tryptophan

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.

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.

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 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.

Red light therapy for back and neck pain, plantar fasciitis and low mood – a complement to the amino acids GABA, DPA and tryptophan

April 3, 2026 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

I had to share this with you about my experience with red light therapy. I do not have a Lumebox but purchased a larger device (Red Rush 400) over a year ago from Red Therapy Company after reading a recommendation from Ari Whitten. At the time, I had very painful plantar fasciitis with a heel spur on my left foot that did not respond to an injection.

Because I walk 3-5 miles every day, it was breaking my heart not to be able to walk and I was desperate to find a solution. I placed the bottom of my feet 4-6 inches from the device 10 minutes a day. To my absolute amazement, I noticed the difference in just the first week of using the device and within 2 weeks I was back walking 3-5 miles!

Because we sold our house and moved to Texas recently and are currently living in our 5th wheel RV (hoping to do some traveling) I had not been using my red light device. I developed a very bad pain in my neck and upper back recently (I have degenerative discs) that wouldn’t respond to NSAIDs for 2 weeks.

So I got out my Red Rush 400 and after the first day I started noticing relief which would last about 2 hours. Encouraged, I kept it up 10 minutes a day on each side (front and back) twice a day and within a week the pain was gone. I am sooo amazed how well this works. I’m so grateful to have found this therapy.

Thank you for all you do.

Katherine, a 72 year old woman in the community, sent me this wonderful red light feedback after one of my emails about the Lumebox red light device, and gave me permission to share her success story.

Read on to learn about the research supporting red light therapy for pain, low mood and plantar fasciitis; the two red light devices I own and how I use them, plus the pros and cons of each; amino acids for pain relief and low mood: GABA, tryptophan and DPA; and additional resources if you need guidance using the amino acids.

Red light therapy for pain relief

In case you’re new to red light therapy (or RLT), it’s also known as photobiomodulation (or PBM) or low level laser therapy (LLLT).

This 2021 paper, Low-intensity LASER and LED (photobiomodulation therapy) for pain control of the most common musculoskeletal conditions reports that

There is evidence that photobiomodulation therapy reduces pain intensity in non-specific knee pain, osteoarthritis, pain post-total hip arthroplasty, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular diseases, neck pain, and low back pain.

In this updated paper they confirmed the benefits of red light therapy reporting:

profound biological effects on tissue including increased cell proliferation, accelerating the healing process, promoting tissue regeneration, preventing cell death, anti-inflammatory activity and relief of pain

They also provide good reasons for using opioids at the “lowest effective dose for the shortest period possible”, i.e. adverse effects that include: “poor coordination, sedation, mood swings, depression, and anxiety combined with a dependence on the drugs.”

Red light therapy for low back pain and a mood improvement

In a small study published in 2018, A case control series for the effect of photobiomodulation in patients with low back pain and concurrent depression, the authors report that the participants saw a mood improvement while using red light therapy while doing physical therapy:

This preliminary investigation suggests that an antidepressant effect may result from photobiomodulation (PBM) to the back and thighs in patients with low back pain and concurrent depression.

The authors mention a possible mechanism – NIR and red light used on “large areas of the skin” (like the back and the back of the thighs) “might significantly affect systemic processes such as a slow metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.”

The paper also includes this statement about photobiomodulation being “an FDA-approved treatment for somatic pain …based on the boosting of ATP production by near infra-red (NIR) or red light…” due to mitochondrial support. They also share that “depression has been linked to a decreased level of mitochondrial respiration in blood platelets.”

The authors do acknowledge this was a preliminary finding but what is fascinating is that photobiomodulation may improve mood even when it’s not used directly on the skull.

They also call this a multi-modal approach for pain and low mood, which I fully support i.e. the use of red light therapy in conjunction with dietary changes, exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture and amino acids such as GABA, tryptophan, tyrosine and d-phenylalanine. They don’t mention the amino acids but I share more about these below.

