0421 676 469
GABA & the FINE LINE between Calm & Chaos
GABA Supplements for Anxiety & Sleep
Twelve years ago, I discovered GABA supplements during a particularly challenging time in my life. As a new mom transitioning back into the workforce, my anxiety levels soared. Anxiety wasn’t new to me—it had been my “normal” long before I even knew its name. But the added pressures of motherhood and reentering the workforce pushed it to new heights.
Looking for relief, I began researching natural ways to improve my mood and reduce anxiety. I explored supplements like SAMe and tyrosine, seeking anything that might help balance my serotonin levels. That’s when I stumbled upon GABA supplements, which turned out to be a game changer for me.
My First Encounter with GABA
Back then, I was overwhelmed with sleep deprivation and isolation. Facing long days with my children felt daunting. In hindsight, reaching out for counselling or ringing a trusted friend would have been immensely helpful, but I didn’t know better at the time. Coming from a background in natural medicine, I instinctively sought a natural solution.
Taking small doses of GABA brought noticeable relief. Within 10 minutes, I felt calmer and more balanced. My usual irritability and feelings of being on edge softened, making it easier to enjoy time with my kids at the park or river without intrusive negative thoughts. While the effects lasted a few hours, even brief periods of relief were transformative.
GABA also proved invaluable during sleepless nights. Waking at 3 a.m. with a restless mind became a familiar struggle. Taking GABA, combined with focused breathing exercises, often helped me return to sleep. Simple practices like concentrating on my breath at the nostrils or heart enhanced the calming effects
The Science Behind GABA
GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid neurotransmitter with an inhibitory effect on the nervous system. Synthesized from glutamate by the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GABA helps maintain a balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain. This balance is essential for reducing overstimulation and promoting relaxation.
When GABA interacts with its receptors, it reduces the likelihood of neurons firing an action potential, effectively calming the nervous system. Two main types of GABA receptors, GABA-A and GABA-B, mediate these effects. GABA-A receptors release chloride ions to hyperpolarize the neuron membrane, while GABA-B receptors open potassium channels, achieving a similar inhibitory outcome.
GABA’s Role in Anxiety and Stress
Research has shown that GABA plays a pivotal role in regulating emotions such as fear and anxiety. For example, studies involving animal models have demonstrated that infusing GABA or GABA receptor agonists (substances that activate the receptors) into the amygdala—the brain region responsible for processing emotions—results in decreased anxiety and fear responses. On the flip side, when GABA antagonists (which block GABA receptors) are introduced, the animals display heightened anxiety and fear, demonstrating GABA's calming effects.*
This research supports the idea that GABA dysfunction might be involved in anxiety disorders, depression, and other mood-related conditions, providing a possible therapeutic target for medications designed to enhance GABA activity.
The Sedative Effects of GABA
One of GABA's most well-known effects is its sedative property. Because it inhibits neuronal firing and calms excessive neural activity, it is commonly associated with feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. This makes GABA a key player in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles and stress responses.
In fact, many anti-anxiety medications and sleep aids work by enhancing GABA activity. Drugs like benzodiazepines(e.g., Valium) and certain barbiturates function by binding to GABA-A receptors, amplifying GABA's natural inhibitory effects.*
Why is GABA So Important?
GABA’s ability to inhibit excessive neuronal activity is critical for maintaining the brain's delicate balance between excitation and inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to conditions like epilepsy or mania, while too much inhibition can result in depression or anxiety disorders.
Thus, GABA helps to keep the brain from going into overdrive or shutting down, ensuring that our mental and emotional responses stay in check. Whether you’re trying to stay calm in a stressful situation or get a good night’s sleep, GABA is working behind the scenes to help your brain function optimally.
Practical Tips for Using GABA Supplements
1. Find Your Optimal Dose: GABA’s effects can vary depending on individual needs. Start with a small dose and adjust as necessary. The some the effects may be felt within a short time frame but for others the effects may be felt up to 2 weeks
Dosages between 500 - 1000mg for relaxation & calm
Combine with Relaxation Techniques:Practices like focused breathing or mindfulness can amplify the calming effects
Magnesium binds to GABA receptor sites & increases its effect
Find a GABA supplement which includes B6 (Pyridoxal 5-phosphate) which works as a co enzyme converting glutamate to GABA & other neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
Contraindications
GABA supplements should not be taken if you are pregnant, on anticoagulant or blood pressure medication. Taking tranquillisers, sedatives or MAOI's.
A Personal Note
Discovering GABA effective supplements & herbs profoundly improved my ability to navigate anxiety and sleeplessness during a difficult period. There are many herbs which bring their own chemical magic to enhance the effects of GABA. Read on in my next Blog Passionflower for Anxiety & Sleep
If you could like some guidance for the best natural medicines to help you with your emotional wellbeing please get in touch or consult another health professional.
