Delicious and relaxing, but certainly pricy. Worth it? Let’s find out.
Are you stressed lately? So am I! So is everyone! Look at the state of the world today.
Chill out, bro.
So when OLLY’s “Goodbye Stress” vitamins came up in my targeted ads one day, I was like, “Yeah, that makes sense.” I picked up a (very pricy) bottle from the drug store that afternoon, and I gotta say, I think I’m a convert. I felt more relaxed before sleep and my thoughts weren’t racing, like they usually do right as I turn out the light. (It’s always after you turn off the lights, isn’t it?)
First of all, what is GABA?
Olly Less Stress vitamins contain, per vitamin, 50 milligrams of GABA and 25 milligrams of L-Theanine. GABA, which is short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a naturally occurring amino acid that acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
What the ever-loving f*$% is that?
In the most simple, non-science-y way: think of your neurotransmitters as messengers in your brain. If you receive good news, your dopamine (happy chemical) messages go up, but if you receive bad news, like a break-up text, your capacity for receiving happy-go-lucky dopamine messages is greatly reduced.
Anxiety and stress is kind of like having a bunch of anxiety letters rushing through your brain. If you’re like me and you’ve got an anxiety disorder, your brain basically looks like the crowded mail room in a bad 1980s movie about Wall Street.
My brain sometimes feels like it has 40 missed calls and 20 unread emails.
Enter: GABA. GABA works by reducing the level of letter-sending in your brain, forcing you to relax and chill out. GABA acts to inhibit those anxiety messages so you can get a better night of sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. While there hasn’t been much research done into the world of GABA as there has melatonin, I can tell you from MY experience that melatonin gives me nightmares, while GABA does not.
Is it safe to take GABA while on anti-depressants?
Consult your doctor before taking a new supplement.
Obviously, my opinion doesn’t outweigh a doctor’s. You should consult with your GP before taking any supplement.
From what I’ve read, GABA is relatively safe in supplement form because it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. It gets filtered out through your liver and kidneys, meaning it shouldn’t have interactions with your anti-depressant medications. BUT ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.
My thoughts:
I’ve been taking the OLLY GABA vitamins for about four weeks now — I only do it a few times a week so that I’m not overly dependent on it. I take them a few hours before bed and then do some deep breathing and relaxing while they work their GABA magic, and wow. It really does make a difference. My thoughts aren’t racing, and I just feel ~zen~. I can’t vouch for its capabilities as an anti-depressant because I don’t think it’s meant to work that way? But as a sleep aid, this stuff is choice, with no pleasant nightmare side effects.
Oh, and they taste amazing. 10/10.