Today I share my wonderful interview with Katie, the “Wellness Mama”. We talk about my favorite topic: How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids with some extra questions about pregnancy and nursing that I’m not often asked about. Katie is mom to 6 children and many in her community are moms too.
Here is some of what we cover in our interview:
- nutritional deficiencies commonly linked to anxiety, depression, and other problems
- my own story of recovery from severe panic attacks
- why perfectionism and worry might have more to do with body chemistry than your personality
- all about the key anti-anxiety amino acids: GABA, theanine, tryptophan, 5-HTP (and others)
- how low vitamin D, low zinc, high copper, and other nutritional factors add to anxiety
- the low zinc and high copper play a role in postpartum depression
- the potential neurotransmitter issue that leads to cravings
- biochemical reasons some people are introverted or socially anxious
- guidance for pregnant moms who can’t take amino acids (and what to do if you’re nursing)
- the way an MTHFR mutation is linked to anxiety and how to resolve it
Here is a snippet of our interview on the topic of how to assess for low neurotransmitters and do a trial of GABA or tryptophan, and how quickly they work:
Just like you test your vitamin D levels – that’ll tell you that you’ve got low levels and you need to supplement with vitamin D, then you’ll retest and see that your levels have come up. With the amino acids and the low neurotransmitters, I find using a questionnaire is the best way to assess the fact that you may have low GABA and you may have low serotonin. Then you do a trial of the amino acid based on your unique needs, and then you redo the questionnaire and you see how things have changed.
If you use these targeted individual amino acids based on your unique need, you can see results very quickly – within five minutes, and then over the course of the next few weeks you should be seeing results very quickly. Some people will say, “I’m not seeing any impact, should I keep trying, you know, how long should I be aiming for.” The thing that, about the amino is that are so amazing, is that you get results right away. If you don’t get results, it means it’s not enough or it means you don’t need it. The anxiety is not caused by low serotonin or low GABA.
I also talk about my personal experience with low serotonin and perfectionism:
I discovered low serotonin was a factor because although the GABA helped with the physical anxiety and the panic attacks, I still had this perfectionism issue. I remember working in that computer job and being called up to do an appraisal. And they told me I was too much of a perfectionist and I needed to let go a little bit. I couldn’t believe anyone could think that was a bad thing. So it was interesting how, as you start to implement some of these, you start to realize some of these other things that you may think is just a personality thing or it’s just me, it’s just the way I am – you realize that some of these things can be related to biochemical imbalances.
As I mention above Katie does ask me about using the amino acids during pregnancy and while nursing:
I don’t recommend anyone take them during pregnancy. It’s difficult advice for me to give because I know that there are so many issues with SSRIs during pregnancy. Because we don’t have the research, it’s not something that I can recommend. If you are prone to anxiety or you’ve had anxiety, get that sorted out before you get pregnant. I know, that’s easier said than done. A lot of women really want to get pregnant now or they are pregnant and then they realize that they’ve got the anxiety. So that’s a very difficult situation.
Once you’ve had the baby, if you are having really bad anxiety, obviously you’ve got to talk to your doctor and make sure that they are okay with you taking the amino acids right after nursing and then waiting four to six hours before nursing again. It is one way to do it. And then monitoring the baby to make sure that they are okay. There are actually two studies that came out recently showing that tryptophan and tyrosine, doesn’t seem to be an issue in breast milk.
You can listen to the entire interview (and download the interview mp3 file and read the transcript) via the Wellness Mama podcast #105 blog.
For additional information on products over and above those we covered in the interview here are some recent blogs:
Katie, is the “Wellness Mama” and her goal is to help other families live more naturally through practical tips, real food recipes, natural beauty and cleaning tutorials, natural remedies and more. Her blog is a wealth of information and if you don’t tune in to her podcasts and get her newsletter I encourage you to check her out.
Here are a few really good ones to get you started (although they really are all excellent!):
- Epsom Salt: 21 Surprising Uses & Benefits for Health, Beauty, and Home (the first one is to use it for a relaxing bath soak, a favorite of mine; another is a recipe for a soothing magnesium lotion)
- Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe (Natural + Simple)
- Homemade HE Laundry Detergent Recipe (Laundry Soap) (this was a hot topic on a recent facebook discussion)
She shares this on her site: “my real goal with the blog is to help you and to create lasting changes so that our children can grow up in a better world.” I just love her mission and passion and all the very practical and safe solutions she offers!
Yes, my daughter is 22 and on 40 mg of citalopram.
