Does Serotonin Fight Anxiety?

Mood: Serotonin in the brain is thought to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood. Low levels of the chemical have been associated with depression, and increased serotonin levels brought on by medication are thought to decrease arousal.

Is anxiety caused by too much serotonin?

Individuals with social phobia make too much serotonin. The more serotonin they produce, the more anxious they are in social situations. Previous studies have led researchers to believe that individuals with social anxiety disorder/ social phobia have too low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Does anxiety increase or decrease serotonin?

Patients with some anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, have been found to have higher, not lower, levels of serotonin. Some patients experience a temporary increase in anxiety when they begin SSRI and SNRI medications and serotonin levels go up.