low serotonin

Her cravings for chips and peanut butter were triggered by stress: GABA ends cravings and reduces physical tension and fear of heights

May 29, 2026 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

JLs cravings for chips and peanut butter were triggered by stress. When using a GABA product that works best for her needs and with the correct doses and timing, she had zero cravings, with less physical tension, less fear of heights & reduced spinning:

Over the course of 5 weeks of using GABA, my physical tension, fear of heights and spinning were all reduced dramatically (physical tension went from 10/10 to 6/10, fear of heights from 8/10 to 3/10 and spinning from 8/10 to 3/10).

I was very happy that my cravings were completely gone using GABA (from 10/10 to 1/10).

Stress triggers me searching for something to eat. I had been following a low sugar diet already but with GABA I no longer needed chips or peanut butter around 4pm and I feel less stressed. ~ JL

I never get tired of feedback like this and I’m thrilled for her!

Read on to learn why she joined the program and what supplement changes she made; and why the initial GABA trial, and tracking sheet with symptom rating is very empowering. Discover more about using GABA to reduce/end stress-eating; how a fear of heights due to low GABA levels (and sometimes low serotonin too); and using a GABA cream and other approaches to reduce back and neck tension. You’ll also find additional resources if you need guidance using amino acids like tryptophan/5-HTP and GABA/theanine (and more about the program this woman did to get results like this for herself).

Why did she join the program and what supplement changes did she make?

This woman had been using a GABA/theanine product with no success when she joined the GABA QuickStart program but she took action anyway:

I joined because I wanted to see if it could help ease the physical stress in my shoulders, upper back and neck.

With Trudy’s help I learned how to do a trial and I was happy to feel some effect during the initial trial.

Because she switched to a different GABA-only product, used as a powder, she had zero cravings, got relief for physical stress and these other amazing results – over the next 5 weeks! And she got these results by making various adjustments to her GABA timing and dosing.

I’m thrilled for her and everyone who gives up on GABA and then decides to learn how to effectively and safely use it …and then experiences results like this.

The initial GABA trial, and tracking sheet with symptom rating is very empowering

In case you’re curious, in the program I teach participants how to do an initial one off trial to determine if the GABA product they’ve decided to use is worth trialing to find the ideal dose for your needs. JL mentions that she did feel some benefits during the initial trial.

You’ll also notice she mentions numerical changes in her symptoms i.e. “fear of heights from 8/10 to 3/10” and cravings “from 10/10 to 1/10.” The low GABA symptoms on their tracking sheets are rated on a scale of 1/10 with 10 being more severe. For someone to see their daily and weekly progression improve so much is very empowering and motivating. And it makes it easy to stick with the protocol. It’s also something they can refer back to in the future if they need to add GABA back.

Keep in mind, participants often do more than one initial trial, depending on their results and how many different GABA products they may end up needing.

The blog could have had this in the title “the right GABA product ends her cravings.”

It’s not unusual for GABA to reduce/end stress-eating and cravings

A mom in the community, Calle, shared how GABA helped her teenage ASD son sleep for the first time in years and reduced his cravings:

Our son has also really noticed a difference in his carb cravings since doing GABA. He went to grandma’s house and was not tempted by 6 pies, tons of cookies, sweet rolls etc. We were both shocked. This is a kid who would mow through tons of cookies, rolls and pastries.

Keep in mind that each of the neurotransmitter imbalances can lead to cravings so it’s a matter of figuring out which one is the culprit. It can be more than one too, and doing the trial and tracking (based on symptoms) will confirm

We use this symptoms questionnaire as a starting point.

A fear of heights due to low GABA levels (and sometimes low serotonin too)

As you can see from the low GABA symptoms on the above symptoms questionnaire, a fear of heights can be caused by low GABA. If it is, you’d expect GABA to reduce the fear when the optimal dose and timing is found.

I share one particular study in this blog post: Pharma-GABA: study participants with an irrational fear of heights are relaxed and less anxious when crossing a swaying suspension bridge

This paper refers to a pharmaGABA product which is not the same product as JL used but explains the mechanisms well.

JL shared that GABA reduced her “fear of heights from 8/10 to 3/10.” In order to get even better results she may need to:

Increase the dose or timing of the GABA product she is using, possibly in the situation where she is exposed to heights (like going over a bridge) and/or
Layer in a different GABA product like pharmaGABA and/or
Explore if some of her residual fear is also driven by low serotonin (and that would be the next thing to address once GABA is optimized).