She stilll experiences the ruminating, negative self talk type, never feels good enough, type of anxiety.
If she were to try 500 mg tryptophan 6 hours after her medicine, should she also feel immediate benefit (5 minutes) as an indicator that it is helping?
She has had some relief w Gaba Calm at night and doesn’t wake up as anxious.
I know her real medical doc won’t approve of her taking it but I’m feeling as if she derives great benefit quickly thst she should give it a try during the college year.
Thoughts? Thank you! She feels like the anxiety is biochemical and comes and goes.
She also has some social anxiety and some feelings of low blood sugar. What would be a recommended start dose on Glutamine?
Could a good functional medicine do help with testing some of these trouble areas you speak of in your book? Thank you!
Cindy
I’m glad to hear GABA is helping but I’m afraid I can’t offer specific advice for your daughter via my blog. I use the trial method with my clients to figure out the ideal amount and if it’s a low serotonin issue https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/ and I do have clients on SSRIs work with their doctors and share this to help get the doctor’s support https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/taper-from-antidepressant-tryptophan-amino-acids/
When doing the trial with sublingual tryptophan my clients do see results in under 5 mins if low serotonin is one of the underlying causes.
For social anxiety we address pyroluria and with low blood sugar glutamine and having protein at breakfast is key. And of course we address all the rest – real food, no gluten, no sugar, sometimes no grains, gut health.
It sounds like you have my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” – glutamine and other amino acid dosages are in the amino acid chapter. I would share the book with your doctor too. And I recommend working with a functional medicine doctor.
Trudy,
I found your blog because of the Wellness Mama podcast. I just now tried the tryptophan for anxiety type PMS (I also have trouble sleeping) and in this first month have found great results with the lowest dose. I have always had a shorter cycle, typically 24 days, and this month it was 26 days. You had mentioned in a comment in this post (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tryptophan-for-pms-premenstrual-dysphoria-mood-swings-tension-irritability/) that regulating cycle length could be a side affect of tryptophan, so I was pleased. BUT I read on the bottle that there are cautions for using tryptophan if you are trying to get pregnant . . . what risks are there? My husband and I would love to have another child (our first is 19 months). Could using amino acids cause problems in getting pregnant? or problems for a developing baby?
Thanks!
Sarah
So glad to hear you’re seeing PMS anxiety and sleep benefits with tryptophan – and that it’s helped shift your cycle. There is no research on the amino acids in pregnancy so I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for you except to say I that the ideal is for all want-to-be-moms (and dads – since they are half the equation) to be in a good place both mentally and physically before falling pregnant for the sake of the baby and mom.
Hello,
From the description and the fact my husband and I have the MTHFR mutation I thought my son would benefit from the pyloria supplements. He doesn’t think he dreams, has negative thoughts and I think social anxiety. He says he hates school as well.
I was wondering what dosage I would give my eight year old? I have the designs for health liquid.
Also wondering if me being MTHFR makes me more sensitive to B vitamins? For example, I can feel ill after taking them if I don’t have a very full stomach.
I also got myself some gaba today. Would you suggest I take it at night?
Thank you so much!
Maureen
I start low with children using 120lbs as an adult dose and halve it for 60lbs.
Having the MTHFR polymorphism/mutation doesn’t necessarily mean there are any issues and B vitamins are best for everyone on a full stomach.
I can’t give you specifics about your GABA needs. I have my clients do the questionnaire, look at the precautions and do a trial of the applicable amino acid. Here is some info https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/ It’s all covered in the amino acid chapter of my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” (on Amazon here http://amzn.to/2kptFWm) It’s highly recommended before you start to use the amino acids. There is also an entire chapter on pyroluria.
Trudy,
I saw my doctor today and he advised that I admit myself into a hospital for my severe anxiety and depression problem. ITried that before and it got me no where because they did not understand what over methylation was and I also have pyroluria. I pleaded with him to let me try GABA. He gave me a product called zen which is a combination of GABA and L-Theanine. 275 mg of GABA and 100 mg of l-theanine. He also gave me 25 mg of zinc picolinate and50 mg of p5p once a day, plus 250 mgs of niacinamide a day. This seems like a lot to me. Would you be willing to give me your opinion on this. Thank you.
Mickey
It’s not unusual for me to recommend all of the above to clients but it’s implemented based on symptoms and one at a time: GABA/theanine for low GABA type anxiety (per the amino acid questionnaire and after doing a trial) and zinc/P5P for social anxiety (per the pyroluria questonnaire) and niacinamide for low histamine paranoia type symptoms.
