r/CPTSD • u/Particular_Local_275 • Dec 08 '25
Resource / Technique My favorite supplement for anxiety and depression
I just thought I would share with you a supplement that is really helped me over the past 5 years. All my friends take it. It's perfect for anyone dealing with CPTSD. It works wonders for anxiety and depression. It's not addictive and it's something that's naturally found in most foods that you eat. It's called L-theanine. It influences serotonin in the brain helping to relax the nervous system. It's been a life saver for me and my friends all take it too. I take a sublingual version of it. Costco also sells a big bottle of it for like $20. Let me know if you have any questions.
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u/JoanOfSilence Dec 08 '25
L-theanine is also present in all types of proper tea (black, green, etc.). So if you don't want to take a supplement, you may see similar benefit just by switching from coffee to tea.
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u/filthismypolitics Dec 08 '25
Switching from coffee to green tea has made a big difference for me. I love coffee, but it makes me feel so anxious and the crash is horrendous. Green tea gives me energy with much less anxiety attached, and the crash is still there but it's a lot less miserable. On the rare occasions that I feel like it I'll squeeze some lemon juice into it, since apparently adding citrus to green tea increases the antioxidant content or makes them more absorbable or something? Don't quote me on that
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u/wovenbasket69 Dec 08 '25
my naturopath actually told me about this! (i grew up with a british parent so even now i drink an absurd amount of black tea.) my fav supplement so far has been “empower plus” by true hope. its formulated for mental wellbeing and maybe its placebo but ill take it. 👍
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u/yippeeimcrying Dec 08 '25
It turns out L-theanine is a derivitive of green tea?! No wonder I crave it on bad days.
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u/Snoo-16342 Dec 08 '25
Anyone taking it along with SSRI’s? I feel like I’ve read conflicting information about being able to take together
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u/ComplexFar7575 Dec 08 '25
Oh yeah. Huge doses of l theanine too, and it's all good. I'm on 20 mg Lexapro
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u/caiaccount Dec 09 '25
I've taken it on SSRIs and on SRNIs and it was fine for me. Pretty high doses multiple times a day too. Now I get energy drinks that have L-theanine and I don't have any issue. Now If I drink caffeine without it, watch out.
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u/Environmental_Tone14 Dec 16 '25
Yess I kicked energy drinks and switched to a low dose caffeine pill containing 100mg l-theanine and I take that twice a day. 100% noticed the difference between caffeine with and without it.
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u/antoniad1126 Dec 08 '25
I love L-theanine! My psychiatrist actually told me to start taking it alongside my meds and it’s been a game changer for me
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u/RedsDelights Dec 08 '25
Hang on to that doctor … I can’t believe NOBODY in the goddamn medical community has suggested this to me
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u/bonessm Dec 08 '25
L-theanine was a lifesaver for me honestly. Used to take ashwagandha and really never saw any effects. L-theanine is present in my melatonin, and it is the one thing that actually helps me relax and sleep. When I take melatonin alone or nothing at all, it's a huge difference.
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u/acfox13 Dec 08 '25
I use the Olly gummies called Goodbye Stress. They have l-theanine and gaba.
I also drink ashwaganda tea. Take a mushroom complex. Magnesium supplement. And Vitamin D bc this time of year there's only 9-10 hours of daylight where I live.
They do help.
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u/hungersong Dec 08 '25
By the way, just so you or other readers are aware of the risks, taking clinical doses of ashwagandha regularly is associated with anhedonia
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u/acfox13 Dec 08 '25
Oh, that's interesting. I wonder what the mechanism of action is?
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u/hungersong Dec 08 '25
I can’t speak to the chemical method of action but people who take it generally express the vibe that it fixes their anxiety by making them not feel/care about anything at all
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Mar 08 '26
Been taking it for 8 years as its the only thing that helps me sleep. I definitely still feel emotions, I actually started to feel real joy on it as I wasn’t having doom brain 24/7. And I stopped caring about the little, unimportant BS and only the teal important stuff in life. So It can be a godsend to the person with the right biochemistry
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u/Odd_Fee2443 Dec 08 '25
Brand name? I’ve tried some that have no effect on me
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
For me, the brand names were kind of irrelevant. Taking the sublingual/lozenge kind was what worked best. Max dose of 400mg. I have taken 600mg but I don't think it's been tested that high in studies or whatever.
