33 replies to this topic

[csrpj]

any supplement regimen that helped you overcome social anxiety or gave you social confidence, in a sustainable way?

[medievil]

I dont think that natural supplements could help with this, i do suggest to look into benzo's, agomelatine, amphetamine and lyrica.
If dependency is a concern with benzo's, memantine may be wort looking into as NMDA antagonists are capable of preventing a dependency[1].

[livingguy]

any supplement regimen that helped you overcome social anxiety or gave you social confidence, in a sustainable way?

Try this cocktail:

1) Ashwagandha by NOW take 1 capsule
2) L-Theanine (Take LEF natural stress relief 1 capsule which has both L theanine and Lemon Balm in it)
3) Lemon Balm
4) Chamomile (Drink a Chamomile tea)

Let us know how you do.

Edited by livingguy, 19 January 2010 - 02:32 PM.

[eason]

Are you describing anxiety/shyness or general introvertedness? I'm sure some supplements could help overcome anxiety, but why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

Edited by eason, 19 January 2010 - 05:29 PM.

[leanguy]

why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

why is it an advantage? doesn't seem helpful in social situations, especially if you're trying to find a date!

[Cappa]

why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

why is it an advantage? doesn't seem helpful in social situations, especially if you're trying to find a date!

+ only about a million.

Edited by Cappa, 19 January 2010 - 06:42 PM.

[medievil]

You cant really say being an introvert or being an extrovert is better, sometimes ppl with social anxiety WANT to be social but cant because of the anxiety. I'm like that myself.

I do not think the solution is in natural supplements tough, i do beleive in those supplements to achieve a great health and possibly extend lifespan, but for anxiety pharmaceuticals are the key.

[Thorsten3]

I don't think you can achieve instant confidence just by taking supplements. Like nootropics they are there to guide you. So by feeling better this gives you an opportunity to improve in how you deal/manage with things. These are just my opinions and I have been shot down for this in the past but if you want to feel better in these situations CBT can help a lot. Just having the balls to go and talk to someone about why you think in certain ways can be very theraputic. Actually seeing the benefits can give you more confidence because you feel like you are more in control.

Just for the record though here is a list from my own supplements/meds I have taken that helped with anxiety (in order of effectiveness):

1. Valium - (ended up addicted for just under a year. A horrible drug and I wouldn't advise you to go near any benzos unless prescribed by your GP for a reason)
2. GBL - (ended up addicted for just over a year. Kicked this vile shit into touch a while back.)
3. Piracetam - (I still have this and still love it to some extent. It makes me feel mentally alert with my mind buzzing from one task to the next. It is a great feeling when this baby works for me. I'm wondering if it borders on mania after reading some accounts on here but when I do take it I'll take 2g in the morning and then 1g before bed. I take it in patches because the effects decline after a couple of weeks but the anti-anxiety effect is always there.
4. Picamilon - This needs to be cycled too just like piracetam. I'm not sure of the scientific mechanism of this supplement but the Niacin+Gaba molecule easily passes the BBB and is essentially a brain drug. It improves blood flow in the brain and all cognitive functions. Whether the Niacin and Gaba is broken down to their individual components once in the brain I am not so sure but I do find this very realxing indeed. The trick with this is to let it build up in your system. You need to take it chronically (I take for a couple of weeks then cycle a week off - a bit annoying you have to cycle!!)
5. Indium Sulpate - Very effective at first. I think I was taking too much though so it just made me hyperactive and this then led to anxiety.
6. Propranolol - A beta blocker stopped anxiety dead in the water but the horrific sides were not worth it. I've never felt as weird in my whole life whilst taking this strange beast.
7. Rhodiola
8. SJW
9. L-Theanine
10. Bacopa

At the moment I am looking at brain drugs that are neuroprotective but drugs that also have that wow factor with mood because I think being quick witted and mentally sharp has a big influence on how you feel in any given situation. That's why when I take piracetam/picamilon and I'm buzzing, I find I have all the confidence in the world. There's nothing worse than feeling like your brain is slow and dying. These are just some that I am currently looking at and may get round to trying at some point (cost permitting). All of these have an effect on mood:

1. Afobozol
2. Aniracetam
3. N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine
4. Sulbutiamine
5. Deprenyl
6. Stablon
7. Agomelatine
8. Pramipexole

For any emotional/negative behaviour issues relating to being shy I would also recommend EFT which has helped me a lot. Check this site out and try out some of the videos you'd be suprised at just how effective it is. Of course the problem is getting this into your life on a daily basis which even I have found hard. But when I feel clogged up with tension relating to depressive/anxious/inferioir mood states I find dedicating time to myself with EFT very helpful. It helps with confidence, depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress - everything related to the balance of your body energies.
Go straight to 'free videos' at the top....

http://www.tapping.com/magnus.html

[leanguy]

If you're male and low on it, testosterone replacement.

