Chocolate, as a very important antidepressant.

To All of My Dear Women Friends,

Here is some technical information that I have found on chocolate, or at least the phenylethylamine that is in chocolate, as a very important antidepressant.

Many people, especially women, experience depression in the form of "love withdrawal". I am quite serious, and I have both experienced it myself and observed it in my close associates and in my clients in my psychology practice. One goes through an actual set of withdrawal symptoms, including depression, when the levels of oxytocin in the body drop suddenly. Oxytocin is a hormonal product of phenylethylamine, and it is stimulated in close, affectionate relationships of all kinds, so it is literally called "the love hormone". One can, as a result, literally become addicted to it and go through the very same withdrawal symptoms that are experienced with drug or alcohol addiction withdrawal when love is removed or even just distanced or reduced in intensity. Craving chocolate may be a symptom of this type of withdrawal, along with many of the other unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal such as "dysphoria", which is the opposite of euphoria; lethargy, brain fog, feelings of hopelessness and sadness and even thoughts of suicide.

Many people probably have a deficiency of phenylethylamine either hereditarily or as a result of its depletion due to past love withdrawals or deprivations. They can then actually become "love addicts" who need a " love fix" constantly in order to feel normal. Oxytocin calms and soothes, and a lack of it leads to a rise in cortisol, which is associated with stress, anxiety and even weight gain in women. When women are stressed, their bodies tell them to seek the company of others and to form close bonds. It is literally a survival mechanism, related to the maternal instinct of protecting one's young and finding strength in numbers by banding together when there is danger. Oxytocin is also stimulated by pregnancy, childbirth and nursing, as well as by nurturing, altruism, stroking, touching, making love and having orgasms.

Men, fortunately or unfortunately, experience the need for "fight or flight", ie going into solitary battle or running away when they are stressed or challenged. Does this sound familiar? Oxytocin reduces this fight or flight tendency in men, so love can soothe and pacify and even "domesticate" them as well....

So, to all of you women out there who might be depressed, eat chocolate!!! Or better yet, connect and share yourself with a friend, a lover, a child or a pet. Love really is the most important thing in our lives......

With lots of it,

Patricia