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A lifetime of horrible and bizarre intrusive thoughts eliminated by a low carb/high fat diet (not as strict as keto) – a case study and research

By Trudy Scott 26 Comments

intrusive thoughts and low carb high fat diet

Intrusive thoughts are a symptom of anxiety, are more common than you’d expect and it’s not just you who experiences them. Today’s case study illustrates the power of diet: a low carb/high fat diet (not as strict as keto) completely eliminated a lifetime of horrible and bizarre intrusive thoughts for one woman. Read examples of her actual intrusive thoughts below and check out the supporting research and other case studies.

Ruthie suffered from intrusive thoughts as a child and most of her adult life, and assumed everyone did too. As a child, she would share some of her bizarre thoughts with other children, and they would stare at her and tell their parents. Her own parents became extremely concerned believing she might do one of these bizarre things. Her husband would sometimes look at her in horror when she asked certain questions. As an adult, she was told she was “unusual in a nice sort of way-haha!” This is how she described some of her intrusive thoughts:

They took the form of either myself or family members doing horrible/bizzare things or I would get in the car to go someplace and imagine one of the other drivers on the road doing something bizarre and my mind would follow it right through to the end result of what the individual caused to happen. I would arrive at my destination not remembering any part of my drive, my mind was so busy.

She goes on to share some of her postpartum experience with intrusive thoughts:

Everyone thought I had postpartum depression with my first child but it was the intrusive thoughts that had put me into a panic regarding her care. It was wonderful when a therapist told me it was the intrusive thought component of OCD and I could put a name to it.

It was the greatest delight of my life, when both children grew bigger and stronger than me so I knew, even though I knew I would never hurt them, they had the chance to defend themselves!

For her, eating high fat/low carb has eliminated her lifetime of intrusive thoughts:

Fast forward to discovering the low carb/high fat (LCHF) eating plan (not as strict as keto) and my intrusive thoughts have been gone for almost 2 years now (unless I become overtired).

It is a simply horrid disorder to have. I am just glad now it is well known but it really upsets me that it is being treated with dangerous psychotropic drugs that can do more harm than good when diet changes could be the solution.

I asked if she had ever used GABA or tryptophan (covered in part 1) or any other nutrients during any of the really bad periods and if any of it had helped. She shared that tryptophan gave her dreams that were too vivid and “by the time I was aware of GABA as a possibility, I had changed my diet and my problems had basically been resolved.”

She also confirmed her LCHF diet is predominantly gluten/grain free except the occasional splurge. I suspect these splurges may contribute to her feeling overtired and factor into her intrusive thoughts showing up again.

These are powerful results and I’m thrilled for her. I also appreciate her willingness to share and for allowing me to include her story.

A low carb/high fat (LCHF) / Ketogenic diet study

Most of the LCHF diet research focuses on weight loss and improvement of metabolic markers for conditions like diabetes. However, there is some promising new research on mental health.

This 2020 paper is one example – Ketogenic Diet: A Dietary Modification as an Anxiolytic Approach?

Diets with low amounts of carbohydrate consumption (low-carb) seem promising both for weight mass optimization among mentally ill patients and for their possible anxiolytic effect.

A diet is characterized as being low-carb high-fat (LCHF) when fat comprises >70% of the daily calorie consumption, with sugars [or carbs] being 5–15%, and the rest of the calorie intake being made up of proteins.

This paper discusses anxiety and the role of serotonin, GABA/glutamate imbalance, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and elevated cortisol, inflammation and oxidative stress, the microbiome and leaky gut.

It also covers some ways LCHF diets may reduce anxiety: via impacts on the microbiome (with GABA being produced by good bacteria in the gut), by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and by providing omega-3 fatty acids and healthy oils (such as olive oil). The inclusion of real whole foods (i.e. no processed junk foods) with quality protein and zinc-rich foods such as oysters, low glycemic index carbohydrates and leafy greens as a source of magnesium, all contribute too.

The authors do mention canola oil which I do not recommend. And contrary to their mention of egg whites, I recommend the entire egg.

Their conclusion includes these statements:

In our mind, the LCHF diet is a promising, well-accepted diet regimen which has an impact on anxiety disorders…

The evidence mentioned in this paper should encourage psychiatrists to recommend LCHF diets as advice somewhere between psychotherapy and pharmacology, or as an add-on to those two.

And I’ll add this: let’s consider LCHF instead of psychotherapy and pharmacology. As you heard Ruthie share above and as you’ll read below, diet changes alone can have profound effects.

Dietary changes alone can be profound for many folks

I’ve blogged extensively about diet in the past: ketogenic diets, the omnivore or Paleo diet and grain-free diets. Diet provides the foundation of any anxiety nutritional program but many people don’t realize or acknowledge that dietary changes alone can be profound for many folks.

I’ll typically hear something like this: “My anxiety [or depression or intrusive thoughts] are too severe for only diet to make a difference. I’m someone who really does need medication.”

As you’ll see below, diet alone can make a huge difference and is often the only thing that needs to change:

Two schizoaffective patients of Dr. Chris Palmer, a psychiatrist from Harvard’s McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, tried a ketogenic diet for weight loss. As well as losing weight, they experienced reductions in auditory hallucinations and delusions, had a better mood and had more energy. I review the 2018 study and offer my insights in this blog.

This type of diet is also referred to as a cave-man type of diet. Even though this 2018 study was only showing associations and not a cause-and-effect, it’s still very encouraging to see new research in the field of nutritional psychiatry, further supporting the results we see in clinical practice.

I share many success stories in this blog. Here is an example from one woman: “Three days after I stopped eating grains, my chronic depression lifted and has never returned (it’s three years later now).”

I write about a 2016 study where gluten was found to be the cause of a childhood case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Intrusive thoughts are common with OCD and a gluten-free diet (and some other interventions) led to a “marked reduction of OCD symptoms and anxiety along with marked improvement of social behavior and school work.”