[Cappa]

If you're male and low on it, testosterone replacement.

In such a situation (testosterone deficiency), I would think further investigation would be warranted before jumping on TRT. Not an ideal first option IMHO.

[csrpj]

Are you describing anxiety/shyness or general introvertedness? I'm sure some supplements could help overcome anxiety, but why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

i'm describing the first category. when i get drunk, or do other drugs that relief anxiety, i get really social and i make tons of friends and have lines of girls behind me. i really want to deal with this problem, it's truly would make a world of difference in how i experience my life (and how others i come in contact do)!

[eason]

Are you describing anxiety/shyness or general introvertedness? I'm sure some supplements could help overcome anxiety, but why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

i'm describing the first category. when i get drunk, or do other drugs that relief anxiety, i get really social and i make tons of friends and have lines of girls behind me. i really want to deal with this problem, it's truly would make a world of difference in how i experience my life (and how others i come in contact do)!

If you're trying to date other extroverts, then yes, that would be more of a problem.

Introverts have much more brain activity in their frontal lobe. Alcohol inhibits this frontal lobe activity so you become more like an extrovert. Of course, this effect isn't permanent.

It's my opinion that introverts are naturally selected for because they get things done or develop tact. Think Obama, Seinfeld, Clooney, Pitt.

In my experience, there are a lot of girls that play the extrovert card well, but actually, I would say about half of them are really introverts. There are a lot of hot closet-introverts. A lot of them won't even admit it, but you can tell.

If you're just trying to score drunk chicks in a bar, I agree, you want to be really extroverted. And at parties, you want to be really extroverted. So I suppose you can use these chemicals for special situations. But actually, you can train your brain (like muscles) to do it without the chemicals. It still won't be natural, but you'll have that option.

But don't think you have a handicap. The difficult task is channeling this negative energy into doing positive things rather than worrying about all these extroverts telling you that you're doing something wrong.

[Chaos Theory]

any supplement regimen that helped you overcome social anxiety or gave you social confidence, in a sustainable way?

Yes, but technically they aren't supplements...

Anything that acts on dopamine makes me far more outgoing. The stronger they act on dopamine, the more pronounced the effect. Wellbutrin had an ever so slight effect. Selegiline in the long-term had a very pro-social effect. I just tried a dopamine agonist, cabergoline, for the first time yesterday and I've never been so socially comfortable... Cocaine and the legal equivalents ritalin and adderall are also known to make people outgoing, though I don't have any first hand experience with those. Once again though, dopamine..

Take it from me, I had severe social anxiety and these meds changed my life. I failed speech class in high school three times... I worked at the same company for years and didn't really form any kinds of bonds with people until I started taking the selegiline.

I'm thankful for the years I spent being introverted because I feel like I learned a lot about myself and other people, but I wouldn't go back to that for anything.

[JohnDoe999]

any supplement regimen that helped you overcome social anxiety or gave you social confidence, in a sustainable way?

Even though I am a firm beliver in supplements, and have been taking them for 20 years, I must say that the primary manner in which to address social anxiety and other psychological issues should be weight training and cardiovascular training.

You can really stabilize your internal systems by training hard 3 times per week. It does wonders.

If you have tried this over a certain periode (at least 6 months if you are a beginner), and it does nothing for you, **then** try supplements or medicine.

[medievil]

Are you describing anxiety/shyness or general introvertedness? I'm sure some supplements could help overcome anxiety, but why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

i'm describing the first category. when i get drunk, or do other drugs that relief anxiety, i get really social and i make tons of friends and have lines of girls behind me. i really want to deal with this problem, it's truly would make a world of difference in how i experience my life (and how others i come in contact do)!

Pharmaceuticals mate, no supplements .

As Chaos Theory said, you need dopamine.

