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It’s 3am and I’m awake, drenched in sweat, freezing cold, and I have a throbbing headache. I didn’t wake up from a nightmare, nor is my room too warm. It’s just a thing that happens, and I don’t know why. If I’m lucky I can go back to sleep after I peel off my pajamas, and I’ll wake up in the morning without a headache. If I’m unlucky this headache will haunt me all day and even trigger a weak stomach, and have me in and out of the bathroom long into the afternoon. It’s a 50/50 chance, and the trigger is a mystery. Was a mystery. Now I know to take probiotics for anxiety.
I pride myself on being a healthy vegan––I eat a balanced diet, exercise, and look the part. However, for years I was experiencing night sweats and headaches with associated stomach weakness. It would usually happen so rarely I didn’t think anything was amiss; though last March, while visiting Atlanta for 2 weeks, these symptoms nearly ruined my trip, and even caused my ironclad mother to worry. “It just happens, it’s no big deal,” was my response.
I really didn’t think it was a big deal. I had suffered from headaches all my life, and though they’d almost completely gone away in adulthood, this reemergence didn’t trigger alarms for me; I knew headaches and I knew stomach problems too. I’d spent my share of school days in the doctor’s office, and curled up in the school nurse’s office as a kid.
It did, however, become a big deal this past fall when the headaches turned to migraine level, and no amount of Tylenol could save me from the discomfort and pain. What had changed?
For over 3 years I had been running my own business, afraid to ever cease contemplating my lack of success for fear that the elusive success would move further out of grasp. The stress was becoming erosive. I was utterly depressed. My relationship, as I had known it for so many years, was over. I felt broken: robbed of the will and the way to piece myself back together.
My Struggle
One insanely early morning as I lay in bed drenched in sweat, my head throbbing, I researched all of the possible causes of my affliction. Kidney failure….cancer…anxiety…
I had done this research before. I’d read extensively about every individual possibility, except for anxiety. I didn’t have the luxury of working on my anxiety. Without it I would never get anything done. And then what?
Thankfully that morning I was extra desperate and I finally realized that I was dealing with a pretty destructive form of anxiety that needed an intervention.
So what did I do? I picked up a $33 bottle of probiotic pills at Whole Foods, and I wished for the best.
Before I go into why I chose to tackle my 24/7 stress with supplements, let me just give you the 2 month update: they worked! Even better, I have been able to overcome the meta-anxiety that came from worrying about letting go of my stress.
Probiotics for Anxiety
Now the details: What is a probiotic, how does it help with anxiety, and is it simply a placebo effect?
I’m sure you’ve seen yogurt commercials praising the benefits of probiotics and promising to supply your gut with enough to make all of your problems go away! Well, there is a little truth to that, but it probably doesn’t come in Yoplait packaging.
Probiotics are the billions of good/healthy bacteria in your gut. Fiber keeps your intestines “clean” and at maximum nutrient absorbing capacity, while healthy bacteria maintains a balanced ecosystem, keeping bad bacteria and pathogens at bay. They also help strengthen your immune system by fighting bad bacteria and increasing T cells responsible for immune defense. Most interestingly, in my opinion, scientists have discovered that gut bacteria influences anxiety and depression. Researchers have found that mice with low levels of good bacteria suffer more anxiety than mice with high levels of good bacteria. When fed healthy bacteria the anxious mice show reduced anxiety.
How is this happening? Those billions of good microorganisms in your gut produce serotonin, dopamine, and GABA––three well studied neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of joy and well-being. Perhaps via the vagus nerve––the telephone line between your gut and your brain––these neurotransmitters, and others, influence how you feel.
The Science
In an article from the Atlantic about the topic, the author, referring to neuroscientist John Cryan, states:
“Cryan suggests that over time, at least a few microbes have developed ways to shape their hosts’ behavior for their own ends. Modifying mood is a plausible microbial survival strategy, he argues that “happy people tend to be more social. And the more social we are, the more chances the microbes have to exchange and spread.”
