Social anxiety is the fear of being judged by others, and it has become a severe issue in the past decade. But that’s not the only type of anxiety that affects many people. Luckily, there are many supplements and nootropics for anxiety that can help you out. But which are the best?
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What Is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is a severe problem that is very hard to get rid of. It is a disorder of a long-lasting and overwhelming fear of social situations. [1]
We often hear people talking about being anxious, being afraid of going out, and speaking to people. Social anxiety is a severe problem, but a solvable one.
Symptoms of social anxiety include:
- Fear of speaking in public
- Avoiding social activities
- Overthinking in social situations
- Trembling and sweating
- Extreme sensitivities
Social anxiety is a much bigger problem than it seems, because it has been linked to several other health issues such as depression and drug abuse. >[9
It’s very important to address this issue soon enough, so you may avoid other health issues. If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms (or if you know anyone who does), please carefully read this article.
In the past months, we got a lot of emails from people asking us about nootropics for social anxiety. If you wonder what nootropics and anxiety have in common, don’t worry, we’ll explain it soon.
But it wasn’t until recently when a friend of ours told us how anxious he feels every time he has to do networking and talk to random, unknown people. Since we wanted to help him, we took the time to listen to him, try to understand what’s happening and find a solution. During this process, we came across a lot of effective nootropics. Here we share the best.
Best Nootropics For Anxiety
We have decided to avoid all nootropics that “might help, but have no proven effects.” So all the nootropics that we share have scientifically proven benefits. Let’s check them out.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is believed to be one of the most effective nootropics for social anxiety. [2] It’s an amino acid that can be found in tea leaves, especially in green tea.
Why is it so effective?
- It supports GABA levels and produces a calming effect.
- It promotes a state of calmness and relaxation, which makes any social activity much easier
- L-Theanine increases alpha brain waves, which are associated with the state of relaxation
- It s also involved in the dopamine and serotonin secretion
L-Theanine seems to be one of the most effective anti-anxiety nootropics. The recommended daily dosage is 200 mg.
L-Tyrosine
L-Tyrosine is another compound that can help people overcome social anxiety. It helps the brain to create neurotransmitters, which get depleted during stressful social activities. [3]
L-Tyrosine is also known to improve our mood and reduce stress. The recommended daily dosage is up to 2 grams. Most experts recommend taking around 500 mg per day around an hour before a stressful social activity.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a popular adaptogen herb native to India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. It has been used for centuries in India. [4] This herb is very potent and can provide a whole list of proven benefits:
- It can help with anxiety and depression
- It can boost cognition and concentration
- It can increase our energy
A study that was done on people with anxiety disorders showed that supplementing 300 mg of Ashwagandha twice daily over eight weeks was associated with a 56.5% reduction in anxiety symptoms. [5] So, Ashwagandha is one of the herbs that should definitely “be on the menu” if you want to help yourself get rid of anxiety. The recommended daily dosage is up to 500 mg.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is another adaptogen herb that was already used in the 6th century by scholars to help them improve their memory. [5] It can help people to reduce anxiety and even stress. Also, it is considered a very safe nootropic to supplement.
The recommended daily dosage is 300 mg.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a herb that goes very well with other adaptogens, and it can also provide a synergic effect when combined with caffeine. [6] Besides, Panax Ginseng is often used as a supplement for decreasing stress and anxiety.
The recommended daily dosage is 200 – 400 mg. You can take it up to two times per day.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane Mushroom is one of the nootropics that we cannot stop recommending. It provides a whole range of benefits (from boosting brain nerve growth factor to improving our cognition), but what we are most interested in are its antidepressant effects. There was a study done on animals that showed that supplementing Lion’s Mane Mushroom can help with anxiety and depression. [7] While we wouldn’t take it just as an individual compound, we would suggest combining it with other nootropics for social anxiety that we already mentioned.
The recommended daily dosage varies from 500 – 1000 mg.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is a popular herb and a nootropic that is known for its anti-fatigue effects. Among other effects, it can increase serotonin in the brain, which makes it possibly effective for reducing anxiety and depression.[8] It seems especially potent for people who suffer from social anxiety.
The recommended daily dosage varies from 50 mg to 680 mg.
Best Nootropic Stack For Anxiety
As we said before, all the mentioned nootropics can be very effective as individual compounds. But what happens if we combine them in a nootropic stack and take them together?
Well, we can expect much stronger and better effects! That’s where the best supplements for social anxiety come into play. We’ve basically tried 90%+ of all nootropic stacks that exist on the market, so we can honestly share with your our favorite and best anti-anxiety stack.
So, the winner is…
#1 Mind Lab Pro
Mind Lab Pro is currently our top-rated nootropic supplement for anxiety and depression. It contains some of the best and proven nootropics that may help people who suffer from social anxiety.
PROS:
- 13 scientifically researched ingredients
- Great for anxiety and depression
- Outstanding user feedback
CONS:
- Not the most affordable supplement
#2 Performance Lab Mind And Stim
Performance Lab Stim & Mind are fantastic nootropic stacks that contain many of the mentioned nootropics that may help with anxiety and depression.
PROS:
- 11 scientifically researched ingredients
- Well-dosed to provide benefits to people with anxiety and depression
- High-quality ingredients and production
CONS:
- You need to buy 2 separate supplements
#3 STAQ Performer
STAQ Performer is currently our favorite nootropic supplement that may be especially helpful for people who suffer from social anxiety.
PROS:
- The highest-quality formulation
- Great for people with social anxiety
- It may help people who suffer from depression
CONS:
- No worldwide shipping
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Noopept good for anxiety?
No, based on our research, Noopept is not good for anxiety. It lacks research, and we don’t exactly know all side effects that can arise. So we do not recommend supplementing Noopept for anxiety.
2. Nootropics for performance anxiety – can they help?
Yes, they can. If you do take nootropics for performance anxiety, make sure to take only well-researched nootropics that you can take in the long-term.
