Worry, fear and sadness are natural, human emotions that we all experience from time to time. But what does it mean when these feelings linger longer than a few days or weeks? Anxiety and depression are complex psychological disorders that affect over 284 million people globally and interfere with normal, daily functioning.
Symptoms of anxiety and depression tend to pervade all areas of an individual’s life including work, family, and social relationships. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, some common symptoms of these disorders include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness
- Decreased energy, fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Low appetite and weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
- Restlessness, irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and pain of unknown origin
Circumstances such as excessive stress, traumatic life events, family history, and other factors could trigger anxiety and depression. There is a strong link between symptoms of mood disorders and neurobiological processes in the body as stress, anxiety, and depression cause chemical changes in our brain and affect our body’s metabolic health.
The good news is that recent studies have shown a relationship between NAD therapy and nervous system health. Low NAD levels are linked to worsened symptoms relating to anxiety and depression.
What is NAD?
NAD, which stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a key coenzyme of B3 and is found in all cells. It’s critical for hundreds of cellular processes and mitochondrial functions and is considered an anti-aging molecule due to its ability to repair cellular genetic material.
NAD protects our body from aging and disease by generating cell energy and metabolism. We produce our highest levels of NAD in infancy, but production of this crucial molecule declines with age.
How does NAD help with anxiety and depression?
1. Influences Sirtuin (SIRT) Activity
NAD and Sirtuins work hand in hand, and NAD regulates SIRT activity. Sirtuins are proteins that help the brain and nervous system function properly. They are sometimes called “longevity genes” because they play a role in slowing the aging process and protect these areas from deterioration and chemical imbalance.
Sirtuins help to regulate mood and behavior, influence the growth of new neurons, and increase cell longevity.
Studies show that there is a link between low levels of sirtuins to those with chronic anxiety and depression. Activation has been shown to protect against neurodegenerative and mood disorders, lowering the likelihood of experiencing symptoms relating to these conditions.
2. Reverses Oxidative Stress and Chronic Inflammation
Oxidative stress has been shown to cause damage to the nervous system which results in depressive symptoms and high anxiety levels. This bodily condition is caused by an imbalance of low antioxidant activity and high free radical formation causing cell damage. In addition, oxidative stress creates a snowball effect in the nervous system causing chronic inflammation which depletes NAD in the cells.
Chronic inflammation is linked to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Supplementation of NAD helps regenerate new cells and reverse oxidative stress, lowering the chance of chronic disease.
3. Reduces Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Mitochondria are found in our cells that generate the power needed for the cells to function and thrive. The brain uses up around 20% of our body’s energy; which means the health of neurons critically depends on mitochondrial function. Low mitochondrial function has been shown in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression. One critical function of NAD is to transfer electrons which help the mitochondria to create ATP-the energy currency for cells.
NAD Treatment at OWM Integrative Wellness
At OWM Integrative Wellness, NAD therapy is administered through intravenous infusions. There are many factors that can affect how much NAD our body can absorb, including our general health, inflammation levels, age, and genetics. With intravenous infusion, 100% of NAD is absorbed through the vein and into the bloodstream. This allows the molecule to immediately get to work on resolving chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the nervous system. NAD infusion is a simple process that can be completed in as little as 45 minutes in our relaxing, private rooms.
The body is capable of healing itself, and the brain plays a big role in this process. NAD infusions can help improve brain chemistry and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
To learn more about the benefits of NAD infusion therapy, visit us here.