Makes sense to me; and because of the extensive research that continues to come out about the link between gut bacteria and mood, I feel confident that my own experience with taking a probiotic pill is not a placebo effect.
For about 2 months I have not woken up in a cold sweat. Nor have I woken up with a migraine, or suffered from anxiety tummy aches. With so much happening around the holidays, I forgot why I had started taking probiotics, until one day while visiting the microbiome exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, it dawned on me that the probiotics were working.
Without anxiety controlling my outlook on life, or anxiety making me fear not being anxious, I have been able to thoroughly and confidently reassess my life. I’ve been able to step off of the hamster wheel and sit down with a pen and paper to joyfully create a plan of action for the next few months. I didn’t know what it felt like to live without anxiety running the show until it was gone. I still get stressed out, and feel worried, but now it feels like a healthy reaction to life, and it doesn’t consume me anymore. In the absence of anxiety I am sleeping like a baby, and making decisions inspired by courage instead of fear.
It’s a chain reaction that leads to health, just as it’s a chain reaction that leads to sickness. I started taking a probiotic, which helped lessen my anxiety, which helped me sleep well, which helped me think more clearly, which has helped me make better life decisions, etc…..
The first step is a gut healing.
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In the new year I will not have as much time to create and photograph recipes, so I will start exploring more of the soul in Sweet Potato Soul. I’d like to write more about the things that are making me glad to be alive. Probiotics are the perfect start. If you aren’t eating a great diet your results may not be as noteworthy. I’ll talk more about that too 😉
Have you had a positive experience taking probiotics for anxiety? Please share!
Some links and sources you might enjoy:
- Probiotic that I am taking: Renew Life Women’s formula I bought mine at Whole Foods and take 1 every evening before bedtime
- Fascinating episode of RadioLab about gut bacteria & stuff
- When Gut Bacteria Changes Brain Function by David Kohn for the Atlantic
- Study: Early-life stress, gut bacteria, and depression
- Study: “Mind-altering microorganisms” by John Cryan and Timothy Dinan
- Microbiome Monday series on the American Museum of Natural History Blog
I’m glad you are re-evaluating your goals for the new year and your new approach sounds great. Looking into probiotics on a separate web page as I type this and I must say that I’m intrigued. Anxiety is something I struggle with as well and it would be great to eliminate it from my life altogether!
Thank you Kayla! I hope the probiotics are helpful to you as well. Good luck to you!! xo
Thanks Jenne! I agree with Charzie–fermented Foods are pretty good. Miso has been particularly great for my digestive issues. Another thing I discovered was that mold can also affect your system. If your surroundings are damp (e.g. bathroom not well ventilated), this can also cause an allergic reaction and gut issues in your body. That’s what happened with me recently. Good luck!
Absolutely!! Mold is super scary, and so harmful. I thought I had mold in my bathroom recently actually; turns out I don’t, thank goodness.
Thank you so much. And now I’m craving miso soup 😉
Thanks for sharing Jenne, and glad to hear probiotics are working for you! I didn’t have much luck with them, most I tested wouldn’t even thicken milk, the test of freshness. I was already on a quest for better health and sustainability, and being a frustrated mad scientist, the musings I read in various places about fermentation caught my interest. I guess because they are both pre and probiotic, it was the boost I so needed to fix my gut in short order, but the huge bonus I didn’t expect was the mental and emotional benefits! My life is not exactly the best it’s ever been, but despite that, I have never felt such joy like I have since OD’ing on ferments! It’s awesome! I was not so crazy about the flavors at first, but now I crave them big time! The added bonus is not only do I save a small fortune on the questionable quality of some probiotics, I can preserve the goodness from my garden and make it even more nutritious! Ferment some kimchi, kraut, salsa pickles, sriracha, chutneys, there’s no end to it! Our ancestors have been preserving food like this for millennia, it’s safe, easy, fun and wonderful! Alls you need is a glass jar (or crock) with a lid, some salt and some produce to make the magic happen!
Amen Charzie! I also adore fermented foods; kimchi and extra sour coconut yogurt are my favorites. I’d love to have some of that salsa pickled. What a great idea.
