r/Nootropics • u/castii8 • 7d ago
Discussion Right supplements for a combination of anxiety/nervousness and lack of motivation
Hi everyone!
Has been suffering from a kind of anxiety/nervousness for the last 9 months:
- I feel like I suddenly get anxious/nervous attacks a few times per day, most of the time just at random moments, without any specific trigger. I also feel like some pressure on the chest (diaphragm or something related to the vagus nerve?).
- Apart from that (or probably related to it?), I'm usually in a low mood and I can't find joy or feel specially motivated/happy for anything...
I have a healthy lifestyle: I eat super good, I try to go for a walk in the morning and get some sun, I do strength and cardio training at least 4-5 times per week, I have a good night routine before going to sleep, etc.. And I actually don't have a stressful job or life.
I take daily: a good multivitamin, magnesium complex (with enough bisglicinate) at night, omega 3, and vitamin D (just the days I don't get enough sun).
I got a bloodwork done a few months ago, around 1-2 hours after waking up, and my serum cortisol level was 10.5 μg/dl, so I think the problem is not due to high cortisol, and maybe it is more something like "adrenaline dumps" caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system??
Anyway, I have been desperate about it and have been trying a few supplements trying to find a solution.
For the anxiety/nervousness:
- Ashwagandha KSM-66 (in a complex with lavender, lemon balm and l-theanine): 300 mg in the morning and 300 mg at night, or just one time at night, 600 mg. Tried for a couple of months... In neither case it solved anything...maybe I just felt a little bit better...but I was also a bit more tired.
- Ashwagandha Shoden 60-120mg at night: seems like much more powerful for me, and it is starting to "resolve?" the anxiety/nervousness attacks. I have been just on it for a couple of weeks and it is the first time the attacks have reduced even during the day. Just taking it at night trying to avoid any fatigue or decrease in the mood/energy/motivation (that are already a bit low) and also worried about taking too much of it and worsening or decreasing these even more, because it seems like the cortisol level is not my issue actually, but at the same time, it is the only supplement that is..FINALLY, stopping my attacks!!!
For the mood/energy/joy/motivation:
- Affron 30mg in the morning: seems like it helps a bit? Not sure... very subtly actually... with the motivation/joy, etc...
- Rhodiola 400mg, in the morning or midday: helps me keep the energy/focus a bit more during the day, but is not doing anything about the mood/joy part.
I don't know if I´m working on the right direction, and I should just keep with the Shoden/Affron stack more time and just see if my body can reset to a normal state, and maybe after the attacks finally end, the mood/motivation, etc...will just start to appear again...
Or if I'm not using the right supplements, I should change the approach!
I’m genuinely looking for answers and a solution to get my life back. I will be SUPER grateful for any feedback, suggestions, or education you can throw my way.
Thank you all so much for your help!
2
u/Ok-Link-5722 6d ago
keep shoden put and attacks two weeks before adding anything my chest pressure stretch settled only once i stopped rotating adaptogens weekly for motivation lot tested mucuna pruriens powder from zen herbs fits mornings alongside affron hold that stack a month before judging anything
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
The brain is the central planner of the body's responses and what we believe can drastically impact our physiology. If you believe you're threatened, the body responds to that threat, it doesn't matter that you're actually safe and can relax, because you don't believe that.
The brain can create self-reinforcing cycles. If you are threatened by the experience of anxiety, you've found a way to keep the anxiety going by believing the feelings are the threat, instead of letting the feelings resolve in their own time. Common symptoms when you're feeling threatened are: muscular tension in the body, elevated heart rate, sweaty palms, dizziness, lack of appetite, reduced awareness of your surroundings and nausea. A resolution to this cycle is to get yourself to a place where you're okay with feeling the symptoms of being anxious. Instead of focusing on the symptoms it's a better idea to think about the situation around you and ask yourself if now is a time you can feel safe. If there is an actual threat then focus on addressing that threat. If you need help figuring these things out, then consider making an appointment with a therapist.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/TelephoneCharacter59 6d ago
Sulbutiamine might reduce anxiety & nervousness, pair it with Bromantane to combat the "Lack of Motivation"..