Red light therapy for plantar fasciitis

A meta-analysis presents evidence that red light/photobiomodulation therapy “is an effective treatment modality to reduce pain and improvement of foot function in adults with plantar fasciitis.” They do state that there is a broad discrepancy in the way studies are done for this condition – so you will also see some studies that state it doesn’t help and that it may help pain but other approaches are needed too (which makes sense).

My experience with the Red Rush 400 (panel)

I own the same red light panel – the Red Rush 400 – that Katherine used with success, and I love it. I use it primarily for back and neck pain too – I do 10 minutes at a time when I’m having an issue and also after a weight session at the gym. I’m also learning about the value of doing a daily session at least once a day for better skin health, energy improvement and better sleep.

What I love about this device:

it covers a large area i.e. from my neck down to my lower back
it’s very easy to use
it uses EMF Blocking Cage Technology and has an automatic timer

The negatives are:

the price (it costs more than the Lumebox)
it’s very heavy – it hangs on a door but can be easily winched higher or lower as needed
it’s not portable

If you are wanting to purchase this red light panel, I do have an affiliate account with Red Therapy Co and have arranged $100 off each order if you use the code TRUDYREDTHERAPY at checkout.

Purchase the Red Rush 400

I’m sharing about this panel and the Lumebox (below) because I have vetted the products and have first-hand experience with them. I’ve also started receiving other wonderful feedback from my community and will continue to share as more success stories come in.

My experience with the Lumebox device (handheld)

I also own a handheld Lumebox red light device and I love it.

I use it daily, often instead of the panel because it’s so versatile. It comes with us on all our trips and I use it on my feet after a hike or when my restless feet are affecting my sleep (my oxalate issues means I have fickle and tender feet!). I also used it recently on my low back after sitting on bad chairs at a wedding. I’m amazed with the pain relief after just one 10 minute session!

It worked wonders for recovery after a recent fall on my knee – fortunately no broken bones, just bruising and a soft tissue injury. I did use arnica, RICE and amino acids too (GABA and DPA) and saw a physical therapist, but was surprised by how quickly it healed

My hubby uses it more and more and my mom-in-law uses it often on her neck and wrist for osteoarthritic pain.

What I love about this device:

it’s portable and versatile (and can be used on targeted areas – like on my knee, my feet, neck, jaw etc)
it’s very easy to use and can be recharged relatively quickly
it’s low EMF too and also has an automatic timer
it’s very affordable for what you get

There is only one negative I can think of:

waiting for it to recharge (only an issue when hubby, mom-in-law are queued up to use it after me)

I also have an affiliate account with Lumebox where you can save $260 off each order when you use my partner link below. No code is necessary and there are other bigger discounts during special sales throughout the year.

Purchase the Lumebox

I do want to mention that the Red Rush 400 panel and Lumebox handheld device were not actually used in the above studies but participants were exposed to both NIR and red wavelength light, at the same levels that are found in these devices (NIR 850nm and red 660nm).

Amino acids for pain relief and low mood: GABA, tryptophan and DPA

I support a multimodal approach to pain relief and the amino acids are the perfect complement to red light therapy

GABA helps with pain relief when there are spasms and muscle tension (caused by low GABA levels). GABA and GABA/theanine cream can be especially helpful at times.
Tryptophan helps with pain relief (and low mood) that is caused by low serotonin levels
DPA (d-phenylalanine) helps with pain relief that is caused by low endorphins. With low endorphins you may also experience emotional pain and weepiness

I’ve blogged extensively about the amino acids and pain so be sure to search the blog with ‘GABA pain’, ‘tryptophan pain’, ‘5-HTP pain’ and ‘DPA pain’ for more about this if you’re new to this aspect. You’ll read many of my own stories about using amino acids for an ankle sprain, rectal spasms/pain, IBS belly pain/spasms and more.

Additional resources when you are new to using amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or low serotonin or low endorphins and 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.

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), if you need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to start. This is 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. We take a deep dive into product options including Lidtke products and others if you’re not able to access Lidtke.