This is a small selection of many similar articles on the blog.

Other nutritional and hormonal solutions

This blog is part 2 of my deeper dive into intrusive thoughts and as a follow-on to part 1 where I cover low GABA, low serotonin, low zinc, low vitamin B6 (and pyroluria) and hormone imbalances as root causes for some individuals.

  • Many people “did not realize intrusive thoughts were a ‘thing’ a symptom of something” and thought it’s just something that happens to them
  • A definition of intrusive thoughts from The Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the fact that “Unwanted intrusive thoughts can be very explicit, and many people are ashamed and worried about them, and therefore keep them secret.”
  • The article that inspired these blogs on intrusive thoughts: The Debilitating Anxiety Symptom No One Ever Talks About
  • How to address low GABA, low serotonin, pyroluria (low zinc & vitamin B6) and hormone imbalances as possible causes (and examples from folks with these causes, plus supporting research)

As I mentioned in part 1, my purpose is to share actual examples from real people so you can see how varied these intrusive thoughts can be. And recognize that they are a thing and that you are not alone if you experience them.

And, of course, to create awareness that there are nutritional solutions.

My book as a resource if you are new to nutritional psychiatry

If you are new to nutritional psychiatry, do read this blog: Nutritional medicine in modern psychiatry: position statement by ISNPR.

If you do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading the chapters on diet, sugar and blood sugar control, gluten and grains, and caffeine/alcohol so you have the foundation in place. Who knows, it may be the only changes you need to make to eliminate your intrusive thoughts and other anxiety symptoms!

Be sure to share it with the health team you or your loved one is working with.

If you are new to using the the amino acids GABA or 5-HTP/tryptophan as supplements, I cover this and pyroluria in part 1: Intrusive thoughts are a thing with anxiety: low GABA, low serotonin, pyroluria (low zinc & vitamin B6) and hormone imbalances as possible causes. Be sure to read the many comments and especially Kimberly’s feedback – she combined everything in the above blog and saw wonderful results.

As I mentioned in part 1, let’s talk about intrusive thoughts so we don’t have to feel alone and so we can find solutions. And share your success with nutritional solutions when something works for you. Share it with your friends, your health practitioner, researchers and on this blog.

Did you know intrusive thoughts are a thing, or did you think it was just you? And what kind of intrusive thoughts have you had?

Are you surprised that a LCHF/keto or similar diet could have such a profound impact?

Has a dietary approach alone helped you eliminate your intrusive thoughts or other anxiety symptoms?  Or has diet, in conjunction with amino acids such as GABA and tryptophan helped?

What else has helped eliminate or reduce your unwanted intrusive thoughts?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

Intrusive thoughts are a thing with anxiety: low GABA, low serotonin, pyroluria (low zinc & vitamin B6) and hormone imbalances as possible causes

By Trudy Scott 56 Comments

intrusive thoughts and anxiety

Intrusive thoughts are a thing with anxiety even though they are not often talked about. It’s for this reason I shared a link to an article on Facebook recently – “The Debilitating Anxiety Symptom No One Ever Talks About” – and the response was overwhelming. I promised to do a blog to do a deeper dive into this topic and share actual real-life examples of uncomfortable and unwanted intrusive thoughts that seemingly appear out of no-where when you have anxiety. And of course, I’m using these real-life examples to highlight some of the many biochemical root causes and nutritional solutions: low GABA, low serotonin, low zinc, low vitamin B6 (and pyroluria) and hormone imbalances. These root cause solutions are all backed by research and clinical results.

You’ll also discover that intrusive thoughts are more common than you’d expect and it’s not just you who experiences them.

Katelyn, author of the above article, shared this about her intrusive thoughts (and this is part of what I shared on Facebook):

As I gained more life experiences, my intrusive thoughts developed into other fears. Now that I was older, these thoughts turned into new scenarios, ones that felt more real. For example, when I started driving, I’d see myself veering off the road, hitting a side rail, flying off a ledge, or running head-on into a semi. I didn’t really want to do any of these things. I just wanted to get to my destination, but these thoughts would keep running through my mind, and I couldn’t stop them.

I did not realize intrusive thoughts were a ‘thing,’ and I thought this was just me

The Facebook post and article quickly resonated with many women with someone saying “I have never identified with an article more…wow.”

One woman said “I did not realize intrusive thoughts were a ‘thing,’ a symptom of something” and someone else said “I thought this was just me.”

Someone else responded: “I thought it was only me as well. I’ve had thoughts like this nearly my entire life.”

(You can read the entire article here: The Debilitating Anxiety Symptom No One Ever Talks About)

The purpose of this blog is to share actual feedback so you can see how varied these intrusive thoughts can be. And recognize that they are a thing and that you are not alone if you experience them.

And then use these cases to illustrate the variety of root causes (and solutions) and show how some of them are very interconnected: like zinc and vitamin B6 for pyroluria, for making GABA and serotonin, and also for hormone balance (more on that below).

A definition from The Anxiety and Depression Association of America

In case you need a definition: “Unwanted intrusive thoughts are stuck thoughts that cause great distress. They seem to come from out of nowhere, arrive with a whoosh, and cause a great deal of anxiety.

The content of unwanted intrusive thoughts often focuses on sexual or violent or socially unacceptable images. People who experience unwanted intrusive thoughts are afraid that they might commit the acts they picture in their mind. They also fear that the thoughts mean something terrible about them….

Unwanted intrusive thoughts can be very explicit, and many people are ashamed and worried about them, and therefore keep them secret.” ~ The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

The ADAA offers an excellent overview that is worth reading, but unfortunately they do not offer any of the nutritional solutions that we know can eliminate these uncomfortable intrusive thoughts.

GABA support with the amino acid GABA

Assessing for and addressing low GABA levels is the first place I start because you get results so quickly if low GABA is one of the root causes.

