One of the first things that comes to mind when someone is stuck and not able to get things done is low motivation caused by low catecholamines/low dopamine. But what if overthinking, fear, anxiety and worry (caused by low serotonin) is holding you back instead? The following case may help you figure it out if any of this applies to you.
William asked this question on one of the tyrosine blogs, justifiably thinking he may need tyrosine to get unstuck:
Excellent article. I may try tyrosine. I have anxiety and shut down when I am about to start something or my mind overthinks and I shut down with worry. I have problems sleeping. I take a group of things…GABA, glycine, 5-HTP but still wake at 3am.
Anyway I always have GOOD intentions of doing things when I wake in the morning….then it goes downhill. I was not always like this but got worse with STRESS from work and now I FIGHT myself to actually do something I used to LOVE to do. Makes me MAD!
I actually am AFRAID just thinking about taking Tyrosine {Not funny}
I FEAR so much it becomes stupid. I think of doing things and SHUT DOWN with worry.
I want my life back…life is too short to suffer knowing HELP is so close. What do you think? Love your articles…
I think this is a great question many others in my community may relate to so I’ve decided to do this as a blog post with his question and a longer response.
I thanked him for his kind words, saying I can’t offer advice via the blog but can share that we need to be careful with tyrosine when someone has sleep issues or anxiety. I also offered some brief thoughts which I’ll elaborate on here so you can understand my thinking as I work with someone.
Is it low motivation caused by low catecholamines/low dopamine?
The first thing that comes to mind when someone is stuck and not able to get things done is low catecholamines and low dopamine. The classic signs are lack of motivation, fatigue, poor focus and feeling depressed, often using sugary foods or drinks for an energy pick-up (especially in the afternoon).
William may feel that he has low motivation and needs tyrosine because he can’t get things done or he starts something and can’t complete it.
His intentions are good but he has to push himself or as he says “fight myself” to get things done. Because of this he feels tyrosine may be the next amino acid he should trial.
Why I would investigate and address low serotonin
William says he has anxiety and also has trouble sleeping. This could be related to low serotonin and/or low GABA.
However when someone has anxiety and insomnia and I hear the following words/phrases, I immediately think low serotonin should be investigated and addressed:
- “My mind overthinks”
- “I shut down with worry”
- “I actually am AFRAID just thinking about taking Tyrosine”
- “I fear so much”
All of the above can hold you back and look like low motivation when it is actually worry and fear that is holding you back.
Typically, with low serotonin, you could also second-guess things you do, experience negative self-talk, have a lack of confidence when doing things, get stuck because of perfectionism and may even feel like an imposter. You may also be very controlling and want to do it all yourself and not be willing to delegate – this can hold you back too.
All this and anything else on the list of low serotonin symptoms would further suggest we need to address this first.
Finding the ideal serotonin support for his needs
He is currently taking GABA, glycine and 5-HTP but still wakes at 3am. And he is still anxious.
I would work to optimize 5-HTP dosing (increasing every few days to see if more helps) or switch to tryptophan if the increased dose isn’t helping. Some folks do better one one versus the other and 5-HTP can raise cortisol in some instances causing a wired-tired feeling.
I’d do the same with GABA once the ideal dose of 5-HTP or tryptophan is found. This helps improve sleep and reduce anxiety too.
And I’d look into high cortisol in case this is causing his 3am awakenings.
Once he has ideal serotonin support for his needs, the overthinking will stop, the worry will go away and his fears will vanish – and he will be able to complete things he starts.
Being well rested because of a great night’s sleep is going to help a great deal too.
There may be a need for tyrosine now or later
I may be wrong and there may in fact be a need for tyrosine now. These cases illustrate tyrosine helping when it didn’t seem it would:
- Tyrosine for alleviating anxiety and panic attacks and creating a feeling of calm focus
- Tyrosine erases severe performance anxiety in a female musician: no more shaking, sweating, panic attacks and passing out
There may also be a need for tyrosine later and a trial will provide the answers.
Right now William is “AFRAID just thinking about taking Tyrosine” but once his serotonin levels are ideal he should no longer have this fear.
Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements
If you are new to using the amino acids tryptophan/5-HTP, GABA or tyrosine as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution 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.
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.
As with all individual amino acids we use them for quick relief of symptoms. And we also always focus on the foundations like diet, the gut, adrenals and stress levels.
We appreciate William for asking this question so we all get to learn. Hopefully he’ll jump on and add to the discussion and share his results later.
Can you relate to his lack of motivation showing up as fear, worry and overthinking instead and holding you back?
What about these other low serotonin symptoms keeping you stuck: second-guessing, negative self-talk, lack of confidence, perfectionism, imposter syndrome and controlling?
Has using tryptophan or 5-HTP allowed you to get past some of this so you can get things done?
Did you also have to address low dopamine and actual low motivation, poor focus and fatigue with tyrosine?
Feel free to post any questions here too.