Edited by medievil, 20 January 2010 - 11:14 AM.

[renwosing]

Yea coke changed me from a shy person to an extrovert.

Its a good thing:)

[vasra]

Try this cocktail:
1) Ashwagandha by NOW take 1 capsule
2) L-Theanine (Take LEF natural stress relief 1 capsule which has both L theanine and Lemon Balm in it)
3) Lemon Balm
4) Chamomile (Drink a Chamomile tea)

I can also recommend this combination, I've tried it myself and found it experimentally myself, not reading from anywhere. I include feverfew (200-400 mg of standardised feverfew leaf extract @ c. 0.7%) in the mix. All taken together.

Edited by vasra, 20 January 2010 - 01:38 PM.

[tintinet]

any supplement regimen that helped you overcome social anxiety or gave you social confidence, in a sustainable way?

Yes, but technically they aren't supplements...

Anything that acts on dopamine makes me far more outgoing. The stronger they act on dopamine, the more pronounced the effect. Wellbutrin had an ever so slight effect. Selegiline in the long-term had a very pro-social effect. I just tried a dopamine agonist, cabergoline, for the first time yesterday and I've never been so socially comfortable... Cocaine and the legal equivalents ritalin and adderall are also known to make people outgoing, though I don't have any first hand experience with those. Once again though, dopamine..

Take it from me, I had severe social anxiety and these meds changed my life. I failed speech class in high school three times... I worked at the same company for years and didn't really form any kinds of bonds with people until I started taking the selegiline.

I'm thankful for the years I spent being introverted because I feel like I learned a lot about myself and other people, but I wouldn't go back to that for anything.

What dose selegiline?

[Declmem]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

[bran319]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

Sounds like you took too much alcohol with your manganese.

[csrpj]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

what dose is effective for you? and is it something that happens after popping some manganese that goes away a few hours later, or is it an around-the-clock inhibition-reduction effect?

...i ask about dose, cuz i've taken multivitamins with 5mg manganese, and it didn't effect my inhibitions.

[Declmem]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

what dose is effective for you? and is it something that happens after popping some manganese that goes away a few hours later, or is it an around-the-clock inhibition-reduction effect?

...i ask about dose, cuz i've taken multivitamins with 5mg manganese, and it didn't effect my inhibitions.

I took source naturals 15mg. I don't know for sure how long it lasts, but definitely 4-5 hours at least. Some people in the anxiety forum I mentioned take a lot more than me.

It didn't give me a noticeable feeling, I just naturally started chatting more and (unfortunately) saying a lot more than I should, and being a bit too honest But I did amuse those around me at least.

There's another guy here that takes it - if you look up manganese you'll find him. His name escapes me.

[Declmem]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

Sounds like you took too much alcohol with your manganese.

Usually I'm fine with alcohol. Alcohol does nothing for my inhibitions in most cases (damn strong inhibitions!).

But at any rate, this stuff made me a bit too chatty even off alcohol.

YMMV

[csrpj]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

what dose is effective for you? and is it something that happens after popping some manganese that goes away a few hours later, or is it an around-the-clock inhibition-reduction effect?

...i ask about dose, cuz i've taken multivitamins with 5mg manganese, and it didn't effect my inhibitions.

I took source naturals 15mg. I don't know for sure how long it lasts, but definitely 4-5 hours at least. Some people in the anxiety forum I mentioned take a lot more than me.

It didn't give me a noticeable feeling, I just naturally started chatting more and (unfortunately) saying a lot more than I should, and being a bit too honest But I did amuse those around me at least.

There's another guy here that takes it - if you look up manganese you'll find him. His name escapes me.

have you tried with lower dosages to see their effectiveness?

also, does it matter if taken on full or empty stomach?

[Declmem]

Manganese is worth a try. It definitely makes me more talkative and reduces inhibitions quite a bit. I first heard about it on a separate forum for a social anxiety.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because it reduced inhibitions a bit TOO much. When combined with some alcohol it is especially dangerous. I made a pretty big fool of myself over christmas

what dose is effective for you? and is it something that happens after popping some manganese that goes away a few hours later, or is it an around-the-clock inhibition-reduction effect?

...i ask about dose, cuz i've taken multivitamins with 5mg manganese, and it didn't effect my inhibitions.

I took source naturals 15mg. I don't know for sure how long it lasts, but definitely 4-5 hours at least. Some people in the anxiety forum I mentioned take a lot more than me.

