I’ve had intense anxiety (social and general) for as long as I can remember. Years ago I turned to alcohol to help—a couple of drinks when I felt anxious, or before a social situation calmed everything down, and I felt as though I could manage. But it quickly spiraled out of control to the point where I wasn’t drinking and getting drunk, but instead “dosing” throughout entire days and evenings. The moment I’d try to stop the world would come crashing down and it became a choice between feeling “normal” by drinking something, or dealing with nonstop racing heart, shortness of breath and severe depression. Well the latter was absolutely horrible to live with, so I kept choosing the former. I was hiding liquor bottles in the house so I could pop back to a room and take a nip the moment I would start to feel overwhelmed. Obviously this wasn’t sustainable. My epiphany occurred when my senior dog had a seizure, and to cope, I begged my partner to go and pick up a pint of alcohol, just to get through the worry and fear (she’s okay now). I realized SOMETHING had to change. I read and did research and decided to try L-theanine. This brand was the first brand I tried. I began with 2, and then upped the dose each day until I found the perfect “sweet spot” for me at 1200mg*. That seems like a lot, but my brain had been depleted of natural anxiety defense for years. The day I took at the amount for the first time changed the entire course of my future. For once I was able to breathe, to think clearly, to feel calm and normal without a drop of alcohol. The effect lasted nearly 12 hours, and that night I slept like a baby. I tried it the next day, when that familiar anxiety and urge to drink crept up... and it worked again. Within the hour, my heart began to beat normally, and I was calm and content, and once again drifted off to sleep that night genuinely looking forward to waking up (a rare thing when you drink every night). So far I’ve been sober for three weeks, and I feel amazing. There are no sedation, stimulating or uncomfortable side effects, it kicks in within 30-60 minutes (depending on whether you’ve eaten), and one dose lasts me 12+ hours. I have zero urge to drink, I sleep great, my mood is amazing, and my typical ADHD brain is clear and focused! It’s my belief that when my brain finds equilibrium and begins to produce its own dopamine again (which I’ve read takes about 6 months for alcoholics and problem drinkers) that I’ll only need the L-theanine on difficult or stressful days. For someone who spent every waking moment suffering the pain of severe anxiety, I could really cry from joy for this mental, physical and emotional reprieve. For once I’m truly excited about the future. *1200mg is a high dose, and over the recommendations based on studies looking at changes in alpha waves (200-400mg). I am not a doctor or health practitioner, nor am I suggesting people follow my dosage right out of the gate. If you’ve never had substance abuse issues, you likely will not need such a high dose. Research and consult your doctor before adding any supplement, especially if you intend to take more than the recommended amount. I began with two (the highest recommended dose) and did not increase that dose until 24 hours later. I stopped at 1200mg because that was the dose that gave me the relief and results I was looking for; I do not intend to exceed that amount for myself in the future. Edit to Update: it’s over a year later, and I no longer drink, nor do I need to take Theanine (even in social situations!). My brain is clear, I’m genuinely happy, and so so glad I discovered this. Quitting drinking can be hard, but this absolutely saved my sanity and my life. I still will always keep a bottle on hand, and I can’t recommend it hard enough for folks desperately looking for aid. Good luck out there friends!
