Could Serotonin help my often crabby Mom (dementia) cheer up a little?

This is unbelievable. Two days ago I lit up my Lavendar candle at around 2:00 PM. No unusual comments from Hubby that day and bedtime worked out just fine! Did it again yesterday and got the same results. Now, I need to pick up another one to keep this going. 'Gotta' go shopping - can't run out of a good thing!

Thanks for all your input! An added benefit of a serotonin diet at our house is I feel more positive as the caretaker well!! .... win-win!

Read the book "Potatoes not Prozac". Potatoes eaten every night will raise levels of serotonin and I tried this while living in HI. It works, but I did get tired of potatoes. Nuts and dark chocolate can have a migraine effect, so try the ones that don't make you ill. Exercise is a great serotonin booster!

Here's another one with more items listed:

website: livestrong/article/288554-list-of-foods-with-serotonin/

Good luck!

website: muscle-health-fitness/foods-that-increase-serotonin.html/

This looks like a good site. I googled 'serotonin food list' and got back quite a few answers..

Could you ask the nurse where to find the list of Serotinin rich foods on the internet?

You might want to keep track of the blood sugar so you will know the difference. Is she diabetic?

curie61 I have noticed a pattern in my mother, too, and wondered if it was from the dementia or low blood sugar. Will try the lavender, thanks!

Lavender scent helps adults with dementia settle down. It has worked in nursing homes. You can put it on a soft animal or in a scarf. Some older adults asked for it when they started to get upset. Others were given the scarf or animal when they started to get cranky. Obviously it works better the earlier you use it. Some adults have a pattern each day when they become more upset.

LauraK, could you please list the three drugs she was put on? It sounds like just what my hubby needs..

I helped care for my mother for 3 years after my father passed away. She was a very difficult person, until we got her on the right "drug cocktail". She took an antidepressant, an antianxiety and an antipsychotic med, and returned to being a sweet, complimentary and appreciative person. Drugs aren't for everyone, but they made a dramatic difference for my mother, as well as my sister, niece, brother and myself who had to deal with her on a daily basis.

Lots of information here on the syndrome: webmd/depression/guide/serotonin-syndrome-causes-symptoms-treatments.

It's hard to tell the difference between not enough and too much of serotonin

Dark chocolate has it too. One word on the Serotonin: too much will trigger a manic phase. Look up "serotonin syndrome" and be cautious.