A GABA cream and other approaches to reduce back and neck tension

JL was looking to ease the physical stress in her shoulders, upper back and neck and reported that “physical tension went from 10/10 to 6/10.” This improvement is great and the addition of a GABA/theanine cream such as BeSerene, may be the next step for her.

I share more in this blog: BeSerene™ GABA/theanine cream eases severe muscle tension in her neck/shoulders, prevents her bad headaches and quells her anxiety

I love that Lisa shares this: “since the BeSerene™ cream works so efficiently on the muscle tension, it quells the anxiety that usually follows!”

Looking into acupuncture, physical therapy, red light therapy, sauna and endorphin support with DPA (if there is also pain) are other approaches to consider.

Practical aspects of the GABA QuickStart program and the value

As shared by a GABA QuickStart participant a previous blog post:

The program is very well designed, very clear, and super easy to navigate and I loved the case studies. The tracking sheets are invaluable and the key to success with GABA!!

It can seem like a lot of money up front, but the gift of mental health is priceless!!

And honestly, Trudy has helped me and my daughter more than countless other practitioners, so in the end, it is actually very cost effective!!

(She also participated in the Serotonin QuickStart program and shared similar feedback).

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA or tryptophan as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

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 on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues. The importance of quality animal protein and healthy fats is also covered.

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 acids 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. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program.

Right now you can save $150 off the full price when you use promo/coupon code maymh150off. This 3 day special is for May Mental Health Awareness month and ends Monday June 1, 2026 at noon Pacific time. Click the image below to watch a GABA webinar and learn more.

If you 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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I’d love to hear how GABA has helped you …

Can you relate to seeing results like this with one of the many GABA products or even almost giving up and then getting relief?

Did adjusting the dose and timing make a big difference for you?

Has a topical GABA/theanine product helped you?

If you’ve completed the course material in the GABA Quickstart or Serotonin Quickstart programs feel free to share your results here so we can inspire others and give them hope.

Feel free to post your questions below.

It is truly miraculous to be able to move through life without crippling anxiety and panic

May 22, 2026 By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

I feel like a different person since I have been taking GABA! It is truly miraculous to be able to move through life without crippling anxiety and panic.

Last year at this time, before starting GABA, I was taking care of a dear friend with a serious medical condition. I was filled with anxiety and panic all of the time as there were many 911 situations that happened. Now, a year later, my friend has once again been in a medical crisis, but this time I am taking GABA, so I am able to remain calm.

Before using GABA (and tryptophan) I had tried EMDR, meditation, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc. Honestly, I thought that maybe I was just damaged from all of my childhood trauma, and I had to just live with intense anxiety.

I love hearing fabulous results like this from a recent GABA Quickstart program participant, and I am so happy for this woman and her daughter. I commend her for taking the time to really learn about how to safely and effectively use GABA for herself, then inspire her adult daughter and share her knowledge with her. She also proudly shares this:

My daughter has also been transformed through taking GABA!! She has suffered from relentless anxiety since she was a teenager, and this is the first thing that has helped her, despite seeing every type of holistic practitioner that exists.

Read on to learn specifically how GABA helps her daughter feel calm and happy during a job interview and how it also helps reduce her symptoms of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). I also share more about the GABA/progesterone and serotonin/estrogen connections in PMDD. And my insights on using GABA when caretaking, even when you think you’ve tried everything and have childhood trauma. You’ll also find additional resources if you need guidance using amino acids like tryptophan/5-HTP and GABA/theanine (and more about the program this woman did to get results like this for herself and her daughter).

Panic and anxiety in the interview to confident, calm, and joyful in her new job

This woman goes on to share just how much GABA has helped:

An amazing thing happened: She has been interviewing for a new job for quite a while now, but never getting them. However, at her first interview since being on GABA, she reported to me that instead of feeling filled with panic and anxiety during the interview, she felt calm and happy. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she got the job!!

And thanks to GABA and tryptophan, she feels confident, calm, and joyful while learning her new role.

This is what every anxious job applicant needs and deserves, especially when relentless anxiety has been such a big part of her teens.

I will add that she didn’t start GABA and tryptophan at the same time. Her mom had her start with a tryptophan trial (for her worry and ruminations and other low serotonin symptoms) and find her ideal dose for her unique needs. And then trial GABA(for her physical tension and panic attacks) and find the ideal dose of GABA. It’s what I recommend and mom participated in both the Serotonin Quickstart and GABA Quickstart programs, and then she helped her daughter.