Trudy,
Thank you very much for responding. I think I ‘m totally overwhelmed right now and very scared. I have been dealing with this for 25 years and for the last month my husband has made countless calls to find anyone that can help me with this problem. I just keep getting turned away because of the methylation problem and there are no psychiatrists in our area.( the one I did find an hour away only deals with SSRI’s and benzos. I want so badly to get off this klonopin but I know if I go into a psychiatric hospital like I’ve been in before they won’t let me take anything but SSRI’s which I can’t take because of the severe reactions I’ve had in the past. I don’t want to put myself in that position again. It was a nightmare. Do you take people on as patients long distance or could you recommend anyone in the Boston area. I saw a Dr. Rothfeld for many years, who I thought was a holistic doctor, but he doesn’t seem to think that there’s anything wrong with taking benzos or SSRI’s as long as they work. (Which they don’t) I’m really getting desperate Trudy and I would do anything at this point if I thought it would help. Any suggestions? I would be truly greatful.
Thank you
Mickey
Trudy,
I forgot to mention that in your book you mentioned that you could tell if the b6 and zinc was working with your patients because they felt very calm after just 10 minutes. I have been taking these supplements for a week now and I don’t notice any calming effect after I take them, although I have pyroluria. I don’t understand why. I also noticed that when I take the l theanine and GABA 2 hours after dinner, by 10:00 p.m. I’m feeling very shaky inside and wired up instead of feeling calm and relaxed and it takes me a long time to fall asleep. Could these reactions be from taking the klonopin while taking the supplements. I only take 1 1/4 Klonopin a day. Trying to ween off slowly. Thanks for any help you can give. I won’t pester you again. (Not for a while anyway)
Mickey
It’s only the amino acids that have an immediate effect. Too much GABA or theanine can make someone feel shaky but so can benzodiazepines.
Trudy,
I know I said I wouldn’t pester you again for a while, but in response to your comment, I have been on benzos for14 years and have never felt shaky and wired up like that before. I cut way back on the GABA and l- theanine and still notice the same feeling. Would I be better off to just try the GABA separately and leave out the l- theanine? Is the shakiness harmful and a sign that maybe I shouldn’t be taking these amino acids? I’m sorry for all the questions, but I don’t know of any doctors in the Boston area that can help me. I’ve been trying to get a doctor to test my b6 levels, but my primary care doctor said they don’t check b6 levels, only b12, and my b12’s are fine. Are you taking on any new patients. I really would be so grateful Trudy if you could help me. Please!
Thanks for listening again, Mickey
Hi Trudy,
I was wondering if it’s o.k. To take tryptophan with klonopin. The GABA and l-theanine seemed to help a little for a couple of days, but then last night I had a very scary experience of feeling extremely shaky and then out of the blue I was taking something out of the oven and dropped it because I felt suddenly dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. I had had a pretty good day otherwise. The rest of the night I felt dizzy and it brought on a panic attack. I just don’t understand if I’m maybe taking too much of the supplement, or I’m taking the wrong one. That’s why I’m asking about the tryptophan. Please respond if you can.
Thanks , Mickey
Mickey
I’m sorry to hear you had this reaction and suggest working with a practitioner as too much GABA can cause adverse effects. Other factors can also cause dizziness and even panic attacks – very low blood sugar, low iron, adrenal issues, gluten exposure etc – and it’s difficult to figure this out alone. I do have clients use tryptophan while they are on Klonopin.
Thank you Trudy for responding. The problem is finding a practioner in this area that works with amino acids. There are no holistic doctors in this area. I live an hour away from Boston and I thought that they would have at least one doctor that does this type of treatment but I feel like I have exhausted all possibilities of finding someone. Do you treat people long distance? If so, that would be great. I can’t take SSRI’s because of the methylation problem so that has been a real problem in helping me find even a psychiatrist to work with me. I’m actually starting to wonder if I even have an over methylation problem. Is that detected through a urine test? I think my last test said that my ph levels were high.( whatever that means) thanks again for any information you can give. I’m starting to feel hopeless and tired of doing nothing but research. I had my blood sugar tested for a 24 hour period and the doctor at the hospital said they were fine. I’ve cut my gluten down to maybe just twice a week. Haven’t noticed any changes. It’s the constant fear and depression, along with the dizziness and anxiety that are completely taking a toll on me and have completely depleted any energy that I had. I’d go to a hospital, but they don’t know how to treat me either. Can you please offer any suggestions as to what I can do? Thank you for listening.
Michele