Low GABA can cause physical tension and overwhelm, affect sleep and cause stress eating. If you also have low GABA symptoms, the next step to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I’m thrilled Katherine saw these benefits with red light therapy and I always appreciate feedback from the community and being able to share it on the blog.

Now I’d love to hear from you

Have you used red light therapy with success and which device do you have? How often do you use it?

Have you seen an improved mood with red light therapy too?

And have you used any of the above amino acids to help with pain relief too?

If you’re a practitioner do you recommend red light and amino acids for pain relief? Have you had clients report an improved mood with red light therapy too?

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.

How can I help my anxious daughter withdraw from vaping? She wants to quit but gets more anxious when she tries to quit!

September 5, 2025 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

withdraw from vaping

I have been trying to help my daughter withdraw from vaping but it is proving such a vicious cycle.

She wants to quit but has anxiety and gets health anxiety when she doesn’t use the vape within a certain period – the physical withdrawal signs come thru very quickly for her – rapid heart beat, pain inside etc. which freaks her out and then she vapes…

It’s a hopeless cycle of withdrawals with horrible physical symptoms and then the emotional frustration of using vaping to manage the symptoms and feeling so frustrated with herself.

We tried 5-HTP which did not help. I make sure she gets a great protein, veg, good fat and some carbs for breakfast and she takes home made food to work but she works in hospitality and has really late night / early morning finishes and I feel like we are dealing with a lot more than the addiction here. I’d love to try and find a way to get her use down and hopefully kicked to the kerb.

If we could put her into a deep deep sleep for a few days till the toxin is washed out of her system and have a way to deal with the emotional aspect of withdrawal I think myself and so many other parents in Australia would be grateful.

Vaping is a huge problem in our young people – it’s all thru the schools too. It doesn’t smell, tastes like lollies and parents can’t detect it easily.

Louise is a mom in the community who posted this question on one of the blogs. I feel for her and her daughter and hear her concerns – vaping is a huge problem. However, there is a solution that doesn’t involve putting her daughter into a deep deep sleep – addressing neurotransmitter imbalances as a root cause.

Read on below for information on vaping and the very harmful effects (on the lungs and even bones); how to figure out which emotions are driving the need to use vaping to self-medicate and which amino acids to trial (including my insights for Louise’s daughter); why the amino acids are so powerful when it comes to vaping and other addictions; dietary aspects are foundational and important too, as are really late nights; and additional amino acid resources.

What is vaping and why is it so harmful?

This 2023 Harvard Health Publishing article, Can vaping damage your lungs? What we do (and don’t) know, provides an overview of vaping if you’re not exactly sure what is involved:

Vaping involves heating a liquid and inhaling the aerosol into the lungs. With vaping, a device such as an e-cigarette is used that heats up a liquid (called vape juice or e-liquid) until it turns into a vapor that is inhaled. These devices are commonly called vapes, mods, e-hookahs, sub-ohms, tank systems, and vape pens. They may all look a bit different, but work in similar ways.

These devices heat up various flavorings, nicotine, marijuana, or other potentially harmful substances.

The authors list the potentially harmful substances found in vapes:

nicotine
ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
volatile organic compounds
cancer-causing chemicals
heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.

And they explain some of the serious lung problems that occur in those who vape: EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury) and “popcorn lung” or bronchiolitis obliterans (BO).

One adverse effect that I seldom see mentioned is the potential harms to bone health, including “accelerating bone associated disease progression, impacting skeletal development in younger users and to advise patients following orthopaedic surgery, dental surgery, or injury to maximise bone healing.”

Unfortunately it’s the flavors in nicotine and cannabis vape products – candy/dessert, fruit, and fruit-ice combination vs tobacco flavor – that increased adolescents’ willingness to try them. “Comprehensive bans on flavored vapes would likely reduce adolescent use.”

There is growing awareness of these issues and fortunately rates of vaping are declining, however we do have to address why teens and young adults are seeking something calming or soothing such as vaping (or smoking or drinking) i.e. neurotransmitter imbalances.

How to figure out which emotions are driving the need to use vaping to self-medicate and which amino acids to trial?

