Did you realise that every emotion that you experience is as result of a chemical shift in your neurology?  Every time you feel elated or deflated, you are going through a neuro chemical shift.  There are certain activities such as laughter, exercise and great sex that produce endorphins, or happy chemicals.  If you were ever looking for a good reason to ramp up, or embark upon an exercise regime, then you have just found one. 

I remember when I first discovered this startling revelation about emotional states being mere chemical reactions.  I started to think about what was making its' way into my body on a regular basis.  Things like caffeine, alcohol and then all of the additives and E numbers that are found in pre-prepared food.  I found myself scrutinising everything in supermarkets to find out what I was exposing myself to.  I was quite shocked when I realised how many additives there were in seemingly straight forward foods.  Then I got to thinking about all the environmental stuff that I was exposed to , especially living in London.  Pollution for cars, motorbikes, lorries, aircraft, trains, buses, industrial outlets, radio waves from mobile phones, microwave ovens.........and the list goes on.

It is nigh on impossible to protect yourself from all of these things, especially if you live in urban areas.  It is however possible to raise your awareness of what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad, and also at what times of day you feel the shifts and changes.  I sometimes have my clients keep a mood diary.  It is a simple way of tracking what happens to your mood mapped against what you are doing and eating.  We often find patterns evolving when certain things are eaten or consumed or when people are exposed to environmental noises and distractions.  Avoid automatically assuming that your mood swings are something that you just have to put up with.  Start noticing what is happening right before and after a change in mood.  Pay particular attention to the stuff that makes you feel good and you might want to do more of it.   Shop more carefully, avoid consuming preservatives and additives in processed or pre-prepared foods.

Realise that you are a very powerful pharmacist and that by directing your mental state through relaxation and hypnosis, you can produce a whole series of neuro chemicals that will keep you feeling optimistic, energised and happy through the darkest of winter months.