Looking for the perfect anxiety supplement to reduce stress and promote relaxation? The good news is, there are a ton of options! The bad news is, there are a ton of options. So, what is the best anxiety supplement for you?
The best anxiety supplement for you is going depend on the type and severity of your anxiety. For mild, general anxiety, something less intense and safe for daily use is ideal. For more severe anxiety, like occasional panic attacks brought on by a phobia, more powerful supplements may be warranted.
Lucky for you, I've spent hundreds of hours and dollars researching and testing anxiety supplements: So you don't have to! On this page, we'll only talk about what works.
Here's (my opinion on) the relative intensity of various anxiety supplements:
How to Choose an Anxiety Supplement
I've used every option in the chart above, and each of them have helped me to feel noticeably less anxious. But that doesn't mean you should rush to use just any of them. The goal should be to determine which anxiety supplement is best for your own unique needs and goals.
My advice is to start on the left side of the spectrum and work your way toward the right, learning what works best for you. Also, try to always use the mildest option possible for any situation, in as low a quantity as possible. The conservative options tend to be safe for daily use; the more intense options carry potential side-effects and risk addiction and dependency.
I've used every option in the chart above, and each of them have helped me to feel noticeably less anxious. But that doesn't mean you should rush to use just any of them. The goal should be to determine which anxiety supplement is best for your own unique needs and goals.
My advice is to start on the left side of the spectrum and work your way toward the right, learning what works best for you. Also, try to always use the mildest option possible for any situation, in as low a quantity as possible. The conservative options tend to be safe for daily use; the more intense options carry potential side-effects and risk addiction and dependency.
Think about it logically:
- You wouldn't want to face a severe phobia head-on with nothing but a cup of tea to calm you down (If you can, more power to you; I'll take something stronger, thanks!). It just probably wouldn't be enough to take the edge off of intense anxiety.
- Nor would you want to become hooked on prescription medicine for occasional, mild social anxiety. In this case, it would make more sense to utilize a safer, milder option.
If you've never tried any of these supplements before, start with the milder ones, and work your way up only if it's needed (only occasionally and always responsibly).
The 3 Stress Supplements I Always Keep on Hand
Certain herbal teas work wonders at taking the edge off mild anxiety; they're highly underrated and not talked about enough. This is my favorite option for mild, daily, or general anxiety. Best of all, it's cheap and safe for regular use.
Kava is an awesome plant-based drink that creates a pleasant, slightly-intoxicating feeling. I find that it helps squash mild to moderate anxiety. I wouldn't drink it every day, but it should be safer than alcohol.
Phenibut has been my personal favorite option for moderate to severe stress relief since 2013. It's effective and euphoric; You just feel amazing on it. It can be addictive if abused, so save it for the occasional tough days.
These are my 3 personal favorites; the supplements I personally find myself buying over and over again. We'll go into each one in further detail, as well as some other supplements that you may personally prefer. Feel free to click the links to learn more or purchase from my favorite suppliers.
Stress-Relief Teas
This is what I consider to be the minimal possible measure as far as anxiety supplements go. This is where you should start, especially if you feel apprehensive about trying new things.
There are many herbal tea options that tout anxiety-reducing benefits, but here's the one I like best. No joke, a box of this tea is the only thing sitting next to my Keurig machine. I've completely replaced my coffee habit with this stuff and feel infinitely less anxious for it.
It's the perfect solution for me whenever I'm feeling mild or general anxiety. I drink it to take the edge off of my hangxiety a day or two after drinking. Best of all, it's safe to drink on a regular basis. Enjoy!
If you're interested, I did an experiment comparing 20+ tea to find the best tea for stress relief.
Passionflower
Passionflower is another mild and natural option for anxiety relief. Studies have found it effective at decreasing anxiety in pre-surgery patients. It seems like it may have less drug interactions than some of the other choices, so I consider it a decent option to consider for those nervous about medical, dental, or surgical procedures. But this is something you'll have to discuss with your doctor.
Passionflower works, but it's pretty mild. If my anxiety is mild enough where passionflower would help, I usually just prefer going with the tea. (Bonus: The tea I recommend for anxiety actually contains some passionflower!)
Learn more about passionflower here, or try the passionflower tincture I recommend.
Kava
Kava is a pretty cool and natural option if you're suffering from frequent mild to moderate anxiety. Because it's natural and non-addictive, you should be okay to drink it on a fairly regular basis.
To me, drinking kava feels a bit like drinking a small amount of alcohol, and smoking a little bit of marijuana. It creates a positive, "buzzy feeling," but nothing too intense. This also makes it a great alternative to alcohol for combating social anxiety (but be sure to never mix the two!).
Even cooler, kava is quickly becoming more popular in the US. There's a good chance you have a "kava bar" in your area that you didn't even know about!
Check out my full article on kava here.
Make Kava Shakes at Home with this Starter Kit or try these awesomely convenient Kava Candies.
Alcohol
I'm pretty sure that alcohol speaks for itself, as it's basically the world's favorite go-to remedy for social anxiety. Like phenibut, alcohol can be great in social settings for its pro-social and mood-boosting benefits. The downside to alcohol is the impaired motor skills and the post-Christmas-party awkwardness amongst co-workers.
Alcohol is a great way to combat social anxiety from time to time, but a terrible option for coping with general anxiety disorders; It can be extremely dangerous and addictive when not used in moderation. I'm all for using alcohol responsibly to take the edge off of social anxiety, but if you use it too often or too recklessly, you'll wind up with even bigger problems.
Click here for my full article on the relationship between alcohol and anxiety.
Phenibut
Phenibut is probably my favorite supplement due to its mood-boosting and pro-social effects. With that said, it's only really necessary for moderate to severe stress relief. It takes up to two hours to "kick in," and it can be highly addictive when abused; so you definitely can't use it every day.
It is, however, probably the best tool I can think of for occasional social nervousness or for specific situations that cause you stress.
In moderate doses, phenibut gives you incredible confidence without impairing motor skills the way alcohol does. When used responsibly, phenibut is one of the greatest supplements available for personal and professional development.
Best of all, phenibut is probably the cheapest supplement you will ever buy; one container of it will personally last me half a year or more.
I seriously love this stuff; please, use it safely. Buy phenibut for anxiety relief here.
Honorable Mention: Prescription Medications
First off, I'm not a doctor, and I cannot give you medical advice. With that said, I'm not a big fan of prescription medications. They work, for sure, but in my opinion they're over-prescribed and ignore the root cause of anxiety.
Over time, people develop tolerance to their medications and grow to depend on them. Once you're dependent on them, it can be difficult (and dangerous if done incorrectly) to come off them. I can appreciate the value of prescription medications in severe circumstance, but I personally choose to avoid them whenever possible. I would exhaust all other options first.