This is how I would suggest this mom works with her daughter to help them figure out which emotions are driving the need to use vaping to self-medicate and which amino acids to trial:

How do you feel before vaping?	How do you feel after vaping?	Likely brain chemistry imbalance	Amino acid/s to supplement
Anxious or stressed (physical anxiety)	Calm or relaxed	Low GABA	GABA, pharmaGABA or theanine
Low mood, worried, fearful? (mental anxiety)	Happy or content	Low serotonin	Tryptophan or 5-HTP
Tired, unfocused, low motivation	Energetic, alert, or focused	Low catecholamines, low dopamine	Tyrosine
Desire for a reward or treat, sad (weepy), emotional	Rewarded or comforted	Low endorphins	DPA (d-phenylalanine) or DLPA
Irritable and shaky	Grounded or stable	Low blood sugar	Glutamine

We use this in conjunction with the symptoms questionnaire for each neurotransmitter and trial the respective amino acids one at a time.

I often see low GABA to be a driving reason for vaping, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol – they are all ways of self-medicating in order to calm down and reduce stress. And research supports this connection with “disturbances to GABA dynamics” “found to play a key role in … substance dependence and addiction.”

Louise mentions her daughter notices “physical withdrawal signs” of “rapid heart beat, pain inside” when trying to quit so it’s very possible there is a low GABA aspect to her addiction. I would consider a trial of GABA to start if she also has other low GABA symptoms.

She also shares that her daughter has “health anxiety” and freaks out when she starts to get withdrawal symptoms. If she resonates with being fearful and worried then it’s possible there is also a low serotonin aspect for her. Louise mentions that 5-HTP didn’t help but not how much they trialed or if they increased to try and find the ideal amount. If her daughter has other low serotonin symptoms I’d revisit this and also consider a trial of tryptophan as some individuals do better on one vs the other. I’d also use both as powder on the tongue in case that makes a difference.

And when I hear “hopeless” and “emotional” I would also be considering low endorphins and a trial of DPA (d-phenylalanine).

Why the amino acids are so powerful when it comes to vaping and other addictions

The amino acids play many roles in addressing a vaping addiction:

They address the root cause of the addiction i.e. the neurotransmitter imbalance/s
They help you to quit vaping with no willpower and without feeling deprived
They help to mitigate many of the adverse effects (like worse sleep issues and feeling more anxious)
They address the emotional aspect so mood and anxiety is improved
They prevent the need to find a replacement like sugar, coffee, Diet soda and alcohol and cigarettes (intake of any of these may increase when vaping is stopped, unless the neurotransmitter imbalances are addressed)

Many individuals with addiction issues have imbalances in all areas. We use a similar approach for vaping as we use for addictions to alcohol, cigarettes and sugar/carb/junk food i.e. we tackle one imbalance at a time so we know which amino acid is helping and how much is needed.

Dietary aspects are foundational and important too, as are really late nights and detox

I love that mom makes sure her daughter is well-nourished with real whole food – it’s foundational, as I explain in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution.”

Louise mentions she gets a good breakfast. I’d be making sure she has good quality animal protein at breakfast in order to help with blood sugar stability as this helps with addictions too. And I’d want to make sure she takes healthy protein snacks to work too – like a boiled egg, beef jerky/biltong, a grass-fed beef stick etc.

With really late night / early morning finishes we always consider adrenal issues and address that as needed, after doing salivary testing.

And once Louise’s daughter has quit I would be focusing on detoxification of the toxins using sauna, red light, dry skin brushing and other detox approaches. And making a concerted effort to focus on improving antioxidants and other nutritional deficiencies, and assessing and working to improve her bone health.

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

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or low serotonin 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.

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. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch is happening.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Louise for asking this question so I could share on this blog and enlighten her and other parents whose teen and young adult children are struggling with vaping.

Does your teen or young adult child struggle with quitting vaping? And have the amino acids helped – if yes, which ones?

Have you personally had a similar issue?

And are you aware how harmful vaping is – for the lungs and even the bones?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

The marketing of Risperdal and how atypical antipsychotics became a multi-billion-dollar industry – a shockingly eye-opening article!