Jacqueline shared this on the Facebook post about intrusive thoughts: “GABA definitely helped me with this! Also meditation has helped me to learn to stay present. The two combined are helpful.”

Tiffany shares how Source Naturals GABA Calm helps her: “I have definitely noticed that sublingual GABA Calm that you suggest helps calm my overactive brain.”

Elicia offered this input about GABA on the seasonality of GABA blog and needing more in winter:

I use GABA Calm and usually take 1 or 2 a day. The past two days I’ve taken 4 because I suspected that I needed an increase.

I take it for physical anxiety, insomnia and intrusive thoughts. My symptoms had been worsening recently. The increased GABA seems to be helping.

Intrusive thoughts is one of the symptoms on the low GABA section of the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire: “Have intrusive thoughts, perseverate or have an overactive brain or have unwanted thoughts – thoughts about unpleasant memories, images or worries.”

This is not in my book or on the original questionnaire but was added in 2017 based on new GABA research on intrusive thoughts. I blogged about this here: GABA helps with inhibition of unwanted thoughts (and have added more recent supporting research on the glutamate/GABA balance i.e. increased glutamatergic excitation and reduced GABAergic inhibition.)

Serotonin support with the amino acid 5-HTP (or tryptophan)

Assessing for and addressing low serotonin levels would be the next step for the same reason – you get results so quickly if low serotonin is one of the root causes.

Yosef shared this about his anxiety, panic and intrusive thoughts on the GABA blog on intrusive thoughts hoping low GABA might be his root cause, with GABA as a solution:

I have issues with intrusive thoughts that present daily challenges. On top of that, I have been living with anxiety and panic issues for so long that I have adjusted to the limitations (I work from home, order pretty much everything online and have a very tolerant wife). I’ve been trying mindfulness for the intrusive thoughts, but if GABA might help with that and the panic (and perhaps help me unlearn the agoraphobia) that would be awesome. Imagine being able to go on vacations with my wife!! I’m ordering some and will give it a shot.

About 6 weeks later he shared that he didn’t notice a drastic difference with GABA but that serotonin support did help. He used 5-HTP and shared these wonderful results after using it for only a week:

What did make a difference is 5-HTP (Now – 100mg). I’ve been using it for a week so far. It was recommended by Dr. Amen (the brain doctor) who says it is helpful with OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the like. You take it before going to sleep. It used to be that I had trouble falling asleep because of the “noise” in my head – random anxious thoughts, jumpiness. I would usually need to have something playing (podcast, music, anything) to help me fall asleep. So far, on 5-HTP I find it easier to fall asleep, I don’t have to search for the right podcast, etc. I just feel really tired and fall asleep.

He did a trial of GABA and then a trial of 5-HTP when GABA didn’t help. This is exactly what I would have done. Tryptophan is also an option when 5-HTP is not tolerated.

You’ll see intrusive thoughts listed as “Obsessive thoughts or behaviors” on the low serotonin section of the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire

5-HTP and tryptophan are listed in this paper: Nutraceuticals in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): a review of mechanistic and clinical evidence.

Low zinc and low vitamin B6 (and pyroluria)

Low zinc and low vitamin B6 is common with the social anxiety condition called pyroluria. Kez shared how addressing pyroluria/pyrrole disorder resolved her intrusive or ruminating thoughts:

I noticed after being diagnosed with pyrolle disorder that when I had been taking zinc and vitamin B6 supps for a couple of years, the ruminating thoughts left me and my head was peaceful.

Before starting on the zinc and vitamin B6, she described her intrusive thoughts as follows:

Everything would go around and around in my head, it never stopped. And if my son was a few minutes late home, I would picture him in an accident dead on the side of the road. All really negative stuff. When I realised it had stopped it was such a relief.

She confirmed that she didn’t use 5-HTP/tryptophan or GABA. However the pyroluria protocol helps with the production of GABA and serotonin, and also helps to balance sex hormones (more on that below).

You’ll see “Neurotransmitter imbalances, especially low serotonin” on the Pyroluria Questionnnaire.

In one study, Alterations of serum zinc, copper, manganese, iron, calcium, and magnesium concentrations and the complexity of interelement relations in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder had low zinc, iron and magnesium.

In another study, Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Elderly Women Are Associated with a Low Intake of Vitamin B6: A Cross-Sectional Study, they looked at anxiety symptoms like “feeling tense, restless, or panicky; feeling something awful will happen; having worrying thoughts” and low vitamin B6.

Hormonal imbalances: more than 3 x the intrusive thoughts

In this study summary, Hormone levels may provide key to understanding psychological disorders in women, the authors share that  “a common symptom of mood and anxiety problems is the tendency to experience repetitive and unwanted thoughts. These ‘intrusive thoughts’ often occur in the days and weeks after a stressful experience.” In this particular study the women watched a 14-minute stressful film containing death or injury and then salivary hormone levels were measured.

In this study “women in the ‘early luteal’ phase… had more than three times as many intrusive thoughts.”  The luteal phase happens after ovulation i.e. about 16 to 20 days after the start of their period.

The authors conclude that “Women at a particular stage in their monthly menstrual cycle may be more vulnerable to some of the psychological side-effects associated with stressful experiences.”

If your intrusive thoughts ramp up in the luteal phase it’s important to consider the role of hormone imbalances.

But keep in mind that the pyroluria protocol also helps to balance sex hormones. And that tryptophan and GABA help to balance hormones too: Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability.

As I mentioned above, I typically like to start with addressing low serotonin and/or low GABA because the amino acids offer quick relief, and they give you time to dig deeper into other causes like hormonal imbalances. I also always consider pyroluria with anyone who is anxious so that’s high on the list too. We can see results in a week when we figure out the correct doses.

In part 2, I share one woman’s story of how a lifetime of horrible and bizarre intrusive thoughts were eliminated by a low carb/high fat diet (not as strict as keto).