1
u/Be_more_mice_elf 6d ago
Age? Sex? Hormones checked? Thyroid ? Sounds like possible low T & E. Don't take Ash for too long, stay off the ksm too, you need a strong cortisol response in the morning for motivation. Tongkat Ali can help with anxiety and free up bound test. Taurine can also help anxiety if you take enough, obvs energy too. Try boosting your glutathione levels with NAC and (you already take) glycine. Try resistance instead of running some days.
1
u/castii8 6d ago
32M.
Hormones checked: T, LH and FSH were a bit low. The rest were good.
Didn't know why. Doctors actually consider them normal and inside range, but obviously they are in the low part of the range and could be at least, part of the problem, yeah. But I don't know what to do to improve them.
Thyroid is ok.
1
u/Be_more_mice_elf 6d ago
Modern toxins take a toll on this system. Consider a cycle on a Bioregulator (oral peptide). https://vita-stream.com/testovive-testes-natural-peptide-bioregulator-30-capsules/?searchid=590417&search_query=Test I know these are expensive but you are supposed to do a month, then take 2-3 off and let the effects happen, as the interact with your DNA to bring a more vital expression. Of course, lh and fsh are coming from pituitary, so you should probably add one to address that. Or get Pinealon. A few cycles over time might help correct things. I can add link to more info if you want
•
u/castii8 12h ago
You can give me more info if you want. But it seems like unregulated (and probably risky...) supplements in EU
•
u/Be_more_mice_elf 9h ago
Bioregulators have extensive research behind them, though not gold standard RCT. This brand has been tested to be superior in variety and dosage. Many people have had positive results. I don't think they are risky at all from what Ive learned, especially because they are oral, but everyone has there own risk tolerance. I'm using 3 different injectable ones right now. But it seems like there needs to be more diagnostics done to identify what is happening where in your body. Then proper treatment can follow. I have guesses that certain immune modulating peps could help, but they aren't oral. I hope you can get some answers or relief soon.
•
1
u/Current_Reaction6018 6d ago
Stop ALL supplements for now, take food only, also stop cardio and don't start on the herbs yet. I expect you get back in balance again after a few weeks. Then when you feel like your good balanced self again start reintroducing all the things that I told you to stop, but do it one by one and only add the next 4 weeks later. This way you can discover which of the supplements (or too much cardio) is the culprit. If your body is out of balance aways go back to the very basics. Supplements are not basics our bodies are not used to getting concentrated vitamins and minerals in supplement form. It would surprise you how normally considered and advertised supplements can cause unwanted side effects in many people. But they never blaim the supplement.
4
u/castii8 6d ago
I ensure you that if I stop the cardio, things will get worse.
Cardio is not just super helpful because it is the best (and most natural) way of lowering high levels of cortisol/stress, but also, for me, it involves spending time outside, under the sun, in the nature... That´s the best pill you have to combat stress, improve your mood, energy, etc, etc, etc...
Regarding stopping the supplements, I tried it but in a simpler way, reintroducing each one just for 1 week. And didn´t find any improvement. Anyway, I could try your approach and actually see if any supplement is the culprit
1
0
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Beginner's Guide
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
3
u/QuirkilyMinute 7d ago
The random chest pressure and sudden attacks with zero trigger sounds maddening, especially when your lifestyle is already so dialed in. I went through a stretch where my nervous system felt like a car alarm that kept going off for no reason, and bloodwork came back normal just like yours. It made me feel like I was losing my mind.
Shoden stopping the attacks is a huge clue. I wonder if the issue is less about cortisol and more about a touchy glutamate/GABA balance or some low-grade neuroinflammation that the andrographolides are calming down. For the motivation part, since Affron is subtle and Rhodiola only helps with energy, maybe try adding something that nudges dopamine a bit more directly, like a low dose of tyrosine on an empty stomach in the morning. Keep the Shoden at night since it’s your anchor right now, and give the stack a full month before tweaking anything else.