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 what exactly are nootropics and which are the best nootropics for social anxiety?
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What Is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is a disorder of a long-lasting and overwhelming fear of social situations. [1] And it is a problem that’s really hard to get rid of. We often hear people talking about being anxious, being afraid of going out, and speaking to people. Or we here more extreme stories of people suffering from a panic attack.
Did this ever happen to you?
If it did, keep in mind that this problem may be completely solvable in a natural way without using any pharmaceuticals. Before we explain to you how, let’s learn more about social anxiety.
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. While you could find treatment for anxiety, we believe it’s better to first go down the natural route and help anxiety stress with natural nootropic.
If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms (or if you know anyone who does), please read further.
Nootropics For Social Anxiety
In the past months, we got a lot of emails from people asking us about nootropics for social anxiety.
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.
So, what exactly do nootropics and anxiety have in common?
Well, nootropics are natural compounds that can reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and provide multiple benefits for optimal brain performance and health. They are not analyized by Food and Drug administration (FDA) yet.
Nootropics for social anxiety can specifically help people who suffer from these two severe issues. [10]
Since most nootropics are completely natural, usually extracted from herbs and mushrooms, they provide a “natural solution” to solving those issues. As you can imagine, many people prefer to take natural compounds that leave no side-effects compared to the use of drugs and pharmaceuticals.
But nootropics are very powerful, so you need to look at research before you start supplementing them. Also, many complex supplements contain multiple nootropics. To get the benefits and avoid side-effects, let’s check out our top-rated nootropics.
But which are the best nootropics for you?
Best Nootropics For Anxiety
Different nootropic compounds can bring various benefits, no matter the type of anxiety you suffer from.
But not all nootropics are equally effective. Hence, we decided to avoid all nootropics that “might help”, but have no scientifically-proven effects.
Also, we avoided all notropics that can actually cause anxiety disorder such as caffeine and racetams. Caffeine, for example, increases heart rate, which can actually cause anxiety. While it is an effective compound for boosting energy levels and mental health, it is not the best for anxiety disorder.
Instead, we looked at those nootropics that are potent, effective, and safe for supplementing.
Let’s check them out.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is believed to be one of the best 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-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] This amino acid also lowers cortisol levels in stressful activities and can consequently balance blood pressure.
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. [6] But that’s not the only thing this potent herb can do.
Studies show that supplementing Bacopa can help people reduce anxiety and even stress. [7]
If you want to have an improved cognitive function while feeling less anxious and depressed, Bacopa Monnieri is definitely a nootropic to consider.
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. [8] Besides, Panax Ginseng is often used as a supplement for decreasing stress and anxiety.
Studies on animals show that supplementing Ginseng can improve social interactions and even reduce agression. Another study on people showed an improvement in well being and calmness. [9]
Ginseng on its own is not the most effective compound for anxiety, but adding it to a more complex supplement may come with several benefits.
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. [10]
Another study shows that in just 4 weeks of supplementing Hericium Erinaceus, a reduction of depression was noted in people. [11]
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. [12] It seems especially potent for people who suffer from social anxiety.
One clinical trial on humans with depressive disorders showed anti-depressant properties of this adaptogen herb. [13] It’s great for mental health!
The recommended daily dosage varies from 50 mg to 680 mg.
All mentioned nootropics can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is crucial to get the promised benefits.
But since there are so many of them, which are really the best nootropics for social anxiety?
Instead of buying individual nootropics, most people prefer taking a high-quality and proven supplement or so-called nootropic stack.
But which is the best such stack for anxiety?
Let’s check it out.
Best Nootropic Stack For Anxiety
As we said before, all the mentioned nootropics for social anxiety 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 Qualia Mind
Qualia Mind is currently one of our favorite nootropic supplement that may be especially helpful for people who suffer from social anxiety.
PROS:
- High-quality formulation
- Great for people with social anxiety
- It may help people who suffer from depression
CONS:
- More Expensive
Use discount code YOURINCEPTION to get 15% off!
Frequently Asked Questions
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 the side effects that can arise. So we do not recommend supplementing Noopept for anxiety.
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.