August 22, 2025 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

Even though I’m very aware this happens, this shockingly eye-opening article by Lydia Green is the best explanation I’ve heard….

I didn’t set out to shape the field of psychiatry. I was just a copywriter working in pharmaceutical advertising. But over time, I found myself at the center of a campaign that would help transform how mental illness—and its treatment—are understood in the U.S. This is the story of how we marketed one drug, Risperdal, and how that effort helped turn atypical antipsychotics into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

If you’ve ever wondered how this powerful class of drugs ended up being prescribed for everything from adolescent mood swings to agitated nursing home patients, you’re not alone. The rise of atypical antipsychotics was a business and marketing phenomenon—driven in part by a wave of pharmaceutical mergers in the 1990s. First introduced for schizophrenia, atypical antipsychotics were promoted as more effective and safer than older drugs like Haldol or Thorazine.

While journalists and regulators have addressed this issue, I want to share my memories of marketing Risperdal—the first widely prescribed atypical antipsychotic. This is the story of how we promoted Risperdal not just as a medication, but as a revolution in psychiatric care. It’s also the story of how we redefined schizophrenia, rewrote the safety narrative of antipsychotics, and helped drive one of the most successful (and concerning) pharmaceutical launches in history.

It was also my first realization of the immense power marketers have to shape their version of the truth—and how I eventually came to question the very system I helped build.

This is an excerpt from the excellent article recently published on the Mad in America site. We all need to be aware what happened with this medication and is still happening. It’s so wrong and is just heart-breaking to think how individuals and their families were manipulated and impacted. Unfortunately it’s very likely also happening with many other block-buster medications too – like Ozempic (for weight-loss), Evenity (for osteoporosis) and more.

In this blog, I share stories from social workers and psychologists who were working in the field at time, the overprescribing of atypical antipsychotics to children and teens in the mid-1990s and now, and the powerful effects of tryptophan, GABA, other nutrients and diet for anxiety, agitation, rage and sleep issues in autism, dementia and ADHD.

You can read the full article here – Confessions of an Ad Writer: How I Helped Turn Atypical Antipsychotics into a Billion-Dollar Industry.

Be sure to read some of the many comments from individuals and families who bore the brunt of this. It’s heartbreaking.

Stories from individuals who were working in the trenches at the time

I shared this article on Facebook and here is some of the feedback I received from the community. Laura Ann’s response:

Thank you for sharing this article. I can remember when I was fresh out of my grad social work program and was working in child psychiatry at the University of Maryland, our docs were pushing this drug for young children with ADHD and conduct disorder. Unbelievable! These companies and their executives should be criminally prosecuted.

We tend to think of these scandals as something that happened but aren’t currently happening. I think we will be reading similar articles about GLP-1’s.

I appreciate her for sharing what she was seeing as a social worker at the time. This is so sad and so wrong. I agree that these companies should be prosecuted. Instead they pay massive fines which are part of their marketing and just-doing-business budget, and continue as before.

Unfortunately Laura Ann is spot on, as much of this continues with Risperdal and other psychiatric meds and it’s already happening with GLP-1s. I share more on this below.

Elizabeth Mary’s response:

Just reading your post gave me chills and made my stomach turn. I worked with folks with developmental disabilities during this time period, I had for years! I watched as the antipsychotics and various psych meds infiltrated the group homes and joined a team of co-workers to fight it. We lost. It was disgusting. And I had no idea all this was happening in the background

My heart breaks for these individuals and their families. Bravo to her for trying to fight it and I appreciate her for sharing what she saw happening.

And this feedback from someone else in the community:

This drug was pushed on individuals with ASD (autism spectrum disorder)! Probably still is! Very sad!

I am a retired psychologist who worked primarily with individuals with developmental disabilities. I saw it all the time. The “medical model” was used a lot, meaning many saw psychiatrists and/or PCPs (primary care providers) who prescribed these meds. It has a long history.

