I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) when I was 27. (I’m currently 43 now). When diagnosed they immediately put me on birth control and metformin.
I also eventually went on anti-anxiety medication. I’ve been anxious my whole life, even as a kid, but my anxiety increased through my late 20s and peaked in my late 30s when panic attacks started taking over, even with anti-anxiety medication(Lexapro). It was debilitating.
I first heard about GABA/amino acids and how they can help with anxiety from a podcast you did with Wellness Mama about 3 years ago. I started to wean off my anxiety medication and I started taking GABA and noticed a huge difference [in my anxiety].
I eventually got off birth control and all medication for my PCOS and started regulating my cycle with diet, lifestyle changes and supplements, all while still taking GABA. Now I ovulate every month! Which I could never do on my own before.
Debbie shared this wonderful feedback on this blog: GABA eases anxiety and is protective against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
I love that GABA helped her so much with her anxiety and allowed her to get off her anxiety meds. And that GABA helped her resolve her PCOS, together with making diet, lifestyle changes and using other supplements too.
As you can read on the above blog, the study reports some very specific benefits of GABA being protective against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in PCOS. It’s an animal study but the results are profound: “the effects observed with GABA were comparable to that with metformin” with none of the side-effects (which can actually include anxiety, a racing heart, shakiness and depression).
If you’re new to PCOS, I share this in the above blog:
Research suggests that 5% to 10% of females 18 to 44 years of age are affected by PCOS, making it the most common endocrine abnormality among women of reproductive age in the U.S. Women seeking help from health care professionals to resolve issues of obesity, acne, amenorrhea, excessive hair growth, and infertility often receive a diagnosis of PCOS.
If you’re interested, here is the podcast where Debbie first learned about GABA – 105: Trudy Scott on How to Beat Anxiety & Resolve Panic Attacks
I commend her for taking control and making changes and then for seeking answers when her panic attacks returned.
Debbie started having panic attacks again – this time it was collagen causing low serotonin
Then about three and a half years ago, Debbie started having panic attacks again out of nowhere! She was very surprised and shared this:
I couldn’t understand why [I started having panic attacks again]. I wasn’t stressed. One attack even landed me in the ER (again). I was disappointed to be on this road again. Then I came across your interview talking about collagen and how it can lower your serotonin. I also have the MTHFR gene variant so I run low on serotonin already. I had started taking some collagen supplements not knowing that it was probably setting me into a panic attack mode.
As soon as I stopped taking collagen (and switched all my supplements that were in gelatin caps to veggie caps) I never had another episode again. Or if I felt one coming on, I know now to take Tryptophan to help counteract it.
Here is the interview she is referring to – Collagen Can Cause Anxiety and Insomnia with Trudy Scott: The Anxiety Summit 5
And here is the blog where I first wrote about this topic – Collagen and gelatin lower serotonin: does this increase your anxiety and depression?
Debbie mentions the MTHFR polymorphism and it’s impact on serotonin but another aspect is a predisposition to low serotonin in PCOS. This review paper, Neuroendocrine Determinants of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, states that “different neurotransmitters (gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine) can also be involved in neuroendocrine etiopathogenesis [i.e. cause and development] of PCOS.”
As you’ll read in the latter collagen blog, collagen affects a subset of susceptible individuals in this way. We can now add PCOS to that list.
Different root causes of anxiety (low GABA and then low serotonin) and different solutions
Debbie’s story illustrates that things can change and we need to figure out the root cause and course-correct if anxiety and panic attacks show up again. Earlier on, her anxiety and panic attacks were caused by low GABA, which also contributed to her PCOS symptoms.
Then later, the addition of collagen lowered her serotonin levels, because as someone with PCOS she was susceptible. What helped her was stopping the collagen and using tryptophan as needed. This was smart of her to connect the dots with her panic attacks and collagen, and use tryptophan as needed.
I will add that another option would have been to continue using collagen and use tryptophan at the same time. I’m also not sure how big an impact gelatin capsules would have been but switching them clearly gave her peace of mind.
Debbie’s oldest daughter asks for GABA, her “happy pills”
She also shared this lovely feedback when she commented on the blog:
My oldest daughter who is 9 has been showing early signs of developing PCOS and other of my issues. When her mood started changing and she was getting angry out of nowhere and very dark and moody, I started her on a small dose of GABA. Immediately both of us saw the difference in her mood. She now asks for her “happy pills” daily because she doesn’t want to feel those dark feelings anymore. I wish this information was around when I was young. It could’ve helped so much of what I had to struggle with for years.
What an amazing healing journey Debbie has had and she gets to help her daughter too!
She thanked Katie Wells and myself saying: “I want to thank you so much for both of those podcasts/interviews that I feel literally helped save my life.”
I never get tired of hearing this and thanked her for the kind words. I also appreciate her for sharing her wonderful results and said I’d share it as a blog post so you get to learn, be inspired and have hope.
And finally, all this illustrates that there is no one-size-fits-all and we often get unexpected side-benefits when using amino acids.
Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements
If you are new to using amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA, low serotonin and low endorphins).
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Do you have PCOS and has GABA helped you or your loved one in any of these ways – easing anxiety and being able to quit anxiety meds, birth control and PCOS medications?
What other approaches have helped your PCOS?
Has collagen lowered your serotonin and does tryptophan or 5-HTP help?
What about low GABA and dark moods/anger – has GABA helped you or a loved one?
If you have questions and other feedback please share it here too.