![Image by CarbonNYC [in SF!] licensed under CC by 2.0.](https://best5supplements.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/anxiety-nootropics.jpg)
Image by CarbonNYC [in SF!] licensed under CC by 2.0.
But worst of all? You just can’t think straight.
When anxiety rears its ugly head, it kills mental performance.
Anxiety can lead to a racing mind filled with jumbled thoughts that make it really hard to multitask and be productive.
Need to focus on one task at hand? Good luck, anxious one. Worries can still invade your brain, distract you and scatter your focus.
Ironically, popular anti-anxiety remedies make brainpower even worse.
These remedies are super effective, but they work by sedating the mind… which feels nice, but (temporarily) makes you a glazed-eye dummy.
If you’re chilling at home, tranquilizing away your anxiety can be just right. But on most days, you have to get rid of anxiety and keep you sharp mental edge.
For example, just imagine if an anxiety attack strikes when you are a…
- Professional the middle of a frantic workday
- Student cramming for an important exam
- Musician gearing up to play a complex piece
- Romeo picking up your dream girl for a first date
- Athlete memorizing coach’s plays before the big game
At times like these, you can’t afford to have a sluggish, sedated mind.
Thankfully there is another way that may work even better—by easing anxiety and boosting brainpower at the same time.
The Right Nootropics → Confident, Alert & Razor-Sharp Mental Performance
There are dozens of brain supplements that can help with anxiety, including herbals that have been used for centuries. But most of these, especially the popular ones, are sedatives.
Far fewer are the handful of brain-boosting nootropic supplements that deliver anti-anxiety activity without sedative effects…. for calm, relaxed, clear thinking that can really max-out your mental performance.
So which nootropics can do this? We’ve done the research to identify the…
Best 5 Nootropics for Anxiety
#1. L-Theanine
Green tea’s “wakeful relaxation” compound
Found naturally in green tea leaves, L-Theanine is hands-down the best anti-anxiety nootropic. It accounts for the awesome mindset that drinking green tea can bring, which is often described as “wakeful relaxation.”
L-Theanine reduces anxiety and increases alertness by boosting Alpha brainwaves, which are associated with attention, relaxation and focus. It also helps raise relaxation brain chemicals while reducing “fight or flight” brain chemicals.
One study found that a 50 mg dose of L-Theanine boosted alpha brainwave activity, leading researchers to say it had a significant effect on “mental arousal,” and brought about a “relaxed but alert” mental state. L-Theanine was also found to be more effective when anxiety is higher.
#2. Rhodiola rosea
Makes brain “strong-like-Russian-powerlifter”
A vibrant-yellow root herb, Rhodiola has been prized in Russia for centuries, especially among Olympic biathletes and powerlifters. It’s great for neutralizing all types of stress–emotional, cognitive & physical–which can all worsen anxiety.
As an adaptogen, Rhodiola has a “balancing” effect on body and mind: If you’re anxious, it calms. Low on mental energy? It revitalizes. Rhodiola also boosts brain chemicals, unleashing benefits for memory, focus, mental processing and more.
While the herb is legendary for stress, its use for anxiety is relatively new… but early research shows promise: One study found that Rhodiola extract, when taken over 10 weeks, brought significant reduction in anxiety—and appears to be effective in reducing the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
#3. Bacopa monnieri
Crush exams with calm & clear thinking
Bacopa is an ancient Indian Ayurvedic herb that has long been used for boosting brainpower. It is commonly associated with better learning, but also enhances memory, accelerates mental processing, and can even help your mood.
Bacopa does a lot for mental performance, but for anxiety, its benefits are due to its ability to boost GABA and serotonin—brain chemicals associated with relaxation. Meanwhile, Bacopa boosts brain blood flow (by as much as 29% in animal studies!) which energizes and accelerates thinking.
Animal research suggests Bacopa reduces anxiety as well as a popular anti-anxiety drug… but instead of sedating, it “promotes cognition.” A human study mirrored these results, finding Bacopa enhanced mental processing speed, learning and memory while improving overall state anxiety.
#4. Aniracetam
Racetam buzzing with anti-anxiety activity
Brainpower-hacking message boards are buzzing about this nootropic, with rave reviews that vault it into our Best 5 for Anxiety. Among racetam compounds, Aniracetam is hailed for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and boost brainpower fast. Anecdotal reports suggest it is effective in low doses without sedative effects… but at higher doses, it may be mildly sedating.