GABA and tryptophan help with hormonal imbalances, including PMDD

Mom shares more about the GABA benefits her daughter experienced:

GABA has also really helped her with severe PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She is now filled with joy and calmness, instead of crying endlessly and being filled with panic.

This is to be expected given the GABA/progesterone connection. This 2023 paper, GABA-ergic Modulators: New Therapeutic Approaches to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, the authors describe PMDD as follows: “the predictable onset of mood and physical symptoms secondary to gonadal steroid fluctuation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle” i.e. symptoms in the second half of the cycle caused by sex hormone shifts.

The authors state that “the interaction between allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid derivative of progesterone, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system represents an important relationship underlying symptom genesis in reproductive-related mood disorders, including PMDD.”

The missing piece in the above paper is the recommendation to actually use GABA (the paper focuses on medications instead).

As mentioned above she was also using tryptophan which very likely contributed to her symptom relief given the serotonin/estrogen connection. I share a study and more about this in this blog post – Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability

GABA is calming when caretaking, even when you’ve tried everything and have childhood trauma

I’d like to swing back and comment on S. M.’s results and acknowledge her for being proactive in taking care of her mental health right after the stress of being a carer for her dear friend. It worked out in the end for both of them too – she was much calmer when her dear friend was ill yet again.

She also really believed she had tried everything. I hear this all the time and it breaks my heart when anxious folks stop seeking a solution without learning about how to safely and effectively use GABA. Too many folks don’t know about it or use it incorrectly and then stop. This is one big reason I love to share success stories like this, and I appreciate S. M. for allowing me to share hers and her daughter’s success.

Finally, GABA even helps when there is other childhood trauma (or other trauma) and you never just have to live with intense anxiety. The research supports this: “Dysregulation in GABA may be a neurobiological marker and/or potential treatment target for women with PTSD symptom profiles” and so do the clinical results.

I’m not suggesting to only use GABA, instead doing both the trauma work and addressing neurochemistry and other nutritional imbalances.

Practical aspects of the GABA Quickstart program and the value

As I mentioned above, S.M. is a past participant of the GABA Quickstart program and she shared these practical aspects and how valuable it was:

The program is very well designed, very clear, and super easy to navigate and I loved the case studies. The tracking sheets are invaluable and the key to success with GABA!!

It can seem like a lot of money up front, but the gift of mental health is priceless!!

And honestly, Trudy has helped me and my daughter more than countless other practitioners, so in the end, it is actually very cost effective!!

(She also participated in the Serotonin Quickstart program and shared similar feedback).

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA or tryptophan as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I’d love to hear how GABA has helped you and if your success has motivated and inspired a loved one such as an adult daughter or son to use it too?

Has GABA helped you or a loved one do well in a job interview and the first job?

What about tryptophan or 5-HTP?

Had you tried everything with no success and expected to just live with intense anxiety?

Were you aware of the GABA connections to PMDD and trauma?

Finally, if you’ve completed the course material in the GABA Quickstart or Serotonin Quickstart programs feel free to share your results here so we can inspire others and give them hope.

Feel free to post your questions below.

GABA and tryptophan combo provide immediate and noticeable relief for tremors and cervical dystonia in just 7 days

April 17, 2026 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

I recently discovered your work and felt a sense of hope regarding an amino acid trial. I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia and Essential Tremor 15 years ago. I have tried Botox injections and various prescriptions (Bacolfen, Propranolol, Trihexyphenidyl, Gabapentin), with no success. Because alcohol is the only thing that currently provides relief for my spasms and head tremor, I’ve developed a habit of 2–3 glasses of wine nightly.

My neurologist recently suggested Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), but I want to exhaust all natural options first.

After listening to some of your podcasts, I am ready to try a nutritional approach. I purchased your book today and am eager to start with GABA and potentially Tryptophan, but I need guidance on where to begin safely. I look forward to learning from you and your community.

Lisa shared this recently on a GABA blog post on the site. I responded saying how glad I am that she has found my site and work, and now has my book, “The Antianxiety Food Solution”. I also shared that if alcohol provides relief for her neck spasms and head tremors it’s a good clue that low GABA is an issue. It’s one of a number of possible issues including low serotonin, as she concluded, and these are the amino acids I would recommend starting with, ideally one at a time.

