The Neurobiology of Resilience: How Your Genetics Determine the Best Way to Recover

I am flying to Toronto this week to speak at a medical conference about something I believe is essential for anyone living with migraines: The Neurobiology of Resilience.

Stress isn’t just an emotional trigger—it’s a biological disruptor, especially for the migraine brain. And resilience, it turns out, has a neurochemical foundation that we can measure, support, and improve.

In my talk, I shared the latest research on how two key brain chemicals—serotonin and dopamine—shape our ability to recover from stress. I want to bring that insight to you, too, because understanding your own brain chemistry can change everything about how you manage migraines.

There are two fascinating studies I think you’ll want to hear about—one on how meditation boosts serotonin, and another on how cold plunges increase dopamine dramatically. And here’s the twist: whether those strategies will work for you depends on your genes.

Resilience isn’t just a mindset. It’s biology. Deep within the folds of your frontal lobes—the brain’s command center for decision-making, emotional control, and stress response—two key neurotransmitters play a starring role in how you bounce back from challenges: serotonin and dopamine.

Serotonin: The Calm in the Storm

Serotonin is often called the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, but its role goes far deeper. In the frontal lobes, serotonin acts like emotional brake fluid, helping you stay calm under pressure, regulate your thoughts, and avoid spiraling into anxiety or rumination. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, anxiety, and difficulty managing stress.

Dopamine: Your Inner Drive

Dopamine, on the other hand, fuels motivation, pleasure, and goal-directed behavior. It’s what helps you get up after a setback and try again. In the frontal lobes, dopamine helps you plan, persevere, and stay focused on what matters most. Without enough of it, resilience turns into apathy, procrastination, depression, or addiction.

What If Your Genes Are Working Against You?

Here’s the tricky part: not everyone makes or uses serotonin and dopamine the same way. That’s where genetic testing comes in. Variants in genes like:

• 5-HTTLPR or TPH2 can impair serotonin synthesis and transport, making you more prone to stress and less likely to feel the calming effects of serotonin. In fact, certain forms of 5-HTTLPR can actually reduce the effectiveness of common antidepressants, such as SSRIs like Prozac, Paxil, and Celexa, meaning they may not work as well—or at all—for people with these gene variants.

• COMT or DRD2 variants affect how much dopamine is available to your neurons. For example, the DRD2 gene influences how many dopamine receptors your brain has available. If you carry variants associated with lower receptor density, your brain may not “hear” dopamine signals as well—making it harder to feel rewarded, motivated, or emotionally resilient. As a result, some individuals may unconsciously seek out quick dopamine boosts from unhealthy sources like gambling, alcohol, or other risky behaviors—trying to compensate for a dopamine system that isn’t firing optimally.

Without this information, it’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall with your wellness habits—some things might help, others won’t, and you won’t know why.

Tailoring Resilience: Simple Habits That Work If You Know Your Biology

Let’s say your genes show sluggish serotonin synthesis. That might explain why you feel anxious even with therapy and good sleep, and have trouble bouncing back from stressful events.  In your case, meditation could be a high-yield intervention. One study showed that mindfulness meditation increases serotonin availability by enhancing tryptophan transport across the blood-brain barrier (Jang et al., 2011).

Now imagine you have dopamine issues — you’re wired to seek out dopamine hits from unhealthy sources that destroy resilience.  A quick cold plunge might be your secret weapon. Research shows that brief cold exposure increases dopamine levels by up to 250%, giving you a natural, sustainable mood and motivation boost (Šrámek et al., 2000).

Precision Living for a Resilient Brain that Resists Migraines

Resilience—the brain’s ability to recover from stress—is deeply connected to migraines. When your neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are out of balance, your brain struggles to manage stress, making migraines more frequent and intense.

But the good news is, resilience isn’t fixed; it can be strengthened with the right tools tailored to your unique biology. If you’re ready to take control and reduce your migraines by supporting your brain’s resilience, I invite you to learn more and apply for a free Zoom call with me. Together, we’ll find the personalized approach that works best for you. Here’s the link: https://theheadachequiz.com/info

To your resilience,

Dr. B

References:

Jang, J. H., Jung, W. H., Kang, D. H., Byun, M. S., Kwon, S. J., Choi, C. H., & Kwon, J. S. (2011). Increased default mode network connectivity associated with meditation. Neuroscience Letters, 487(3), 358–362.

Šrámek, R., Simecková, M., Janský, L., Savlíková, J., & Vybiral, S. (2000). Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 81(5), 436–442.