Science doesn’t yet fully understand Aniracetam, but researchers have suggested that it seems to “fine tune” brain cells’ neurotransmitter receptors in a way that accelerates and enhances their electrical impulses—which may help memory and mental processing.
Meanwhile, abundant animal research has shown Aniracetam eases anxiety, leading researchers to say it has a “wide range of anxiolytic [anti-anxiety] properties.” Researchers believe these effects may be due to Aniracetam’s ability to influence acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin.
#5: B Vitamins
Essential brain basics for mood balance
Do you find the B Vitamins to be boring, basic, and banal? If so, think again. Here’s why: B Vitamins are among the most important compounds for the brain chemicals of mental processing, memory, mood and more.
Vitamin B6 may be particularly important. A special “activated” form of B6 known as P-5-P plays key roles in boosting serotonin and GABA, two brain chemicals that are strongly associated with easing anxiety.
B6 is commonly deficient, and researchers have suggested that taking it in high doses seems to have “anti-stress” effects that help with “certain dysphoric mental states”… yeah, anxiety seems to fit that bill! Always take B6 as P-5-P for the best possible results.
Wanna be sedated?
Sometimes when you’re anxious, you feel like Joey Ramone: You just wanna be sedated.
In times like these you can try some of the following natural brain supplements, which have tranquilizing anti-anxiety effects that are great when you don’t need full brainpower. All are great for winding down, relaxing and getting good sleep.
- 5-HTP: Used to make serotonin, a relaxing, balancing brain chemical
- GABA: Soothing amino acid blocks “fight-or-flight” brain signaling
- Valerian: Sustains GABA and settles the central nervous system
- Ashwagandha: Adaptogen relieves anxiety, sedates & fights stress
- Kava Kava: South Pacific tribal drink with potent anti-anxiety effects
Conclusion
Anxiety can really hold back your quality of life. Whether it makes you forgetful, makes you trip over your words, shreds your concentration, exhausts your mind or completely fogs your thinking, a lot of anxiety’s collateral damage can be traced back to brain-draining effects.
For ambitious, active people, addressing anxiety isn’t as simple as popping a tranquilizer.
For people like these, the desire for mental sharpness outweighs the sedating price of anti-anxiety therapies. As a result, many choose to simply live with their anxiety.
But they don’t have to. The 5 brain supplements in this article can help anybody who wants to feel more calm and relaxed without being tranquilized into oblivion.
The HUGE bonus? While sedative anti-anxiety remedies relax your mind and make you (temporarily) dopey, nootropic anti-anxiety remedies relax your mind while making you mentally sharper.
The big-picture conclusion: By removing one of the biggest obstacles to peak mental performance—anxiety—these calming, brain-boosting nootropics could unlock brainpower you didn’t even know was possible.
I am taking quitepinephrine and escittopramy and sodium valporte for anxiety cand I take any of your supplementsupplement at the same time
We’d suggest taking that up with whomever prescribed your anti-anxieties. For the most part, natural nootropics should mix fine with anti-anxiety meds, but we’re no docs and can’t say whether or not you should mix these supplements with pharmaceutics.
Best of luck,
Ryan
Hi guys
What is the best nootropic for social anxiety. I am getting bit parts as an actor but sometimes become self-conscious and screw up. Would you say Aniracetam with a low dose of sulbutiamine to insure I dont look to “relaxed’ in an acting scene that requires a neutral energy, not a sedated one ? Bacopa is a bit too chilled..Ive only experimented with Aniracetam and Bacopa in front of the camera. I have three days shooting booked on a soap in my country and am sh$%%ing myself a bit…
any opinions will be appreciated.
Hi Michael, L-Theanine might fit the bill, as its effects have been described as “wakeful relaxation” — in other words, it may help to bring on feelings of sedation without “tranquilizing” effects of some other therapies. Rhodiola rosea might be another one to try, because it helps you adapt to stressful situations and maintain clear thinking during intense pressure, such as being in front of the camera. Both L-Theanine and Rhodiola are fast-acting, and may be used in combination. Some of our top-rated nootropic stacks supply these compounds, along with others that may help to balance mood and promote relaxation. Best of luck with it!