What does Serotonin have to do with anxiety/depression?

Question

what does Serotonin have to do with anxiety/depression, and what do anxiety/depression medications do? Increase Serotonin or decrease Serotonin and how does that effect the persons brain? while using meds?

Answer 1

it is a chemical released by the brain that triggers worry and despair

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have had moderate depression my whole life.  It is caused by a chemical imbalance in my brain - my body doesn't produce enough Seratonin on its own.  Medications such as Zoloft usually neither increase nor decrease the amount of Seratonin - they simply block off some of the receptors in your brain, making the Seratonin you *do* produce last much longer than it otherwise would, keeping your brain better supplied throughout any given day.

EDIT:

Seratonin is a chemical released when you are HAPPY - it is an endorphin.  It is **absolutely not** a chemical that triggers anxiety or despair!