A week later she thanked me for my response and shared her initial wonderful results:

I began with a GABA trial and noticed subtle relief, but after adding 500 mg of L-Tryptophan a few days later, all I can say is WOW. The combination provided immediate, noticeable relief for my tremors. For the first time, I am truly hopeful about managing these dystonic tremors.

Read on to learn more about pyroluria and dystonia connection; tryptophan and tremors; my feedback about Lisa finding her optimal dose of amino acids and ideally using one amino acid at a time; more on alcohol and low thiamine, and GABA for healing a leaky gut; and additional resources if you need guidance using amino acids like GABA and tryptophan.

Pyroluria and dystonia connection

In my initial response to Lisa, I had also encouraged her to search the blog for dystonia and essential tremor as I have blogged about both. With regards to dystonia and pyroluria, I’ve had a number of wonderful success stories, even though mainstream sites like Mayo Clinic will tell you: “There is no cure for cervical dystonia. The disorder sometimes resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are uncommon.”.

Lisa searched the blog and is very motivated despite her lack of success with Botox and various medications:

While I hadn’t researched pyroluria before, I completed your questionnaire and scored very high.

My next steps are to implement your pyroluria protocol, gradually find my optimal amino acid dosages, and pursue genetic testing.

Your book and expertise have been a turning point for me. I can’t thank you enough for opening this door to healing. I am truly humbled by your guidance.

I’m guessing she found both of these blogs – they are well worth a read:

There is an entire chapter on pyroluria in my book and she’ll be using zinc and vitamin B6 and other key nutrients like a B complex and evening primrose oil, all of which help pyroluria, help ease dystonia symptoms and help with neurotransmitter production.

I’m not surprised she has hope for the first time in 15 years! I also never get tired of feedback like this and look forward to sharing her ongoing improvements. I really do hope she shares all this with her neurologist too.

Finding her optimal dose of amino acids

I’m really glad to hear Lisa has grasped this key aspect of using amino acids such as GABA and tryptophan (and others like DPA for pain relief, another one she may benefit from in the future): finding her optimal dose.

We always start low during the initial one-off trial, track the response and then slowly but surely increase, continuing to track improvements. And drop back to a previous dose if there is an adverse effect.

I see too many folks give up too soon when they simply try one dose and then stop, or try only one product and stop or try tryptophan and stop when it doesn’t help (some folks do better on 5-HTP so both may be worth trialing). The same logic applies with GABA and theanine and sometimes a combination is better than one or the other.

Lisa was fortunate in finding an initial combination that works for her very quickly, although she does plan to optimize further. For others it can take longer with a number of permutations. But once you find your unique protocol, immediate and noticeable relief is what we expect.

My recommendation is to use one amino acid at a time

I will add that my advice is to trial one amino acid at a time and find the optimal dose and then move on to the next amino acid – it makes it so much easier to know which amino acid is helping. Lisa didn’t do this so I just want to point this out. Going forwards, it’ll be better if she just adjusts one at a time.

I did also mention the Serotonin QuickStart Program and GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program in case she hits a wall and needs additional help fine-tuning (more on these programs below).

Alcohol and low thiamine, and GABA for healing a leaky gut

Because of Lisa’s daily wine intake, it would also be prudent to consider and address low levels of thiamine, a common deficiency with excessive alcohol consumption. I write more about classic signs of thiamine deficiency here. Assessing for and addressing other possible nutritional deficiencies would be key too, because of leaky gut caused by alcohol intake.

The good news is that both GABA and tryptophan (and glutamine too) helps to heal leaky gut and also help break the addictive aspect of wine and other alcoholic beverages so it’s easier to quit. Feel free to search the blog for additional information on these topics.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan or GABA and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

Wrapping up and your feedback

Thanks to Lisa for asking these questions and sharing her feedback.

Now I’d love to hear from you – have you had success using GABA or tryptophan for tremors or cervical dystonia (or other types of dystonia)?

What about the pyroluria protocol for cervical dystonia (or other types of dystonia)?

Feel free to post your questions below.

Flight anxiety with heightened breath, physical tension and also fearing the worst (the role of low GABA and low serotonin)

September 19, 2025 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

Do you have suggestions for supplements for flight anxiety, something to make flying bearable without heightened breath, etc, or is that out of the supplement realm?

I also have physical tension and fear the worst. Any kind of turbulence or warnings of turbulence makes me extremely nervous.

K asked this question on one of my blogs and I responded that this is very much in the supplement realm! And what we use depends on the type of anxiety someone is experiencing.

