Q:  Can Seratonin Be Replaced After It's Depleted

I read that seratonin levels, once depleted, cannot be replenished except with medication.  That a trauma, such as a trauma which is involved with ptsd, can deplete seratonin.  Is it true that once depleted it cannot be replaced.  If so, what happens to the seratonin?  How is it depleted?


Dear Beverly - 
I've gotten a bit behind on questions here so will try to be very short and hopefully "sweet":  basically there's a grain of truth in what you're saying you've heard, but most of it is either sophisticated guessing, as we really don't understand anywhere near as much as is implied by these statements, or just wrong.  For an example of what we do know, with some references to back it up, try this. 

The Brain Chemistry of Depression -- Inside Cells
     Beyond serotonin: what happens to genes?

The Brain Chemistry of Depression -- 
                                                             Stress Hormones
     What might be the 1st event leading to depression?

Dr. Phelps

Published November, 2001