Stay tuned for part 3 of this blog where I’ll address other possible root causes of intrusive thoughts: low magnesium, low iron, gluten issues, discontinuation syndrome, Lyme disease, mold toxicity, heavy metals, toxins, infections, TBI and trauma.

Resources if you are new to using GABA and 5-HTP/tryptophan as supplements

If you are new to using the the amino acids GABA or 5-HTP/tryptophan as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low GABA and other low neurotransmitter symptoms) and a brief overview here: Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low levels of GABA or low serotonin and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the GABA products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. Here is the budget-friendly GABA QuicksStart Homestudy version.

If you also need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to get help. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

We appreciate Katelyn for writing the article I shared and everyone for being willing to share their stories so we can all learn and feel better.

Let’s change this and talk about intrusive thoughts so we don’t have to feel alone and so we can find solutions. As Katelyn says: “If you struggle with intrusive thoughts, share them. The more we share these experiences, the better we can understand ourselves and others and the more we can help one another. Know you are not alone.”

I’ll add this: and share your success with nutritional solutions when something works for you. Share it with your friends and your health practitioner.

Now I’d love to hear from you …

Did you know intrusive thoughts are a ‘thing,’ or did you think it was just you?

Has any of the above helped you: GABA, 5-HTP or tryptophan, zinc and/or vitamin B6?

And have you observed more intrusive thoughts after ovulation and before your next period?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

GABA helps 14-year-old with Tourette’s Syndrome (the tics and sleep), and tyrosine makes him happier and his mind sharper

By Trudy Scott 30 Comments

gaba tyrosine teenager

We typically associate low GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, with a physical-type of tension- anxiety that also often affects sleep. However there is evidence that low GABA is also a factor in other conditions. One of these conditions is Tourette’s Syndrome, which is characterized by the presence of chronic tics which can be motor/movement and vocal. In today’s blog I share some research that suggests a deficit in GABAergic transmission may contribute to symptoms in Tourette’s and a case study where a teenage boy found relief from his tics when using the amino acid GABA as a supplement. GABA also improved his sleep. He also made some dietary changes – no gluten, no sugar and no caffeine – and supplemented with magnesium and melatonin. The amino acid tyrosine, used as a supplement, also improved his low mood and focus, both of which can be issues with Tourette’s.

Kim, a mom in this community, shared this wonderful feedback about her son in response to a Facebook post a few years ago:

Because of your book, I started using GABA for my 14-year-old son with moderate to severe Tourette’s Syndrome, and the results have been significant. Highly recommended for tics, and sleep for these individuals. Thank you.

I asked her how much GABA he used and how often and she shared this:

He used 750mg GABA nightly before bed, and if tics are really active then additional 300mg. Lots of water and a balanced diet with no caffeine…. life-saver.

Keep in mind that 750mg is considered a high dose. We typically start with 125mg GABA and increase based on each person’s unique needs. There is the temptation to think “I have tics and this is a very severe condition so I need a high dose to start.” You don’t want to be thinking like this. Some people may not need this much and others may need this high dose. We always use the trial method to figure out the ideal dose.

She also shared that when he added tyrosine, he saw benefits from that amino acid supplement too:

He recently added 300mg of l-tyrosine, and it promotes happiness and a sharper mind, due to brain fog. He says he really notices a difference. He has read your book as well.

How wonderful is this? GABA helped reduce his tics and improved his sleep, and tyrosine improved his mood and focus.

I love that he’s read my book – good for him and this mom! It’s never too early to have you and your child read this information. It’s empowering for them so they understand the changes they need to make and why these amino acids, dietary changes and elimination of caffeine make such a difference.

I recently checked in to see how he is doing now and asked what other nutritional approaches helped/help other than GABA, a balanced diet and no caffeine. She shared this:

He’s gluten free, magnesium for sure for the muscle tics, and melatonin for good sleep (Touretters need a routine sleep schedule).

He’s 18 now and is doing way better as he matures, but GABA no doubt has improved his life. We promote GABA and educate others as much as possible.

All this is so great to hear and I love that they now help to educate others about GABA too.

I appreciate that she gave me permission to share, hence this post. (The image above is a stock image and not her son.)

Tourette’s Syndrome and reduced GABA function

This paper, Reduced GABAergic inhibition and abnormal sensory symptoms in children with Tourette syndrome, describes the condition and the role of reduced GABA function:

Tourette Syndrome is characterized by the presence of chronic tics. Individuals with Tourette Syndrome often report difficulty with ignoring (habituating to) tactile sensations, and some patients perceive that this contributes to a “premonitory urge” to tic. While common, the physiological basis of impaired tactile processing in Tourette Syndrome, and indeed tics themselves, remain poorly understood.

It has been well established that GABAergic processing plays an important role in shaping the neurophysiological response to tactile stimulation. Furthermore, there are multiple lines of evidence suggesting that a deficit in GABAergic transmission may contribute to symptoms found in Tourette Syndrome.

In this study, the authors used testing (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and tasks that were vibrotactile (the perception of vibration through touch) to investigate the role of GABA and atypical sensory processing in these 8-12-year old children with Tourette Syndrome.

They found the following:

  • lower concentration of GABA in the sensorimotor cortex and “impaired performance on tactile detection and adaptation tasks, consistent with altered GABAergic function”
  • the altered/reduced GABAergic function correlated with the severity of motor tics and sensory impairments, “linking the core feature of Tourette Syndrome directly to … brain neurochemistry.”

The authors conclude that this provides a foundation for novel interventions (i.e. medications) but unfortunately do not offer the use of the amino acid GABA as one of these solutions. This is very unfortunate but not unexpected. I plan to reach out to the authors and share this case study and blog.

This research supports why GABA works so well for Kim’s son and why he needed higher amounts of GABA when his tics were more active/severe. And now I’m curious to find out if her son has/had sensory issues and how they improve/improved with GABA. I’ll report back if I hear from her about this.