I would first consider serotonin support before and during flying – tryptophan or 5-HTP – because she fears the worst and feels extremely nervous. With low serotonin there may also be worry and fear leading up to the trip, as well as feelings of panic and imagining the worst during the flight.

GABA support – using the amino acid GABA or theanine – should also be considered for the more physical symptoms of heightened breath and physical tension. With low GABA there can be other physical symptoms such as excessive sweating (like the palms), a racing or pounding heart and a dry mouth. These amino acids could also be used leading up to the flight and during the trip if needed.

Read on for more on my insights on using these amino acids in a situation like this, additional information about fear of flying and a success story with GABA.

Serotonin and/or GABA support for fear of flying

In an ideal situation I would want to address both low serotonin and low GABA before flying and have her use extra during the flight, as needed. It’s very likely that many of the low serotonin and low GABA symptoms are present in some way in her day to day life too.

This means she can be methodical about doing a trial of the respective amino acids and figure out the optimal dose of each in familiar surroundings – using powder, capsule opened, sublingual, chewable or liposomal.

As always we trial one at a time so we know which one is working best. Keep in mind some folks do better with tryptophan and some do better with 5-HTP so both may need to be trialed. The same can be said for GABA and theanine.

Once the product and dose of each has been figured out, she’ll need to find a suitable option for use while traveling i.e. a sublingual or chewable tablet

It’s always a comprehensive approach

It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet so I recommend eating real whole food, quality animal protein, eating for blood sugar stability, going gluten-free, sugar-free and caffeine-free, eating healthy fats, organic vegetables and fruit and fermented foods. My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start when you are new to the amino acids and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc.

During travel it’s important to be prepared with healthy travel foods and drinks. I share some ideas here.

The definition of a specific phobia such as the fear of flying

The fear of flying is called aviophobia and it’s one of many common phobias about something specific. According to this ebook

Specific phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and irrational fear of a particular object, situation, or activity. The anxiety response goes beyond normal apprehension and leads to avoidance behavior. The intensity of the fear is often disproportionate to the actual danger posed by the phobic stimulus.

Common examples of specific phobias include fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of spiders (arachnophobia), fear of flying (aviophobia), and fear of needles (trypanophobia). People with specific phobias may experience intense anxiety or panic attacks when exposed to the feared object or situation.

This Australian article reports that “One in six people have a significant fear that prevents them from flying, and about one in five regular flyers use alcohol or prescription drugs to “help” them through a flight, according to Victoria’s Department of Health.”

Using the amino acids to address low serotonin and/or low GABA addresses the root cause and does away with the need for alcohol and antianxiety meds (and the associated side-effects).

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy is often recommended for aviophobia but doesn’t always help, and doesn’t address the biochemical imbalances.

A success story with GABA before and during a flight – cool as a cucumber

Melissa started using Source Naturals GABA Calm in anticipation of holiday travel and holiday gatherings and shared this:

I’m glad I saw the post about GABA on your FB page a couple weeks ago. I bought Source Naturals GABA Calm and have been taking 1-3 per day for two weeks.

I’m glad I bought it before travelling home for Christmas – I was cool as a cucumber at the airport and was much calmer when visiting family and friends compared to last year! The true test of its efficacy will be in two weeks when the semester starts. For now, I notice a general calmness and am sleeping well.

Notice that she started using it in the 2 weeks leading up to her trip and not on the flight itself.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan or GABA and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

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 too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

Have you had success using serotonin and/or GABA support for your fear of flying (or other phobia/s)? If yes, which amino acids have helped you?

Did you have any success with CBT or exposure therapy or other approaches?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Tryptophan and GABA for relaxation, jaw pain, sleep, anger and mood symptoms

June 13, 2025 By Trudy Scott 11 Comments

I typically start clients on tryptophan if they have signs of low serotonin: stressed, overwhelmed worry, fears, obsessing, feeling anxious, ruminations, low mood, anger issues/rage, sleep problems, pain issues, PMS, low self-esteem, imposter syndrome, and afternoon/evening carb cravings etc. If we don’t get expected results we switch to 5-HTP as some people do better on one vs the other.

With signs of low GABA – a more physical kind of anxiety, with some overwhelm, intrusive thoughts, tension, sleep issues (often lying awake tense), stress-eating and/or drinking and pain – I typically recommend a GABA only product (as a powder or capsule opened) or GABA Calm (a sublingual). In some cases we may consider theanine and pharmaGABA.