It didn't give me a noticeable feeling, I just naturally started chatting more and (unfortunately) saying a lot more than I should, and being a bit too honest But I did amuse those around me at least.

There's another guy here that takes it - if you look up manganese you'll find him. His name escapes me.

have you tried with lower dosages to see their effectiveness?

also, does it matter if taken on full or empty stomach?

I've never taken it at a lower dosage, and your stomach contents probably don't matter, as I almost never have an empty stomach haha

[Ben]

Are you describing anxiety/shyness or general introvertedness? I'm sure some supplements could help overcome anxiety, but why would you want to lose your introvertedness? It is a major advantage in my opinion.

i'm describing the first category. when i get drunk, or do other drugs that relief anxiety, i get really social and i make tons of friends and have lines of girls behind me. i really want to deal with this problem, it's truly would make a world of difference in how i experience my life (and how others i come in contact do)!

If you're trying to date other extroverts, then yes, that would be more of a problem.

Introverts have much more brain activity in their frontal lobe. Alcohol inhibits this frontal lobe activity so you become more like an extrovert. Of course, this effect isn't permanent.

It's my opinion that introverts are naturally selected for because they get things done or develop tact. Think Obama, Seinfeld, Clooney, Pitt.

In my experience, there are a lot of girls that play the extrovert card well, but actually, I would say about half of them are really introverts. There are a lot of hot closet-introverts. A lot of them won't even admit it, but you can tell.

If you're just trying to score drunk chicks in a bar, I agree, you want to be really extroverted. And at parties, you want to be really extroverted. So I suppose you can use these chemicals for special situations. But actually, you can train your brain (like muscles) to do it without the chemicals. It still won't be natural, but you'll have that option.

But don't think you have a handicap. The difficult task is channeling this negative energy into doing positive things rather than worrying about all these extroverts telling you that you're doing something wrong.

Best response on here. Ignore moronic suggestions that you take benzos.

Exercise and weight lifting helps me. If I work out before going out I'm usually more confident, forward and extroverted.

Edited by Ben - Aus, 21 January 2010 - 05:04 AM.

[ooooouuuuuuuu]

2 questions
1. what dose of deprenyl should I try for full benefits?
2. what is the working mechanism behind manganese for it's anti anxiety effects?

Weightlifting does help indeed. I especially get good effects after lifting.

Edited by rockmaster, 22 January 2010 - 03:43 PM.

[csrpj]

2 questions
1. what dose of deprenyl should I try for full benefits?
2. what is the working mechanism behind manganese for it's anti anxiety effects?

Weightlifting does help indeed. I especially get good effects after lifting.

for weightlifting, are you talking about a post-workout 1-hour high you get, or around-the-clock effects from either the biological results of weightlifting or physical results of being more muscular?

[Logan]

2 questions
1. what dose of deprenyl should I try for full benefits?
2. what is the working mechanism behind manganese for it's anti anxiety effects?

Weightlifting does help indeed. I especially get good effects after lifting.

for weightlifting, are you talking about a post-workout 1-hour high you get, or around-the-clock effects from either the biological results of weightlifting or physical results of being more muscular?

Weight lifting, especially leg weight training, increases testosterone production, which may be one reason why it makes you feel better. You also may gain confidence purely from having a better physique after weight training for a while.

I would also recommend intense cardiovascular training followed by a good 20 minute meditative stretch. This combined with weight training can help to put you in that "zone" that you are looking for when going out and enjoying yourself. Exercise and being in great shape also might make you be able to drink more, which isn't really a good thing. Hopefully it allows you to feel good enough to feel less of a need to drink when you are out.

[medievil]

Excercise has never had any positive impact on my social anxiety unfortionally. Ive heared good stuff about manganese, it helps the brain produce dopamine, id like to try it.

@Ben - Aus
Its not that simple, for some ppl excercise helps, for other only benzo's do the trick, and for other yet another med is the only thing that works, i wasnt suggesting to go take benzo's, but to stay open for differend kinds of treatment wheter they are pharmaceuticals or not.
Agomelatine looks very promosing for example.

I personally dont respond to benzo's or any other downer in that regard, amphetamine does work so its clear i need more dopamine other then something that relaxes me.

Edited by medievil, 23 January 2010 - 08:05 PM.