You’re not alone, and there’s always a path to greater peace and well-being.
Grateful for Everything?
Really? Are you sure? I had to pause when I saw this phrase. It’s one thing to be grateful, but to be grateful for everything? That feels like a big ask. What do you think?
What Does It Mean to Be Grateful?
According to Google Dictionary, "grateful" is an adjective that describes feeling or showing appreciation for something or someone—similar to being thankful. That makes sense. I can appreciate that, and I am grateful—most of the time—for those close to me, my humble abode, and the glorious view I wake up to most mornings. But how do we truly cultivate gratitude? And gratitude for everything? Let’s break it down.
The Journey to Gratitude
Personally, I’ve always appreciated certain things—nature, a beautiful sunset, mountains, rivers. You get the idea. But being grateful is something deeper. It’s not just about acknowledging beauty; it’s about truly feeling connected to it, as well as to the people and circumstances in our lives that bring meaning.
I’ve found that in moments of vulnerability—when I feel lost, scared, or overwhelmed—gratitude can be an anchor. Anxiety pulls us out of ourselves, trapping us in cycles of worry and self-doubt. The mind races, trying to fix or control things, but often, that only leads to more distress. In those moments, if I can pause, even briefly, I can reconnect—with a mountain view, with a loved one, or simply with the present moment. Gratitude brings me back to myself.
Life’s Challenges and Gratitude
There are times in life—losing a loved one, experiencing a breakup, dealing with uncertainty—when we feel shaken. Our comfort zones are disrupted, and suddenly, we realize just how much we valued what we had. These moments can make gratitude difficult but also more profound. Being grateful is a skill, a tool we can cultivate, just like self-care (which, by the way, is rarely taught in schools or even within families).
One simple way to practice gratitude is by taking time to reconnect. For me, that often means sitting outside in the morning with a cup of tea, looking at the mountains, and remembering that I am part of this world. In those moments, gratitude expands my perspective and brings a sense of peace.
What Does Gratitude Feel Like?
For me, gratitude is about connection—to something or someone. If I’ve had a fight with my son, for example, later, when emotions settle, I can pause and remember who he truly is. I can see the good in him again. Gratitude is an aspect of love.
Gratitude also helps soften our defences. When I notice I’m being overly controlling, I often realise it’s because I’m scared for my son and want him to succeed. Gratitude allows me to step back and adjust my approach in a way that better supports him.
Can We Be Grateful for Ourselves?
This can be challenging. But while sipping my tea in the morning, I can acknowledge my choice to practice gratitude. I can be grateful that I took time for myself, that I made a nourishing choice, that I am learning. So often, we drench ourselves in self-judgment and criticism—things we would never say to others, yet we mercilessly tell ourselves. This isn’t entirely our fault; it’s the culture we live in. But we can change that. Gratitude, including gratitude for ourselves, is part of that shift.
The Bigger Question: Can We Be Grateful for Everything?
I’m not sure. I want to say yes, but some things feel too hard—wars, inflation, suffering. How can we be grateful for those? Perhaps true gratitude is about surrendering to "what is" without judgment. I’ve experienced glimpses of that—moments of awe at the wonder of life. But I’ve also had times when I wasn’t grateful at all—when I was hurt, afraid, and blaming.
Still, when I return to gratitude, even in small ways—appreciating my surroundings, my loved ones, or myself—I feel a connection to love, tranquility, and happiness. And for that, I am truly grateful. xx
The Wandering Womb
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and his followers attributed many female ailments to the so-called "wandering womb." They believed that the uterus could move freely within the body, causing various health issues depending on its position. If it traveled upward, it could disrupt organs such as the liver or spleen, leading to fatigue, sluggishness, vertigo, or general ill health. If it moved downward, it was thought to cause choking, loss of speech, fainting, or even sudden death.
The concept of the wandering womb was often used to explain nearly any female malady. Aristotle even described women as "deformed males," suggesting that the uterus played a role in their supposed instability and unpredictable nature.
The Greek physician Aretaeus recognised the womb’s supposed sensitivity to pleasant smells, leading to the practice of applying fragrant substances to the vagina to "coax" the uterus back into place. Physicians also prescribed frequent pregnancy and sexual activity to keep the womb "occupied" and prevent it from wandering.
By the 19th century, this ancient belief evolved into the medical diagnosis of "hysteria," a condition attributed to women’s reproductive systems. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and nervousness were all classified as female-specific disorders. Treatments included vapors, hypnosis, and even vibrators to "cure" hysteria.
Fortunately, Sigmund Freud challenged the idea that hysteria was caused by a wandering womb. He argued that it was a psychological condition originating in the brain and noted that men, too, could suffer from hysteria. His theories, though controversial, ultimately influenced modern psychology, including his infamous Oedipus complex.