than ruminating, all while practicing self-compassion.
 

What causes uncontrollable overthinking?

Chronic overthinking stems from a mix of underlying mental health conditions (like anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD), psychological factors (perfectionism, low self-esteem, fear of failure), and past experiences (trauma), all creating unproductive thought loops to seek control or avoid perceived threats, often exacerbated by stress and uncertainty. It's a protective mechanism gone into overdrive, making the brain constantly analyze potential dangers or past mistakes, preventing present-moment engagement. 

What does excessive overthinking lead to?

Overthinking causes significant mental and physical distress, leading to increased anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and insomnia, by trapping you in negative loops and worst-case scenarios, draining energy, hindering decision-making, damaging productivity (perfectionism/procrastination), and potentially worsening conditions like OCD, PTSD, and high blood pressure. It impacts daily life, relationships, and overall well-being, creating a cycle where negative thoughts fuel more negative feelings and physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and digestive issues.
 

What is the magic pill for anxiety?

There's no single "magic anxiety pill," but propranolol, a beta-blocker, is often called this for situational anxiety because it blocks adrenaline to reduce physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweaty palms, making it popular for public speaking or performances, though it's off-label for anxiety and doesn't treat mental worry. Other medications like SSRIs (e.g., Prozac) or benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax) target brain chemistry for generalized anxiety, while newer psychedelic therapies show promise for long-lasting relief, but require professional guidance.
 

What vitamins help calm the mind?

It has recently been discovered that taking high doses of vitamin B6 supplements significantly reduces feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

What does lack of GABA feel like?

Low GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) feels like a state of overstimulation, with symptoms including heightened anxiety, irritability, restlessness, poor sleep (insomnia), mood swings, and difficulty focusing, because GABA is your brain's primary "calming" neurotransmitter, so when it's low, your nervous system stays “on”. You might experience increased stress, sugar cravings, and a tendency towards panic, depression, or even substance abuse as your body struggles to relax and regulate emotions.
 

Which food is highest in GABA?

The highest GABA foods include spinach, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and mushrooms (like shiitake), along with fermented items like kimchi, kefir, and tempeh, plus teas (green, black, white) and grains (brown rice, barley). Legumes (beans, lentils) and nuts (walnuts, almonds) are also good sources, supporting brain health and relaxation.
 

How can I raise my serotonin levels quickly?

To quickly boost serotonin, focus on sunlight exposure, exercise (especially aerobic), listening to uplifting music, and eating tryptophan-rich foods (like salmon, eggs, cheese, nuts) often paired with carbs to help absorption, alongside stress reduction via meditation or massage; these natural methods help your body produce this key mood-boosting neurotransmitter. 

How to stop a 3am cortisol spike?

To stop 3 AM cortisol spikes, focus on managing stress, improving sleep hygiene with a consistent schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine (no screens!), eating balanced meals, and incorporating stress-reducing activities like deep breathing or gentle yoga to calm your body's stress response. Reducing caffeine and alcohol, and getting enough restorative sleep, are key to regulating this natural hormone cycle. 

What emotion releases cortisol?

Cortisol helps the body respond to stress

Next, part of the endocrine system called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis releases a variety of hormones, including cortisol, to fuel the body as it continues its stress response.

What does it feel like if cortisol is high?

High cortisol feels like constant stress: you might experience weight gain (especially belly fat), fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, headaches, high blood pressure, acne, and muscle weakness, along with distinct physical signs like a reddened face or easy bruising and purple stretch marks. It disrupts sleep, metabolism, and mood, leaving you feeling wired but tired, with potential for mood swings, low libido, and digestive issues.