Magnesium for anxiety has been a trend for a while now. With more and more people suffering with anxiety on a daily basis, many have been turning to the supplement to soothe their regular panic attacks, while others take magnesium to help with sleep and restless leg syndrome. I gave magnesium for anxiety a go for three weeks.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and will simply be sharing my personal experience.
Taking Magnesium for anxiety
I started taking magnesium and zinc for anxiety and sleep. Having practiced meditation and mindset tools for years, my anxiety has significantly reduced in that time, but it sometimes turns up to bite me when I’m feeling particularly stressed or tired, and so I thought it would be great time to try magnesium.
Sometimes, I have an overactive nervous system, and this can lead to restless leg syndrome. I also noticed I was feeling tired during the day, and put this down to not getting enough sleep and drinking coffee every morning, which I also cut out during this experience (albeit one or two a week!).
Many spiritual coaches have reported on how magnesium has helped calm their anxiety. Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzyme systems that regulate biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve function, while it also helps the body produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
My experience of magnesium
For me, I noticed the benefits of feeling more relaxed and sleepy instantly. The combination with the zinc meant I was very awake during the day, but once I got into bed, I was out like a light. The only thing I would say which I wasn’t sure about was how I’d wake up from sleeping feeling slightly groggy still – in the first week.
As the weeks went on, it became second nature to take two tablets a day. I had a pep in my step, a lot more energy, and paired with meditation, was feeling a lot more calm than usual. I felt pretty happy, but three weeks in, I did notice I was experiencing headaches which may or may not have been linked.
You know when you spiral into an overthinking mode? While taking this magnesium, I didn’t experience this at all. Any element of racing thoughts, which I hardly experience anyway, had gone. I felt this almost overwhelmingly blissful state of being which allowed me to be more present and still, with less worries.
Benefits and negatives
For a start, magnesium can cause a few side effects, such as stomach cramps and nausea, if too much is taken. There have been reports of softening of stool, while magnesium supplements may interact with certain medicines, including diuretics, heart medicines, or antibiotics.
On the other hand, there are a lot of benefits, such as:
- Better sleep
- Calmer mindset
- Feeling rested
- Body relaxation
Consult with a healthcare provider before taking magnesium.