It’s no surprise that GABA helps his sleep too. There is much evidence supporting this – like the the sleep promoting effects of combined GABA and 5-HTP (or GABA alone or 5-HTP alone).  I’ve also shared many GABA-sleep success stories on the blog. Here is one: Since starting GABA my child sleeps for the first time in years and really notices a difference in his carb cravings. (Use the search feature and “GABA sleep” to find additional blog posts)

Interestingly only 8% of the children in the study had generalized anxiety disorder. Given how common low GABA is in anxiety, and that low serotonin can also be a factor with tics, I would have expected anxiety to be higher.

Evidence supporting the other nutritional changes he made

There is evidence to support the other nutritional changes that Kim’s son made:

  • There are reports that “an increase in tics has been related to the consumption of caffeine and refined sugar.” The authors acknowledge that there is no one diet for Tourette’s, so as always, it’s a matter of figuring out the ideal diet for each child (or adult) with tics. Oligoantigenic diets have been identified as significantly reducing tics. This involves removing foods that can potentially cause a food sensitivity leading to tics and/or behavioral impacts and/or insomnia.
  • A gluten-free diet maintained for one year in patients with Tourette’s Syndrome was shown to markedly reduce tics and OCD in children and adults
  • Magnesium is one of the most used supplements in children with Tourette’s Syndrome. When used with probiotics, omega-3 and multivitamins “Seventy-five per cent of supplement users in the Tourette syndrome group noted improvement, mainly in motor and vocal tics, sleep quality and anxiety reduction.”
  • Melatonin is listed with a number of medications commonly prescribed for tic disorders where sleep issues are also a factor

Keep in mind that the above is not a protocol for relief from tics for everyone with Tourette’s Syndrome. It’s what worked for the unique biochemical needs of Kim’s son.

That said, this could be a framework to start with and build upon.

Tyrosine improves his mood and focus

Tyrosine helps with low catecholamines, improving the curl-up-in-bed low-energy kind of low mood and poor focus. (You can see all the symptoms here.) The typical dose is 500mg tyrosine a few times a day. Kim’s son found just 300mg to be beneficial.

Interestingly, 48% of the children in this study had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with about half of those on stimulant medication. I wonder how many would have also benefited from tyrosine for improving their focus, as it did for Kim’s son.

You can read more about tyrosine for focus and mood, and motivation and energy here.

Resources if you are new to using GABA or tyrosine as a supplement

If you are new to using the the amino acid GABA or tyrosine as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low serotonin and other low neurotransmitter symptoms) and a brief overview here: Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low levels of GABA or catecholamines and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable.

And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with. As I mentioned above, it’s empowering for your teen and also relatively easy reading too.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the GABA and tyrosine products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

Have you seen results with GABA or any of the above approaches? Or has another approach helped you or your child?

If you’re a practitioner have you seen GABA and any of the above to help? What else has helped your clients/patients?

If you suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome, do you also experience ADHD, insomnia, low mood and/or anxiety?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

Does 5-HTP make you “wired-tired” and affect your sleep when cortisol is high? (“yes” and “not sure” and “no, 5-HTP was miraculous!”)

By Trudy Scott 38 Comments

5-htp and sleep

Both 5-HTP and tryptophan are amino acid supplements that are known to help to boost serotonin levels so you can feel happy, calm, sleep well and not crave carbs in the afternoon/evening. They also help with panic attacks and phobias, lack of confidence, depression, negativity, imposter syndrome, PMS, irritability, anger issues, pain/fibromyalgia, TMJ and anger. I typically have my clients with low serotonin symptoms start with a trial of tryptophan because I see such excellent results with this amino acid. That being said, some people simply do better on one versus the other and you may do better with 5-HTP.

There is one big caveat with 5-HTP. I don’t recommend 5-HTP when a client has elevated cortisol levels because we know that it can raise cortisol levels in certain individuals. This can leave you feeling agitated, cranky, as well as “wired and tired” at the same time. You may be able to relate to this if you’ve ever used 5-HTP to help with anxiety and insomnia and ended up feeling more anxious and more wide-awake despite your exhaustion and need for sleep.

Today you’ll hear actual feedback from members of my community who responded to a past blog post: 5-HTP can raise salivary cortisol: does this cause a “wired-tired” feeling?.

Read on to hear how one woman found that 5-HTP did lead to her feeling wired and tired and how 5-HTP made sleep worse and worse in another; how one woman wasn’t sure if 5-HTP caused her disturbed sleep and waking in the night; and how one man found that 5-HTP was miraculous for his wife.  In each instance I offer input and next steps if necessary.  As you can see their responses were very different and my hope is that you may see yourself in some of these “cases” and learn more about using the amino acids.

And be sure to read the original blog post if you’d like to check out the study and some of my feedback on it and using 5-HTP.

5-HTP did lead to feeling wired and tired and made sleep worse and worse

Gloria shared  how 5-HTP did not help her sleep and made her feel wired and tired. She figured out the tryptophan did work for her:

I so appreciate your blog and have learned so much that is helpful. I tried 5-HTP and it did not help me sleep. I do much better on Lidtke tryptophan. The 5-HTP did make me feel wired and tired. I also have that reaction to GABA Calm because of the taurine and do much better on GABA-T SAP. Thank you for all your research.

I appreciate her sharing and am so pleased she has good results with tryptophan. The Lidtke brand is the one I have the most success with. The GABA-T SAP is a combination of GABA and theanine and is another product I recommend and see good results with.

Alexandra knew she had high night time cortisol and yet has been taking 5-HTP at the recommendation of her psychiatrist and her sleep was getting worse and worse. She shared this on the above blog post:

Your posts do not stop amazing me! I have been diagnosed with HPA axis dysfunction with high cortisol at night, my psychiatrist had me on 200 mg of 5-HTP and my sleep was getting worse and worse! I had to stop taking it because I was going to get the DUTCH test done by Geneva and noticed I slept much better without it…. I am so grateful for your posts!

