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Serotonin

Serotonin is essential for soothing both the mind and body. When serotonin levels are imbalanced, whether too low or too high, it can result in feelings of restlessness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulties with sleep.

How Does Serotonin Influence Restlessness?

• Serotonin is key in managing mood, stress responses, and sleep patterns.

• Insufficient serotonin = Anxiety, racing thoughts, and irritability.

• Excess serotonin = Restlessness, jitteriness, and digestive issues.

Fluctuations in serotonin can lead to mood swings, energy dips, and challenges in unwinding.

What Causes Restlessness? (Serotonin & Additional Factors)

• Serotonin plays a vital role in maintaining a calm nervous system.

• Low serotonin levels can leave you feeling jittery, overwhelmed, or unfocused.

• This often occurs due to chronic stress, PCOS, or inadequate sleep.

Elevated Serotonin = Jitteriness & Overstimulation

• Elevated Serotonin = Jitteriness & Overstimulation

• This is frequently seen with the use of excessive serotonin-enhancing supplements or medications (SSRIs).

PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Restlessness

• Blood sugar fluctuations related to PCOS can lead to energy crashes and restlessness.

• Insulin resistance impacts dopamine, which collaborates with serotonin to maintain calmness.

IBS-D & Serotonin Imbalance

• IBS-D & Serotonin Imbalance

• Excess serotonin = IBS-D, nausea, and restlessness.

• Insufficient serotonin = Anxiety, tension, and stress.

Sleep Deprivation & Stress

• Lack of sleep disrupts serotonin levels and raises cortisol, resulting in restlessness.

• Chronic stress can overly stimulate the nervous system, making it hard to relax.

Restlessness

Restlessness—whether it manifests physically (like pacing or fidgeting) or mentally (such as racing thoughts or an inability to unwind)—is closely associated with heightened noradrenaline levels in both the brain and body. Noradrenaline acts as a "fight-or-flight" hormone that keeps you alert, responsive, and prepared for action. When it becomes overly active, it can create a sensation of being perpetually "on edge," even in the absence of any genuine threat.

In a typical stress response, noradrenaline enhances focus and energizes the body. However, during prolonged periods of stress, anxiety, burnout, or lack of sleep, noradrenaline can stay elevated for extended durations, leading to a state of persistent arousal. This overstimulation can hinder your ability to remain still, calm, or mentally at ease. This is also why restlessness frequently appears as a symptom in disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), ADHD, and panic disorders.

This hyperaroused condition can disrupt sleep, concentration, and emotional control. Over time, it becomes draining—your body feels wired, yet your mind is fatigued.

Restlessness caused by noradrenaline is often accompanied by additional symptoms like:

• Increased heart rate

• Muscle tension

• Muscle tension

• Irritability or heightened sensitivity to noise/light

• A sense of urgency to "do something" without clarity on what that should be

Restlessness transcends mere difficulty in relaxing—it frequently serves as an indicator of internal hormonal imbalance. Whether it presents as physical restlessness, mental hyperactivity, or a persistent sense of discomfort, your body’s chemical signals are at work.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline functions as your body’s emergency alert. When levels are excessively high—due to chronic stress, caffeine consumption, or emotional triggers—it keeps your nervous system in a state of heightened alertness. This results in hypervigilance, jitteriness, and a continuous feeling of being "on edge," all of which exacerbate restlessness, particularly during nighttime.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

GABA serves as your body’s natural relaxant. It slows down brain activity, aids in sleep, and diminishes mental noise. When GABA levels are low, you may experience feelings of restlessness.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

DHEA enhances resilience, stabilizes mood, and fosters calmness. When DHEA levels are low, the body struggles to manage stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, leading to heightened stress sensitivity and increased internal unrest. A deficiency in DHEA can leave you feeling both drained and restless.

Cortisol

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, is designed to peak in the morning and decrease at night. Disruption of this natural rhythm—whether cortisol is too high at night or too low in the morning—can result in racing thoughts, increased alertness at night, and challenges in winding down. A chronic imbalance in cortisol is a significant contributor to hormonal restlessness and sleep issues.

Glutamate

When Glutamate Becomes a Concern:

In excess, glutamate can lead to overstimulation of the nervous system, resulting in:

• A sensation of being "wired but tired"

Physical restlessness (such as pacing or jittery movements)

• Mental restlessness (including racing thoughts and an inability to relax or concentrate)

• High levels of glutamate activity are particularly associated with overactivity in the amygdala and motor cortex, which can generate anxious energy and heightened sensitivity to stimuli.

Stress & Glutamate Feedback Loop:

• Chronic stress → boosts glutamate release

• Increased glutamate → heightens arousal and tension