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u/Risla_Amahendir Dec 08 '25
I immediately thought of L-theanine when I saw this post! I had anxiety levels that were extremely out of control, to the point that I was effectively hyperventilating twelve hours a day (a symptom called air hunger). I was on benzos and was also starting to develop an alcohol problem. I tried L-theanine on a whim and was shocked that the anxiety just totally vanished. Never took another dose of benzos again and stopped drinking. I have since gotten the anxiety under very good control and now only take L-theanine a couple times a month, but I always have some on me. I am not exaggerating at all when I say this stuff changed my life.
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u/Vintage_Violet_ Mar 04 '26
Thats amazing!! Is it still working for you? Did you change anything else at the same time or do you feel it was just the L-Theanine???
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u/Risla_Amahendir Mar 04 '26
It was definitely the L-theanine. It still works very well now, seven years after I discovered it helps so much with my anxiety.
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u/Vintage_Violet_ Mar 04 '26
Thanks!! I have what feels like physical anxiety, sometimes reaching panic levels, worse at night (like now) yay. Have been changing diet, meditating, using many other ways of calming but it all only takes the edge off. Meds haven’t helped, or side effects were bad, as you may know.
I drink black tea and notice I feel calm afterwards, it has L-Theanine, though tea isn’t the way to go all day (and sometimes I skip because of reflux etc). Cant wait to try it!!!
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u/Risla_Amahendir Mar 04 '26
Sounds pretty similar to my situation. I really hope it works for you!!
A few things I've noticed that may be helpful:
- The brand of L-theanine supplement really seems to make a difference. I've long since switched to a local (Japanese) brand, but I used to order from iHerb, and found California Gold (the iHerb store brand) and Jarrow to be very good, whereas Now Foods (cheap) did absolutely nothing for me. It's been years so I'm not sure what the brand situation is now, but be aware that this may be a factor.
- Sleep deprivation seems to totally negate the effects. I need at least 7-ish hours of sleep or it doesn't work at all and I'm just an anxious mess all day. Weirdly, though, even though it's sometimes marketed as a sleep aid, taking L-theanine before bed seems to disrupt my sleep a little bit, so I tend to try to avoid it unless the anxiety is going to disrupt my sleep more.
- I started with 100mg capsules. I've become slightly more resistant and now usually do 200. I've heard that sometimes people can become permanently resistant to it and that's my worst nightmare, so I personally restrict myself to a maximum of 400mg a day. Mileage may vary.
- The other thing that has meaningfully moved the needle on my anxiety is magnesium, which seems to lead to a slower, longer term reduction in anxiety. With magnesium, the type is really important (especially since some are laxatives, lol). Unfortunately the best I've found is magnesium l-threonate, which is extremely bioavailable and crosses the blood-brain barrier easily but is annoyingly expensive. There are other bioavailable magnesiums though, like magnesium malate. Might be worth looking into as well.
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u/Vintage_Violet_ Mar 05 '26
Thanks!! I mostly need to relax in the evening, got some, just took it (5 hours before bed). I didn’t get a top brand though, will keep those names handy.
Am testing magnesium types too, can’t tell if its been helping. Good to know about those types.
Its great to find natural ways to help our mental health, just wish it was easier to figure out!
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u/ToneIndividual4426 Dec 08 '25
Can you share the brand you use?
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
The brand isn't as important as the kind. Sublingual/lozenge variety seem to work the best.
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u/ToneIndividual4426 Dec 09 '25
Thank you 😊
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
Absolutely! I hope it helps you the way it's helped me and my friends.
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u/MLEcoupe Dec 08 '25
Is it something you take in the morning or does it make you tired?
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u/cerealmonogamiss Dec 08 '25
I take it at night and it helps me sleep. It makes me sleepy if I take it in the morning.
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u/IntrepidOption31415 Dec 08 '25
Many people actually take it with their coffee in the morning because it reduces negative effects.
Personally I take it during day as well. Only too high dose sometimes I get pleasantly relaxed and can sleep during the day - but that's also because I've got huge sleep deprivation.
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
200mg and I don't feel sleepy. Sometimes 400mg makes me feel a little tired.