The best way to assess low GABA and low serotonin is the symptoms questionnaire and a trial of the respective amino acids – one at a time. But the key is to find the ideal amount for the unique needs of each person. We do that by methodically and systematically increasing the amino acid slowly and tracking improvements for each increase.

In this blog you can read some success stories from women who used tryptophan and GABA for relaxation, jaw pain, sleep, anger and mood symptoms, and my commentary with some additional insights.

Tryptophan and GABA (as powders) – for her stress and pain

Amy uses both tryptophan and GABA for relaxation and jaw pain:

I use both tryptophan and GABA, I just take them separately. When my jaw was really bad the tryptophan really helped. I also do vagus nerve stimulating exercises that make me yawn and it stretches and releases the jaw.

As for the GABA …when I’m very stressed, I need extra to feel the effects. I use a pinch between the fingers of the Now powder and let it dissolve on my tongue. I feel my body relax in about 30 seconds. If nothing then I take a second pinch. Most days 1 pinch is enough.

I also let tryptophan dissolve in my mouth and most days I feel the same physical relaxation after a few moments. It’s not always obvious with the tryptophan though. I use 1/4 tsp of powder but you can use capsules. I mix the powder with pudding powder because it’s very bitter.

Both tryptophan and GABA can help with pain, and also feeling anxious and stressed.

The benefits are via different mechanisms – tryptophan boosts low serotonin and it’s typically more of a mental type of relaxation. This blog illustrates the use of tryptophan for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) – Tryptophan ends TMJ pain, headaches and worry, and improves mood and sleep: a success story.

The amino acid GABA boots low GABA levels and it provides more of a physical type of relaxation and also helps with pain relief.

I like that Amy is using both amino acids as powder and I’m happy for her. GABA powder tastes pleasant and is much more effective used this way (or capsule opened or sublingual).

Tryptophan can be swallowed but many find it more effective as a powder or capsule opened. As Amy says, it’s very bitter as a powder.

Tryptophan or 5-HTP and different forms of GABA – for sleep, anger and mood symptoms

Kerry tried 5-HTP and pharmaGABA but did better with tryptophan and GABA Calm:

My naturopath had me on 5-HTP but I never felt a benefit, and pharmaGaba was a histamine trigger. After reading your book I tried tryptophan and spent many months on 2 x 500mg at bedtime. This helped with sleep and definitely stopped the surges of anger that happened often.

I read a lady say her staple was 2 x Gaba Calm at bedtime and on rising, so I tried this and it helped.

I now take both tryptophan and Gaba Calm only if I feel niggly mood symptoms.

My previous diet was standard vegetarian, then vegan for several years. I now have lots of protein in the form of beef liver capsules, eggs and protein powder. I don’t like meat.

Kerry shared all this in a recent blog comment, describing how tryptophan and GABA Calm were big game-changers for her, in addition to “a long slow mold detox …addressing nutritional deficiencies and implementing dietary changes.”

Mycotoxins caused by mold, nutritional deficiencies and a poor quality diet can impact neurotransmitter production. The good news is that when you find the right combination of amino acids – in this case tryptophan and GABA Calm – you can get relief right away while the other factors are being addressed. It reduces the overwhelm, stress and fears too.

Kerry’s approach of consistent use of both amino acids is the best way to go and I’m so happy for her. And once levels are sufficient they can be used as needed, provided other underlying causes (like toxins, diet etc) are being addressed.

I will add that some individuals do better on 5-HTP and some do better on tryptophan so it’s often a matter of doing a trial of both. I typically recommend tryptophan to start because 5-HTP can be an issue if cortisol is high.

I also always recommend starting with some forms of GABA because of the potential histamine issues with pharmaGABA. That said, some individuals do tolerate pharamGABA so it’s worth doing a trial of both. And we may also consider theanine when we want to support low GABA, low serotonin and low dopamine.

Theanine and tryptophan and diet/lifestyle changes – and feeling her best!

Luna worked with a health practitioner to taper off Prozac (very slowly) and used amino acids during the taper and afterwards:

As someone who took Prozac for years and eventually came off, please pay special attention to Trudy’s advice to come off it SLOWLY. I’d say do it so slowly it may seem ridiculous.

I tried three times to get off Prozac and it was only with the help of an ND/PharmD did I finally get the info needed to come off it without *awful* side effects. To do it well, the process takes MONTHS – not weeks as many doctors recommend.

These days, I take L-Theanine and L-Tryptophan. And I’m preparing to add some GABA soon. Combined with daily 45 minute walks outside, and a low-sugar/low-gluten diet, I’m doing the best I have in my adult life.