I appreciate her for sharing and glad she made the connection. Hopefully she shared this information with her doctor too.

The 200mg 5-HTP dose is considered relatively high, certainly as a starting dose. I start clients on 50mg and increase based on symptoms so I assume she worked up to taking 200mg.

When 5-HTP is making things worse we switch to tryptophan, also starting low and increasing based on need. Keep in mind that 50mg 5-HTP is equivalent to 500mg tryptophan but I like to have clients start low when making a switch and increase based on results.

It’s always important to address the high cortisol levels (with Seriphos and other adrenal support). And to consider checking for parasites, changes in sex hormones, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), gluten issues and other food intolerances, toxin exposure, new EMF exposure, medication side-effects, mold toxicity and infections – all of which can affect sleep and may impact cortisol levels.

Not sure if 5-HTP caused disturbed sleep and waking in the night

Merrily experienced some really good results using 5-HTP, starting low and working up to her ideal dose of 200mg. And then she started experiencing disturbed sleep and wasn’t sure if it was the 5-HTP:

Because of mood issues – dysthymia [low mood], irritability, negative thoughts, and low energy, my doctor recommended 5-HTP. I started on 50mg 5-HTP and have worked up to 200mg daily (which I’ve been taking at bedtime for over 2 years now). On the occasions when I cut back, mood issues returned which does suggest to me it’s working.

Lately I am experiencing problems with disturbed sleep, waking during the night which I had not associated with the 5-HTP. Shall I switch to tryptophan?

Thank you so much for your blogs, your book and lectures. You really make a difference Trudy!

She has a few options. One is to cut back the 5-HTP again and see if her mood issues return. If they don’t return and sleep improves she can stay on the lower dose but may need to increase it temporarily during the winter time

Another option is to space out her dosing and take less at night and some mid-afternoon.

Finally she could switch to tryptophan. As I mentioned above, 50mg 5-HTP is equivalent to 500mg tryptophan but I like to have clients start low when making a switch and increase based on results.

If these approaches don’t work it would be useful to test salivary cortisol levels to see if her cortisol levels are now high and if yes, address this with Seriphos and other adrenal support as I mentioned for Alexandra above. And to consider checking the same root causes that can affect sleep and cause high cortisol levels.

No, 5-HTP was miraculous for his wife!

When serotonin levels are low and cortisol is not high, results with 5-HTP can be miraculous for some individuals. Russell shared how much his wife benefitted from just 50mg 5-HTP twice a day:

I treated my wife with 5-HTP when she suffered from work burn out, depression and menopause. This all hit at once.

I spent hours researching what I could to relieve the night sweats, mood swings etc. and came upon 5-HTP. I used 50 mg 5-HTP, one before bedtime and the other on waking up and it basically fixed everything that was associated with the problems mentioned above.It was miraculous to say the least and my wife was also very happy.

I’m thrilled for his wife and thanked him for sharing the wonderful results she has experienced with 5-HTP.

If her results were not sustained, I’d suggest taking her doses mid-afternoon and before bed as this is when serotonin is lowest. Otherwise, I’d say continue as above.

Keep in mind that 50mg 5-HTP twice a day is a typical starting dose and we increase from there. In her case, this was sufficient and she did not need to increase her dose or take additional doses during the day.

Positive research and positive case studies

My intention is not to scare you away from doing a trial of 5-HTP if you have low serotonin symptoms, but rather to educate. As with all nutritional approaches, there is no one-size-fits-all so we just need to be smart with using amino acids.

There are also many studies supporting the serotonin-boosting effects of 5-HTP:

These blog posts illustrate other positive case studies where 5-HTP was extremely beneficial:

I see wonderful results like this all the time, but always keep the high cortisol and “wired and tired” potential issues in the back of my mind.

Unfortunately many practitioners only ever recommend 5-HTP due to their concerns about tryptophan.

Resources if you are new to using 5-HTP (or tryptophan) as a supplement

If you are new to using the the amino acid 5-HTP (or tryptophan) as a supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low serotonin and other low neurotransmitter symptoms) and a brief overview here: Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low levels of serotonin and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the 5-HTP and tryptophan products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

Have you used 5-HTP with success? Or have you used it and felt “wired-tired” with an impact on your sleep? Have you correlated the success or failure of your 5-HTP use with your salivary cortisol levels?

What approaches have you used to lower your cortisol levels?

If you switched from 5-HTP to tryptophan did you have success with that?

If you’re a practitioner is this something you see with your clients/patients and take into consideration?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

The seasonality of GABA: worsening anxiety, insomnia and intrusive thoughts in winter (and the need for increased GABA supplementation)

By Trudy Scott 33 Comments

seasonability of gaba

Seasonal variations in serotonin have long been documented with much research on the winter blues and SAD lamps. There is less awareness about GABA seasonality and I only recently started to look into the research when I wrote about the need to increase tryptophan or 5-HTP temporarily when a winter dip in serotonin causes more severe anxiety, OCD and/or the winter blues.

Following on from my blog post on the seasonality of serotonin, it’s important to be aware of the seasonality of GABA and that GABA levels may also be lower in the winter months. This is also due to shorter days and less light because of more overcast and cloudy/rainy/snowy days.

You may find you need to increase your GABA supplement dosing during this time, in order to get the same benefits for your low GABA physical anxiety, stiff and tense muscles, insomnia (the low GABA lying-awake-tense type), feelings of overwhelm, intrusive thoughts (the low-GABA type), and stress-eating or self-medicating with alcohol.

Read on to learn more about seasonal fluctuations in GABA, an example of how adjusting GABA could look and some of the possible mechanisms.

Intuitively increased GABA without knowing about the seasonality of GABA

A few weeks ago I shared on Facebook that GABA has a seasonal aspect and an increase may be needed in winter when it’s darker earlier and colder. Elicia offered this input:.