Overprescribing of atypical antipsychotics and other psychiatric medications to children and teens – then and now

As mentioned above, I’ve been aware for some time that there is overprescribing of psychiatric medications to children and teens. In one of my interviews on an Anxiety Summit, “Psychiatric Medications in Children and Teens” with Dr. Nicole Beurkens, we discuss these results from this 2019 paper, Current Pattern of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Psychotropic Drug Prescription in Child and Adolescent Patients:

Our study indicates that the rate of presentation to child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics is increasing, and rates of diagnosis and initiation of psychiatry drugs are high among the presented children.
The prevalence of ADHD shows an increase in males and females in our country, and psychiatric polypharmacy (multiple medications) has reached significant rates.

Keep in mind that Lydia Green shared her marketing work began in the mid-1990s, about 25 years before the above paper was published.

Unfortunately not much has changed. This 2025 paper from Swedish authors reports that the “number of prescriptions to children aged 5-17 years has increased” and that “most prescribed drugs were risperidone [Risperdal] and aripiprazole.”

This 2025 paper report that in a group of Australian children with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy, “risperidone was the most prescribed antipsychotic medication” and it was often prescribed off-label.

Similar increases in antipsychotic prescriptions are also reported in children and teens in Israel in 2025. The list of papers goes on and on and there are similar papers for dementia and other conditions.

There are versions of this story about a lot of diseases: osteoporosis is another one

Melissa’s response to the Risperdal article was this: “Makes you wonder about therapies they are pushing today.” It’s creating awareness which is what we need and she is asking a great question. Yes – there are many versions of this story about other medications.

Here is a perfect quote from this 2009 article: How A Bone Disease Grew To Fit The Prescription

There’s a powerful economic incentive for pharmaceutical firms to expand the boundaries of the use of different therapies. So whether you consider treatments for osteoporosis or treatments for depression or treatments for high cholesterol — in all of these settings — pharmaceutical firms stand to benefit if the therapies for these diseases are broadly used, even if they’re used among people who have very mild forms of these diseases.

In this same article, Caleb Alexander, a pharmaco-epidemiologist at the University of Chicago, is writing about the marketing of osteoporosis medications and says “the dynamic is well understood.” But all this applies equally to the marketing of all medications i.e. “There are versions of this story about a lot of diseases.”

Dubious marketing by the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy (GLP-1s for weight loss)

This is happening right now for GLP-1s. There were already reports in 2023 about dubious marketing by Novo Nordisk, the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy:

In Great Britain, the company has paid within three years a total of around 21.7 million pounds (24.7 million euros) to experts and organisations including important opinion leaders who have since touted semaglutide as a “game changer” in obesity in a campaign described as an “orchestrated PR campaign.

Sadly I expect their marketing campaigns to run unchecked and get more and more sophisticated, with unsuspecting consumers being taken advantage of and harmed.

Families are not aware of the powerful effects of tryptophan, GABA, other nutrients and diet

My goal is to try and change this lack of awareness so families and individuals can explore other options when they are faced with decisions about some of these medications.

Instead of using antipsychotics for a family member with dementia or Alzheimer’s who is experiencing agitation, aggression and anxiety, consider tryptophan and melatonin, and GABA:

Instead of using antipsychotics, explore the use of 5-HTP/tryptophan and/or GABA for kids with ADHD:

Instead of antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications in autism, explore tryptophan and GABA:

This is by no means a conclusive approach to addressing these symptoms in dementia/Alzheimer’s, ADHD and autism. We also need to consider and address diet, other nutritional imbalances, infections, gut health, toxins and much more.

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

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or low serotonin 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.

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. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch is happening.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Lydia for sharing this and enlightening us, and Mad in Arica for inviting her to do the article. And I appreciate community members for sharing and allowing me to share on this blog

Have you or a family member been the victim of the overprescribing of atypical antipsychotics ?

Have you seen this overprescribing of atypical antipsychotics happening in the work you do as a social worker, psychologist, doctor or other health professional?

Are you surprised to learn about similar strategies being used for marketing osteoporosis and GLP-1 medications?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.