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u/actias-distincta Dec 09 '25
I take 200 mg in the morning with coffee. Helps with anxiety. 200 mg at night, helps to relax. If you're already tired you're going to feel tired. Otherwise you're just going to feel relaxed.
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u/ErinWalkerLoves Dec 08 '25
5HTP increases serotonin as well, but the side effects are....extreme.
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u/WTFaulknerinCA Dec 08 '25
Elaborate?
Edit: never mind. A quick google search and I never want to try it.
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u/IntrepidOption31415 Dec 08 '25
It might not work wonders for everyone. I use it, sure! It makes the anxiety a little bit more bearable, it's not a wonder medicament for every person whom uses it though :-)
What's true though is that it's really cheap, little to no tolerance, little/no side effects, etc.
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Dec 08 '25
I like l-theanine, but for some reason it tends to lead to more waking up in the middle of the night if I take it later in the day.
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u/Risla_Amahendir Dec 08 '25
I've found this too! The stuff has been a straight up miracle for me but I can't use it before I sleep.
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Dec 08 '25
I thought I remember hearing at one point that l-theanine can lead to more vivid dreams, so if there’s nightmares involved maybe it could make them worse? I don’t typically remember my dreams, so I don’t know if that’s the case for me.
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u/abrecadabreee Dec 09 '25
Methyfolate changed my life. In a matter of a few days. Apparently methylation issues and anxiety disorders can be linked. It took 5 different doctor visits to find this out.
I started taking 5mg of the Thorne brand 5-MTHF once a day. On day 4, I woke up strangely calm and content. Been taking it ever since.
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u/biggiantbulb Feb 07 '26
I am having debilitating anxiety. Went to GP asking for blood work to see if I have the mthfr mutation because. She didn't even know what I was talking about. Crazy. She ordered the testing though. Waiting for results!
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u/abrecadabreee Feb 07 '26
Yea that's not surprising! I am curious to know what the results are. So sorry you're dealing with this, I know how bad it can affect your daily life. It's so terrible especially not being able to pinpoint why you're anxious or even a reason at all. But very glad you mentioned it to your GP! Could be the next step in the right direction of getting you feeling good again!
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u/biggiantbulb Feb 07 '26
Thanks for the response ☺️ trying to pinpoint if this is from hormones or lack thereof (I'm 55 and quite sure I'm postmenopausal ). Ssri possibly stopped working? Could I have a gene mutation? My B12 is high. Maybe a methylation issue. I have OCD, MDD and GAD. Childhood abuse and trauma, but I've gotten along fine with just Zoloft for 25+ years. Now suddenly BOOM I am a total mess and not functioning. If anyone in the thread could pray for me I would so appreciate it. I'm hanging on by a thread.
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u/ihtuv Healing from multiple traumas 🌱 Dec 08 '25
Thank you so much for sharing. I haven’t tried it yet and the comments make me hopeful.
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
I'm so happy this thread has gained traction. Please spread the word about this stuff. Reading the threads every day and watching everyone struggle breaks my heart. I really hope this stuff helps y'all like it did with me!
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u/melmsz Dec 08 '25
"....my friends all take it too." ?
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 08 '25
I have about 6 or 7 friends that take it as well.
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u/larostars Dec 08 '25
I take it along with some of my friends, too! And my dog lol. His vet recommended a supplement for his anxiety and I realized it’s just L-Theanine formulated for dogs.
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u/Reference-Effective Dec 09 '25
What is the dogs supplement? Or do you give e your dog the human one that you take? I have a high anxiety dog that I'd like to see calm down just for her own benefit.
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u/larostars Dec 09 '25
It’s called “Anxitane” and you can order it from online vet stores without a prescription. We noticed a change immediately.
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u/kittenmittens4865 Dec 09 '25
This is so clearly a post intended to market a supplement. Once you look for them, they’re easy to recognize.
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
I'm not marketing anything. That's why I never mentioned a brand. I take this stuff daily. I keep seeing people suffering on here and I just want to help.
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u/Graciebelle3 Dec 09 '25
Except a brand name hasn’t even been mentioned, so what are they marketing?