I use GABA Calm and usually take 1 or 2 a day. The past two days I’ve taken 4 because I suspected that I needed an increase.

I take it for physical anxiety, insomnia and intrusive thoughts. My symptoms had been worsening recently. The increased GABA seems to be helping.

She also asked what an increase in GABA would look like.

My feedback for her is (you guessed it!) that it depends on each person. If 4 x instead of 1 or 2 x GABA Calm a day helps to ease her symptoms then that’s the right amount for her unique needs at this time. It may be less or more for someone else. And it’s going to change again after the winter season.

I’m so glad to hear she intuitively increased her dose without knowing about the seasonality of GABA and that she saw her worsening symptoms improve.

Other approaches to boost GABA levels may help too: Yoga, meditation, tai chi and essential oils.

Seasonal fluctuations are also found in anxiety disorders and bulimia nervosa

As I mentioned above, SAD or seasonal affective disorder, appears to be relatively common and is well-recognized.

This review paper, An overview of epidemiological studies on seasonal affective disorder mentions anxiety and other conditions too:

  • Seasonal variations in mood, depressive symptoms usually peaking in winter
  • SAD was more prevalent at higher northern latitudes, but the prevalence varied across ethnic groups.
  • SAD has also been identified in children and adolescents.
  • Seasonal exacerbations and remissions are not limited to mood disorders, it has also been found in bulimia nervosa, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric illnesses.

Some of this may be related to low serotonin and as you’ll see below, melatonin and low GABA (and low dopamine too), and the liver, all may play a role too.

GABA is higher in summer/lower in winter and tied to liver function

In this animal study, Effect of the pineal gland on 5-hydroxytryptamine and γ-aminobutyric acid secretion in the hippocampus of male rats during the summer and winter, they report that

GABA secretion in the hippocampus of rats had a seasonal rhythm consisting of increased secretion in summer and decreased secretion in the winter.

Additionally, the liver can regulate the content of active substances, including GABA, and its function is controlled by brain centers, especially in the marginal lobe.

This paper reports similar seasonal changes with respect to serotonin, stating that both fluctuations may be related to the seasonal changes of “regulation by the liver”. The authors remind us that in Chinese Medicine the liver is closely related to emotions, and that the liver functions well in hot weather and is weak in winter.

GABA exhibits seasonal rhythms related to the pineal gland and melatonin

The introduction of this animal study (by the same authors), Molecular mechanisms of seasonal photoperiod effects of the pineal gland on the hippocampus in rats highlights a number of points related to seasonal variations in mood:

Based on the theory of “five Zang-organs corresponding to the seasons” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), physiological functions including emotions vary with the seasons.

The production of mood-related neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine [serotonin], γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA], dopamine, and norepinephrine exhibits seasonal rhythms, which are related to the regulation of the hippocampus by the pineal gland-MT [melatonin] system.

In other words, GABA (and these other neurotransmitters) exhibit seasonal rhythms related to melatonin secreted by the pineal gland, thereby impacting the hippocampus.

Be sure to read the paper for additional information on depression, seasonal affective disorder and bright light therapy; the seasonal effects of the pineal gland on the hippocampus; the role of melatonin and photoperiod/length of night; the hippocampus and melatonin receptors and more.

The authors were looking for direct evidence of the signalling mechanisms that cause this to happen:

Our findings suggest that the MTR-Gs/Gi-cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway is involved in the seasonal photoperiod [length of night] effects of the pineal gland on the hippocampus and may underpin seasonal changes in emotions.

Feel free to read more about all this in the paper too as it’s beyond the topic of this blog.

Other factors to consider: sugar/alcohol, stress/pyroluria and low serotonin

I’d also consider the following:

  • The increased consumption of sugar at this time can lead to reduced zinc, magnesium and B vitamins (like vitamin B6 and thiamine) and this can further reduce GABA levels, which relies on these nutrients as cofactors for production. By boosting GABA levels with the amino acid GABA (and higher amounts if needed) you can actually reduce some of the cravings and stress-eating.
  • Overindulging in alcoholic holiday beverages can also deplete zinc and B vitamins, further affecting GABA production. Using higher amounts of the amino acid GABA (if needed) can also prevent self-medicating with alcohol. This often happens when trying to fit in and socialize.
  • If you have the social anxiety condition called pyroluria, the added stress of family and holiday gatherings can also contribute to zinc and vitamin B6 being dumped, and further impacting serotonin production.
  • The need to also increase tryptophan or 5-HTP temporarily when a winter dip in serotonin causes more severe anxiety (the low serotonin worry-type), OCD and/or the winter blues.

Resources if you are new to using GABA as a supplement

If you are new to using the the amino acid GABA as a supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low GABA and other low neurotransmitter symptoms) and a brief overview here: Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low levels of GABA and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the GABA products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

Have you noticed worsening anxiety, insomnia, intrusive thoughts or even bulimia in the winter months?

Have you noticed you need more GABA in the winter? And then you ease off at the end of winter again?

What changes in your dosing have made a difference with your symptoms?

Did you adjust intuitively or were you aware of the GABA seasonality aspect?

And do you notice something similar with serotonin support and needing additional melatonin in winter too (if you already use it)?

If you’re a practitioner, do you have your clients/patients make adjustments too?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

Trigeminal neuralgia and anxiety: GABA, tryptophan, St. John’s Wort, acupuncture, DPA, gluten, herpes and Lyme disease

By Trudy Scott 30 Comments

trigeminal neuralgia and anxiety

I get a surprisingly high number of questions about trigeminal neuralgia asking if there is a role for the amino acids GABA or tryptophan to help ease some of the nerve and associated face pain. It’s surprising because trigeminal neuralgia is considered a rare neurological disorder.

