Is Low GABA Causing Your Anxiety Symptoms?

The brain is full of messengers running around, communicating with one another, stopping functions, and starting functions. It is like a bustling marketplace in the busiest hours of the day. Each messenger has a role and if they become unbalanced the normal functioning of the brain may be compromised.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has many jobs but one important job is to slow down or stop the communication of other messengers (neuron activity in the nervous system.)

It is a wild place inside a mind high on anxiety. The energy is frantic, the messages are flying by at the speed of light. It can be quite a chaotic environment. Now picture that everybody in the bustling marketplace just had 5 cups of coffee and they are all running around urgently yelling at one another.

A brain low in GABA can certainly make this picture a reality. One of the top low GABA symptoms is anxiety. The brain just simply doesn’t have enough of the messenger whose main purpose is to slow everybody down.

Take a step back when you are experiencing anxiety to be mindful and observe what is going on inside your head. What does it look like? I can bet that at its core it is simply overwhelming stimuli and fearful thoughts whizzing by one after another. This anxiety may be caused by low GABA in the brain. Let’s take the opportunity to figure out if that is true.

Low GABA Symptoms

The amygdala is the emotional center of the brain and where the “fight or flight” response is initiated. This means that the amygdala produces anxiety and sends its frantic messages to the decision-making boss of the brain known as the Pre-Frontal Cortex. Low levels of GABA and GABA deficiency may be genetically linked, caused by chronic stress or low levels of serotonin.

Long story short, GABA receptors in the amygdala (and other areas of the brain) inhibit this frantic messaging when it isn’t necessary.

Low GABA Symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Panic
• Depression
• Substance Abuse

How to Increase GABA

Activities

The best way to increase GABA in the body is through adding activities into your weekly routine that boost GABA levels internally. The following activities not only increase GABA but also improve general well being and health.

• Yoga
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Nutrient Rich Diet

Supplements

There are GABA supplements made up of the neurotransmitter itself. Although, there is a debate on whether these GABA supplements are absorbed well in the body and pass into the brain. The effect of these supplements may merely be due to the placebo effect. More research needs to be completed to understand if they are genuinely effective in increasing GABA in the brain.

There are a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that can help increase GABA naturally or boost its effects.

These supplements include:

• Magnesium
• L-theanine
• Taurine
• Kava
• Valerian Root
• Passionflower
• Lemon Balm
• Oolong Tea

The Relationship between GABA and Serotonin

Serotonin is a messenger in the brain (neurotransmitter)  that can also control other brain messengers. Research shows that serotonin helps to release and regulate GABA and glutamate, which are inhibitory and excitable messengers respectively. When serotonin levels are low, it can have issues regulating GABA and glutamate. GABA may not be released at the appropriate amounts and cause increased anxiety.

GABA for Sleep

Increased levels of GABA can do wonders for your sleep. It is well known throughout research that GABA activation helps induce sleepiness. Since GABA inhibits excitatory neurotransmitter activity, it helps calm down the brain in order to a relaxed state of sleep.