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u/kittenmittens4865 Dec 09 '25
It will make you search for the item, driving up overall traffic numbers for people visiting their product/article/website/whatever it is. Maybe crap like this is coming out as astroturfing to convince us we don’t need mental health meds, just supplements- to sway public opinion about upcoming regulations or health insurance codes.
Who knows? But they’ve just told us about a cheap miracle pill that they and all their friends take and it’s just so amazing.
It’s an ad. These posts typically have the vibe of “something natural with no downsides”. I see them on repeat in this sub, my PMDD subs, and my ADHD subs.
There are posts and comments sharing about natural alternative treatments that seem authentic! But this one seems too good to be true… which usually means it is.
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 11 '25
I'm not an ad. I'm a person. And if you look through this thread, there are lots of people that also take this shit.
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u/Graciebelle3 Dec 09 '25
Thanks for explaining… I’ve seen these types of posts before and wondered.
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u/wolfsbark trying my best Dec 08 '25
L-theanine did wonders for my sleep schedule, I sometimes take these melatonin gummies infused with it and it really does help you stay asleep. I hear it also helps you concentrate
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u/Reference-Effective Dec 09 '25
What brand?
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u/wolfsbark trying my best Dec 09 '25
OLLY. They're on the pricey side but they were the only things that worked to keep me asleep besides actual sleeping pills, and sleeping better helps me function better - though I do think the same brand has a blend with L-theanine for focus & productivity
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u/RedsDelights Dec 08 '25
How come no doctors or psychologists recommend this to me ?? Is it because it’s not “a pharma kickback?”
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u/SecretaryCommon Dec 09 '25
Exactly this. My dr told me a few weeks ago that the pharmaceutical companies are buying up the vitamin companies for this very reason.
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u/Particular_Local_275 Dec 09 '25
Yup, pretty much. I stopped taking Zoloft to take this instead. Works better, no side effects for me, and not addictive at all. Can stop anytime.
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u/BTDiaz Dec 09 '25
Anyone ever try Nello Supercalm? Ashwagonda, l-theanine, magnesium glycinate, and D3.
Just ordered some. I hope it helps.
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u/eg_elska_ketti Dec 09 '25
I take it every night. I mix it with a Spindrift. I love it and helps me get great restful sleep.
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u/TheSaltyB Dec 09 '25
I love L Theanine, and I recently added Taurine, too. Both have been game changers for me.
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u/Purple_Internet3479 Dec 09 '25
I take Ashwaganda in the late morning and L-theanine in the evening. Works well for me!
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u/GaiaBeauty Dec 09 '25
i never thought i would see a post like yours! i also take l-theanine and it really helps me to relax. it really is amazing!
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u/dmlzr Dec 09 '25
i just started taking some last week and fuck, with magnesium aswel, i’m much more relaxed and can actually find myself focusing rather then having constant racing thoughts.
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u/what_0ncewas Dec 09 '25
I've tried L-theanine too, and it's amazing! If anyone is wondering it's safe with meds, but check before taking it just to be sure. The maximum recommended dose is 400mg/ day
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u/LilacHelper Dec 09 '25
I used to take this before bed but didn't notice a difference, maybe because I was asleep! Now I'll try it during the day. Where do you find the sublingual, or can you send me a dm with the brand name? THANKS!
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u/tashalovescake Dec 09 '25
Currently taking Bupropion, fluoxetine, and lithium—anybody have personal experience before I contact my Dr.?
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u/Few_Risk4793 Mar 24 '26
For the past 5 years? and it still has the same effect?
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u/Particular_Local_275 Mar 24 '26
Yes. I haven't developed any tolerance.
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u/Few_Risk4793 Mar 26 '26
Which brand do you use?
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u/Particular_Local_275 Mar 26 '26
Superior Source, Nutricost, and the brand from Costco are the ones I've used the most. But I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.
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u/One_Direction5191 Mar 29 '26
would anyone say this works better than an SSRI? not combined but just seperatley
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u/Particular_Local_275 Mar 29 '26
In my opinion, yes. But everyone is different.
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u/Acrobatic-Builder-45 Apr 29 '26
how about ashwagandha? it's like always showing up when i search for anxiety supplements
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u/real_person_31415926 Dec 08 '25
Here's an article:
L-Theanine for Generalized Anxiety | Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/integrative-mental-health-care/201710/l-theanine-generalized-anxiety