WHAT THE HECK IS GABA??? Let me start at the beginning! It all started about 3 years ago when I saw a friend of mine online recommending a book called the Mood Cure. She talked about what an interesting concept it was and I was intrigued, so I ordered it on Amazon. A few days later, I was hooked and was ordering a ton of supplements and soon after I got them, everything changed.

I realized that because I have a gluten intolerance, I have a hard time absorbing nutrients. I found that supplements have helped me tremendously.

Enter GABA or

gamma-Aminobutyric acid

After I took one of the self tests in the book, I saw that I might be in need of a GABA Supplement.

GABA is an amino acid that helps:

• calm anxiety
• help with stress
• nervousness
• depression
• over all sense of well being
• insomnia
• panic attacks
•  relax
• improving focus
• clearer thinking
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Example from my life:

I hate traffic. I really do. When we lived in the Seattle area, I had tons of photo shoots in downtown Seattle at Pike Place, Alki Beach, EMP and all kinds of trafficy places. I would usually arrive to my shoot with a little pit in my stomach because of how stressful it was to get there. A few weeks after I one Friday evening I had a session in Alki Beach and I arrived a little early, after being in stop and go traffic. As I sat in my car, I had a realization: NO PIT IN MY STOMACH! It was incredible. It was so remarkable that I remember calling my husband to tell him the amazing news. Of course, he was happy to hear it, since he was also on my anxious journey with me.

The biggest thing that it has helped me with is coping with potentially stressful situations. It doesn’t completely change my personality, but I’m thinking clearer and able to remain much calmer when life throws me a curve ball. Imagine how helpful this could be in a marriage! Curveballs happen all the time!! It wasn’t till a few  months later that my sweet husband was able to approach me and let me know how much things had changed. I guess that tells you alot. :S

Even my kids (5 & 8 years old at the time)  started noticing the difference in Mommy’s mood. I was happier and less inclined to freak out when a glass was broken or somebody did something naughty. They liked it and so did I. I liked not reacting to situations instantly. I liked being able to take a step back and assess…and respond. Of course, I’m not perfect and am not expecting perfection, but I like not having that pit in my stomach and feeling much more calm on a regular basis.

Which GABA do I take?

I have taken a few different brands and formula’s over the years, right now I am loving the NOW GABA brand. I have been taking this brand for about a month and really like it. It is just as effective as some of the more expensive brands I had been using (Source Naturals Calm Mind & Gaba + from Vitamin World).

The key with GABA is to take it on an empty stomach. It is an amino acid and will compete with proteins to hit your receptors in the brain. I just keep it in my bathroom and take it first thing in the morning when I get up. It does the trick. If I run out or stop taking it for some reason, I can usually tell by the 3 or 4th day. At least I did in the beginning. I don’t often forget taking it these days. I just like the way I am when I take it.

If you have questions about GABA, where to find it or anything, let me know I will attempt to help! I am not a medical professional and this is only anecdotal research, but I will say that it has changed alot in my life in the last 3 years. If you have issues with anxiety, stress or trouble focusing, GABA could be something you could try too.

***UPDATE*** I’ve been taking this supplement for over 5 years now and I have to say that it is still helping me so much! I don’t take it every single day any more, but if I can tell life is stressing me out and causing anxiety to rise up in me, I start taking it again. If I know I will be engaged in an activity that normally causes me to have anxiety, I will take some as well. For example, when I’m flying- for some reason, getting through security (especially with kids) tends to get me all hyper…the last time I flew, I was so relaxed, my husband was stressed for me! Ha!