Chemical Imbalance?

[treeman]

Hello.Again.      I have a question that I hope someone can answer. What exactly is a chemical imbalance in the brain? And can a test be done to actually see this imbalance. Thanks To anyone who can answer.

[stacey555]

So could a drug like cymbalta help rebalance this or just mask a problem.

[Jikan]

Namaste,
Common chemical imbalances related to emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression include:

Reduced availability of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, GABA and Acetylcholine.
Increased levels of toxic neurochemicals such as Homocysteine
Lower levels of serum Magnesium, Zinc or Potassium
Unhealthy, or deficient levels of essential vitamins like B6, B9, B12 and Vitamin-C
Undersupply of key cofactors like amino acids that are used to help transport neurotransmitter precursors into the blood-brain barrier.
Increased cortisol stress hormone levels

While the exact link between chemical imbalance and emotional disorders has not been found, clinical studies and medical observations have been able to identify a number of chemical inconsistencies that occur in individuals who report experiencing symptoms related to these disorders.
And no, there is not a test to determine specific imbalances, although MRI's can sometimes identify different brain patterns in those with mental illness(I hate that word, but it applies here).
I know it's a bit technical, but I hope it answers your questions.

Michael