You’re right, our ancestors have been eating this way for ever. The need for added probiotics seems to be a completely new development; not surprising with our insane reliance on lab made pesticides, herbicides, anti-fungals, and anti-bacterials. It’s a shame, but it does call me to live more closely with nature…trying to figure that one out amidst my life in NYC.
I’m so happy you’ve found your joy 🙂
I am currently looking for my own “cure” for migraines. I have may food triggers and trying to narrow it down is a futile exercise in multivariate statistics. Michael Pollan got me to thinking about the gut bacteria and maybe, just maybe, their role in migraine, inflammation and depression. How fortunate I stumbled on your blog Thank you so much!
Wow! Yes, try some good bacteria. Also, take a look at Charzie’s comment above. Fermented foods are delicious, and a great way to increase consumption of good bacteria. Plus, they are super nutrient dense with tons of minerals, enzymes, and vitamins. May I also suggest exploring an algae based Omega-3 DHA/EPA supplement for inflammation and brain health. Take a look at this article for more details (sources available): https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-algae I take the algae dha/epa by Nordic Naturals 🙂 Good luck to you!! xo
That is VERY interesting – the gut connection- who would think. While I had no idea you suffered anxiety, I’m glad you found a solution that works for you.
Thank you Mark! Super interesting. In my next life I’d like to be a microbiologist 😉
Thank you for your candor, Jenne; your testimony was powerful to read.
I can relate; to say 2015 was a challenge for me would be an understatement. After experiencing stress-related headaches and having a severe anxiety attack that landed me in the ER, I was put on an SSRI antidepressant. While it has helped emotionally, I have detested the physical side effects-extreme fatigue, weight gain, loss of libido, difficulty focusing sometimes. In hindsight, I wished that I had taken a more natural route to my healing. Recently, I made the decision to wean off the medication and went cold turkey, which wreaked havoc on my body. I’m back on the meds, but will be tapering gradually this time. Drugs are not the answer. I will also do the gut check, which would go a long way towards addressing and improving my mood, fatigue and weight.
Keep doing what you do, I remain a fan! Best wishes to you in 2016!
Chi! It is so good to hear from you.
Wow, what a ride. Listen to this episode of the On Point radio show with Dr. Julie Holland https://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/03/05/moody-bitches-book-women-depression-medication
Start taking a probiotic, and ask your doctor what they think about you adding a omega-3 ALA and EPA––I take a vegan one from sea algae.
Keep me posted on how you’re doing 😉 xo
YOU are a powerhouse. I love this so much, thank you for your honesty and tips. I know your feelings all too well and I”m glad you found a solution that works!
Thank you sweet Chloe! I’m so glad to, and so grateful to have the support to share 🙂 Sending you my love <3
Thank you for an uplifting post. I am currently working (I’m a research scientist) on a related topic: the oral microbiome and major depression. Preliminary results show significant differences between cases and controls at the phylum level. I’ll keep you posted on our results! Also, wanted to let you know that I had similar symptoms to yours and in addition to anxiety it may be hypothyroid. Given our stature physicians tend not to test for this in folks of normal weight. Thanks again for all the work you! Cheers!
Thank you for reading Roseann 🙂
Wow, how interesting. Please do keep me posted on your research!!
Hypothyroid is certainly interesting. What did you do for your thyroid? I’ll ask for that to be tested in the future. Big hugs <3 xoxo
Thanks for this post!!! I’ve fought with anxiety off and on, so I will definitely try this out.
Hi Jennifer! I hope it helps you like it helped me. I’ll share more about my experiences this year 🙂 xoxo
I’m so happy for you that you solved your health issues! How awful you must have felt. It is amazing what is being discovered about the importance of our gut microbiome. The idea that bacteria can control our health is slightly bizarre! I hope the research continues to add to our knowledge so that we can better take control of our health.
Thank you Les! I’m happy too 🙂
Yes, it is so bizarre and interesting. Equally, or far more bizarre is the fact that we are mostly bacteria. I love that we have the science available to explore this strange world. Still, imagine how much we don’t know!