Nerve pain is not my area of expertise (anxiety is), and because anxiety and depression is common in this population, there are very likely similar underlying causes (more on that below). The targeted individual amino acids that we use for anxiety, also help to ease pain, so I’m sharing some of what I know in case it helps you or a loved one.

Read on to learn more about this condition and GABA, tryptophan, DPA, acupuncture, St. John’s Wort, Lyme disease, herpes and B vitamins.

About trigeminal neuralgia and the incidence

The NIH fact sheet defines trigeminal neuralgia (TN) as

a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve, one of the most widely distributed nerves in the head. TN is a form of neuropathic pain (pain associated with nerve injury or nerve lesion.) The typical or “classic” form of the disorder (called “Type 1” or TN1) causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like facial pain that lasts anywhere from a few seconds to as long as two minutes per episode.  These attacks can occur in quick succession, in volleys lasting as long as two hours.  The “atypical” form of the disorder (called “Type 2” or TN2), is characterized by constant aching, burning, stabbing pain of somewhat lower intensity than Type 1.  Both forms of pain may occur in the same person, sometimes at the same time. The intensity of pain can be physically and mentally incapacitating.

The incidence of new cases is approximately 12 per 100,000 people per year and women are impacted more than men.

A number of studies show anxiety, depression and insomnia are common when someone has trigeminal neuralgia. The question is this – is the pain causing the anxiety, depression and insomnia OR are there common underlying physiological causes for both. It’s likely a combination of both especially when it comes to idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia i.e. when there is no known cause. Known causes include head injury, multiple sclerosis, dental procedures, tumors and cysts.

By using some of the approaches outlined below, we may see pain relief and improved mood, less severe anxiety and better sleep.

When to consider GABA and serotonin support

There is no research on either GABA or tryptophan/5-HTP helping with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, however medications that work on both GABA and serotonin are typically prescribed for trigeminal nerve pain. For this reason I would consider a trial of GABA and/or tryptophan (or 5-HTP if other low GABA physical anxiety symptoms and low serotonin worry-type anxiety symptoms are also present. You can find the symptoms list here.

There is research-based and clinical evidence that GABA and serotonin support help with other types of pain:

Both help with the anxiety, low mood and insomnia that is often present with pain conditions like this.

St. John’s Wort for nerve pain and mood

In one case report, Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) as a possible therapeutic alternative for the management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a 53-year-old Hispanic female patient with a history of trigeminal neuralgia used an over-the-counter preparation of St. John’s Wort and found it relieved her pain completely.

St. John’s Wort is a herb that is primarily “used for depression but also is used for rheumatism, gastroenteritis, headache and neuralgias. ” This case report is one of many studies on this herb and trigeminal neuralgia and other neuralgias (nerve pain).

It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and also supports serotonin and GABA production which further supports the above recommendations to trial the amino acids.  GABA and tryptophan would also be safe options if St. John’s Wort can’t be used as in the case of blood thinners, the birth control pill and other medications

Pain relief with endorphin support: acupuncture and DPA

Acupuncture offers pain relief via endorphin boosting and can be an option for the treatment of  trigeminal neuralgia, also offering relief for the “secondary myofascial pain associated with it.”

DPA (d-phenylalanine) is an endorphin-boosting amino acid that may also offer some pain relief. It can also be used to wean off prescription pain medication and improve sleep.

Other research-based pain-relief approaches for trigeminal neuralgia

Physical therapy, chiropractic care, using a custom dental appliance, and addressing myofacial pain may offer relief or be part of the solution.

There are some less recognized approaches too:

All of the above can also improve mood and insomnia and reduce anxiety too.

Other factors to consider: B vitamins, Lyme disease, herpes and gluten

As with any condition, a full functional medicine work up should be done to rule out and/or address gluten issues, low vitamin B6/B1/B12, and even herpes zoster and Lyme disease as a root cause (or contributing factor).

Current approaches and emerging interventions – disappointing for a 2021 paper

I was excited to read the title of this paper, Trigeminal Neuralgia: Current Approaches and Emerging Interventions, published late this year. The authors share that it “summarizes over 150 years of collective clinical experience in the medical and surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.”

What is disappointing is there is no mention of any of the approaches listed in this blog. It’s published by neurosurgeons so it is understandable that they would say: “The first-line treatment remains anticonvulsant medical therapy. Patients who fail this have a range of surgical options available to them.”

Medications and/or surgical options may work well for you but if not, you need to know there are other options. You may also be looking for a medication-free or non-invasive approach.

Keep in mind that this is what you’ll be offered unless you work with a functional medicine practitioner.

I do agree with and am encouraged by these statements:

  • What is increasingly clear is that there is no catch-all medical intervention that is effective for all patients with trigeminal neuralgia, likely reflective of the fact that it is likely a heterogenous group of disorders that jointly manifests in facial pain.
  • Ultimately, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying trigeminal neuralgia will pave the way for novel, more effective and less invasive therapies.

Complementary approaches: NIH fact sheet

What is encouraging is that the NIH fact sheet I link to above, does mention low-impact exercise, yoga, creative visualization, aromatherapy and meditation.

Other than the standard medications (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, gabapentin, pregabalin, clonazepam, phenytoin, lamotrigine and valproic acid and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline) and surgical options they do also mention acupuncture, chiropractic, biofeedback and nutrients.

Botox is listed too but I have concerns about this approach.

This blog is not intended to be a comprehensive approach for pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia but rather some options you can consider and explore with your practitioner – especially when you also have anxiety, depression and insomnia too.

Resources if you are new to using tryptophan/5-HTP, GABA and DPA as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low serotonin, low GABA and low endorphin symptoms) and a brief overview here: Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acid products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

Has any of the above approaches helped you or your loved one? If not, what has helped you?

What conventional treatment have you had and did it help? Were you offered any of the above non-medication and non-surgical treatment approaches?

If you’re a practitioner, has any of this helped? Please share your treatment approaches too.

Feel free to ask your questions here too.