So, of course, I started trying to work out if we could get any clues. What could we test to see if we were too-turned up? Here’s a bit from the HP that might help – there’s more in the Plan:
What we’re looking for here are clues about what the sympathetic nervous system is up to. Is the dial turned up?
We can start by checking for neurotransmitter patterns – is the glutamate high and the serotonin, dopamine and/or noradrenaline low? Are you over-stimulated with excitatory neurotransmitters and yet don’t have enough of the inhibitory ones to offset it?
Some researchers have suggested looking at the catecholamines – that’s dopamine, adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) – and others say, if on an organic acids test Vanilmandelate and Homovanillate are high, the person is likely having a heightened sympathetic nervous response and the dial is up, especially if the serotonin marker 5-HIAA is low.
Happily, I have persuaded one of the labs to list the dried urine ZRT NeuroAdvanced test, which includes all of these markers including the VMA, HVA and 5-HIAA below so I reckon this could be termed our CSS test, or as close as we can get to one currently (I am taking a bow…!).
Looking at the adrenals can help too. Seeing cortisol levels on a DUTCH test might be useful. You want a clear picture whether metabolised cortisol is high or low.
In general, these are the two patterns to look for – and to get this you would need the ZRT NeuroAdvanced test and a DUTCH Adrenal Advanced preferably.
I am not an expert by any means and I am feeling my way a bit here, but this is how I might interpret the tests in terms of confirming CSS and relevant treatment; I hope it gives you some clues as to what form of treatment might be best for you. There’s a lot more detail in the Healing Plan in terms of lowering Substance P and things to watch out for in treatment:
- If adrenaline, noradrenaline and/or dopamine are high and/or HVA and VMA are high with 5-HIAA low and metabolised cortisol is high – that is an acute stress CSS picture to me and this person definitely needs calming down before the body becomes tired out by it all. I would use the Lowering Cortisol advice and protocols in the Adrenal Plan (TGF version preferably) and the amygdala-calming techniques in the Healing Plan.
- If adrenaline, noradrenaline and/or dopamine are high and/or HVA and VMA are high with 5-HIAA low and metabolised cortisol is low – this person likely has CSS and needs calming down sort of therapy like the Healing Plan. This is the pattern most often seen in PTSD. These people are hyper, anxious and reactive internally, but shattered.
- If adrenaline/noradrenaline/dopamine are low and cortisol is low, the person is flat, fatigued and needs adrenal boosting as this is more an adrenal fatigue type picture. Use the Cortisol Boosting advice and protocol in the Adrenal Plan.