A comprehensive approach that includes amino acids, dietary changes, and getting out in nature can make a world of difference. I love it when I hear feedback like this.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan and GABA and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

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 on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

Wrapping up and your feedback

Now I’d love to hear from you – how has tryptophan and GABA helped you or a loved one?

If you’d like to get on the notification list for the next Serotonin Quickstart Program (a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls), please do so here.

If you’re a practitioner do you use tryptophan and GABA with your clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

GABA helps ease symptoms of anger, rage, and dark moods (symptoms we typically associate with low serotonin)

June 30, 2023 By Trudy Scott 23 Comments

As a result of this wonderful feedback from a mom in the online GABA QuickStart program, I’ve been looking into GABA-anger connections. I’ve been trying to understand how GABA could offer similar benefits to tryptophan/5-HTP for anger, rage and dark moods, which we typically associate with low serotonin. She shares this:

My son who is 19 and on the autism spectrum was having issues with outbursts of anger and stuttering. These issues seemed to worsen during his senior year of high school. Since starting GABA and tailoring his dosage from Trudy’s instruction and feedback, we have seen a 90% reduction in stuttering and 80% reduction in anger and outbursts. We have done many supplemental protocols over the years and this is one of the few we have seen have an impact.

I am so happy for this young man and his family, and was also very intrigued. I’ve seen GABA help with stuttering. I have not noticed that GABA helps very much with anger/rage in clients but possibly because they are making other changes at the same time. Since they were in the program and he also had anxiety, we decided to continue with GABA.

I worked with them in the program over a few months and know he only changed one thing – GABA, starting low and increasing to find his ideal dose (with my guidance).

So I started to dig into the research, search through prior blog posts and ask on Facebook and the feedback is robust – folks are seeing GABA help with symptoms of anger and rage.

I share a few case studies below: how PharmaGABA helps a 9 year old boy with rages (part of his OCD/PANS), how GABA helps a young boy with Lyme-induced anger and how GABA helps a 9 year old girl with anger and dark moods (part of her PCOS).

I also share my insights with each case. And some possible mechanisms because we always want to understand why.

PharmaGABA helps 9 year old with rages that are part of his OCD/PANS

Kathy shares how pharmaGABA helped her son (on a pharmaGABA blog):

My 9 year old son had a lot of benefits from PharmaGABA. He used to have rages as part of his OCD/PANS. PharmaGaba 3 times a day was a miracle to get him through that period.

PANS is a neuropsychiatric disorder that falls under the same umbrella as PANDAS but is triggered by an infection other than strep.

If you’re new to PANS/PANDAS, I share the definition of PANDAS, from the PANDAS Network, in this blog: “PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) occurs when strep triggers a misdirected immune response that results in inflammation on a child’s brain. In turn, the child quickly begins to exhibit life changing symptoms such as OCD/obsessive compulsive order, anxiety, tics, personality changes, decline in math and handwriting abilities, sensory sensitivities, restrictive eating, and more.”

Both PANS and PANDAS trigger OCD/obsessive compulsive disorder. OCD is typically supported with tryptophan and/or inositol i.e. these obsessive thinking and behaviors are typically related to low serotonin even when there is an infection involved. The infection needs to be addressed but the tryptophan and/or inositol help to ease the obsessive symptoms.

Rage is a common symptom when serotonin is low. Tryptophan addresses low serotonin and can have a huge impact as I share in this blog – Rage, anxiety, cravings & insomnia in 11-year old girl with RAD/reactive attachment disorder: chewable tryptophan turns things around.

However, in this instance, pharmaGABA worked for the rages Kathy’s son experienced.

PharmaGABA is one form of GABA that has been shown to help with relaxation and anxiety.

GABA helps a young boy with Lyme-induced anger

Another mom shared this on a Lyme disease post on Facebook:

One kid has developed fits of anger that come out of nowhere but the GABA seems to be able to help him to play longer periods.

Lyme disease can also have a neuropsychiatric aspect, as shared by Dr. Suruchi Chandra MD. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Chandra on one of the Anxiety Summits and hear her present at integrative mental health conferences.

In one conference presentation she shared this: “Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the United States. It can remain dormant for years and then later mimic a number of psychiatric illnesses, including anxiety disorders, mood disturbances, psychosis, and autism-like behaviors. It can be further complicated by the presence of co-infections.”

