How L-theanine Helped My Anxiety
And how it might help yours.
How It All Started
Before 2020, I wouldn’t have categorized my self as an anxious person. Of course, like so many others, I suddenly found myself being anxious in the midst of the panic of a pandemic and the great unknown.
I had been laid off in March and immediately lost access to all the coping tools I would have used during any other difficult time: time with friends, going to the gym for some me time, in person therapy, and even walking the city streets for some fresh air (I live in Chicago and stay at home orders and curfews were in full effect for the first time).
Fast forward to Fall 2020, my anxiety around the loss of control of my life, having to accept that I just may not find a new job or how I would pay rent or when I could see my parents or when we all could just do normal things, was taking it’s toll.
My anxiety began manifesting itself with panic attacks that often occurred in the late afternoon and evenings.
I had trouble taking control of spiraling thoughts. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and that the walls were closing in on me. The episodes didn’t last longer than 30 minutes or so but they were debilitating. And although my therapist informed me that I wasn’t alone in my anxiety or even panic, I sure felt completely alone in it.
Although panic attacks weren’t happening every day or week, I still had a low level anxiety just constantly humming in the background of my life. I asked family and friends to not bring up news around the virus or death tolls, or the vaccine failures or even the upcoming election. I needed to limit my exposure to anxiety inducing information.
Searching for help
Around this time I started looking into supplements or natural alternatives just to take the edge off and help me gain some control.
It started with herbal teas like chamomile and lavender then I progressed to CBD, which kind of helped but was also pretty pricey.
Eventually I landed on a CALM product for sleep that contained Magnesium, Melatonin, GABA and L-theanine. This was a great product for bedtime but I need something that helped during the day.
After researching the individual ingredients I landed on some pretty convincing evidence for L-theanine and it’s help for mild to moderate anxiety.
L-theanine is an amino acid found primarily in green and black tea and some mushrooms. It’s also available in pill or tablet form. It’s said to help ease anxiety, stress, and reduce insomnia.
It turns out that L-theanine elevates levels of GABA, as well as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters, and they work in the brain to regulate emotions, mood, concentration, alertness, and sleep, as well as appetite, energy, and other cognitive skills.
Research (multiple peer reviewed double blind studies) found that L-theanine decreased anxiety and improved symptoms.
My Experience…
I purchased a bottle of capsules with 200mg L-theanine and began taking one mid afternoon. Within 30–40 minutes an immediate calm settled over me. I was able to focus and concentrate all the while being relaxed and at ease.
L-theanine has reduced my overall anxiety without any type of sedation or side effects. I have played around with one capsule in the morning and one in the evening when I felt especially anxious. I have also had days where I haven’t taken it and felt great knowing that I could if I started feeling overly anxious.
There are tons of people into nootropics out there that believe taking L-theanine with caffeine is the ultimate combination in energy, concentration and calm.
I suggest before trying it out yourself, you learn more about the potential health benefits, as well as any possible risks or complications as I am not a medical professional. Although in my reading of research done with doses ranging from 50mg-400mg a day, no distinguishable side effects were noted.
I like that L-theanine has helped me reduce my anxiety. It has allowed me to manage my emotions a bit better and taken the edge off without the risk of addiction, side effects or sedation.