Anger and rage are also common symptoms. In one study, “Lyme rage” is described as an anger episode that “had a very abrupt onset and was extremely intense and often with minimal cognitive control.”

Yet again, we often see GABA help ease some of the anxiety symptoms, as I share here – GABA helps with Lyme anxiety (while addressing the underlying disease).

However in this instance, GABA helped with her son’s anger symptoms induced by the Lyme bacteria.

GABA helps a 9 year old girl with anger and dark moods (part of her PCOS)

Debbie was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and GABA helped ease her lifelong anxiety, wean off anxiety medication, ovulate each month and stop her PCOS medications. She was thrilled that GABA helps her daughter too. She shared how her oldest daughter who is 9 has been showing early signs of developing PCOS and other issues similar to hers:

When her mood started changing and she was getting angry out of nowhere and very dark and moody, I started her on a small dose of GABA. Immediately both of us saw the difference in her mood. She now asks for her “happy pills” daily because she doesn’t want to feel those dark feelings anymore. I wish this information was around when I was young. It could’ve helped so much of what I had to struggle with for years.

I typically think of tryptophan or 5-HTP as “happy pills”, and anger and a dark mood as symptoms of low serotonin.

However, yet again, GABA resolves these symptoms in Debbie’s daughter.

These are just a few of the many recent success stories I’ve heard about GABA and anger/rage.

Does low GABA anger/rage look different from low serotonin anger-rage?

This is all new to me so I honestly don’t know. We do know that low GABA leads to more of a physical kind of anxiety (i.e. felt in the body) and it’s different from low serotonin worry-type anxiety (i.e. it’s felt in the head).

Therefore, it’s possible that low GABA anger and rage has more of a physical aspect too.

I have yet to explore this aspect but feel it may be helpful to figure out if there is a difference in order to effectively use the neurotransmitter symptoms questionnaire. This questionnaire is used to decide whether to trial GABA or tryptophan/5-HTP and the low GABA section will be updated with anger/rage once I’ve gone a bit deeper with all this.

The kind of anger symptoms may well look the same and then we’ll use the clustering of either low GABA or low serotonin symptoms to base our decision for doing an amino acid trial.

Research: GABA may be critical in the neurochemical control of aggressive behavior and rage

There is no research that I am aware of where the amino acid GABA has been used to ease rage, anger or dark moods.

However, this letter, Tiagabine for Rage, Aggression, and Anxiety published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscicnes in 2015 offers some round-about support to this GABA-rage observation. They are discussing patients with treatment-resistant rage and aggression and they propose that:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, may be critical in the neurochemical control of aggressive behavior.

They share that the prescription medication called Tiagabine, a selective GABA reuptake inhibitor (SGRI), increases synaptic GABA availability.

And that 20 out of 36 patients aged 15-54 years (69%)

with symptoms of rage, aggression, or anxiety in association with one or more of the following disorders: bipolar, intermittent explosive, major depression, panic disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or substance abuse …demonstrated a good or excellent response to tiagabine, with reduction or elimination of the symptoms of rage, aggression, or anxiety.

This and the few studies on anger and glutamate (like this one) offer the most plausible explanations for the quick results we expect when using GABA and other amino acids i.e. quick as in results in 1-30 minutes.

Other than this there is not much direct evidence supporting this GABA-rage connection. GABA likely also helps quickly because of reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and being easil able to quit or eat less sugar (and in adults quit alcohol).

Based on some research I’ve found and my experience with GABA, I suspect GABA may also help in these ways over a longer period: countering a histamine reaction, reducing inflammation and impacting cytokines, improving progesterone levels, beneficial impacts on the microbiome, supporting the liver and toxin removal (such as fluorides), gut healing and reducing high blood pressure. I am still digging into the research.

I thank these families for sharing their stories so we all benefit.

I also really appreciate this opportunity to learn from you – my community – and I will always strive to keep an open mind.

Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA and low serotonin).

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 on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

[The 19 year old young man/his mother were part of an earlier version of the GABA Quickstart program].

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.

Now I’d love to hear from you ….

Has GABA helped you or your child with symptoms of anger, rage or a dark mood? And if yes, how did it help, how much helped and which product helped?

Can you be sure GABA helped i.e. is this the only change you made?

Has serotonin support with tryptophan or 5-HTP also helped? And if yes how would you describe the low serotonin anger symptoms vs the low GABA anger symptoms? Are they different?

If you are a practitioner, have you observed any of the above?

Feel free to post your feedback and questions here in the comments.