l-theanine

Looking to shelve the benzos on which you’re dependent?

But need a slight segue into the serenity of clean living?

Well, perhaps the natural remedy called L-theanine might just help get you there.

An extract from the healthy green tea we all known and love (my own go-to alternative to java), this stuff’s proven fruitful for abating anxiety and bringing on sleep, sans any notable side effects. In fact, per a study done in Japan, it was nearly 100% effective in de-stressing insomniac test subjects enough to allow them to fall asleep and to have a better, calmer day after taking it upon waking.

But, if you’ve read my work, my research never ends with published studies.

I want some IRL, outta-the-lab testimonials.

That’s why I always mosey on over to Amazon to take a gander at customer commentary.

The results?

It’s mostly five stars from buyers. Especially for post-pharmaceutical addicts looking for holistic means to stay clean. But the reasons actually extend beyond that: those with chronic anxiety take it – along with those on a quest for a better rest or simply clearer cognition at work. (Sidenote: if you’re wondering about the specific brand they’re ranting about, you can click that image for actual product site. And, no, I don’t get compensation for linking you there. But even if I did, they’d likely quit paying me after I told you this):

As ever, there’s a caveat. While it may be over the counter and not one’ve those scheduled substances that you have to get from your pharmacy, the potential for dependency remains – just as with any substance that increases dopamine. (Even one customer review conceded this, despite the five star award they’d offered for the product). And that means, that just like anything that alters your feel-good hormone levels, this grin inducing pill should serve as no more than either crutch for your recovering mental turmoil as you exit the hell of heavy drug dependency, or an occasional panic attack smasher. Especially since they’ve not yet done enough research on the long term effects of the stuff.

And how frequently should you take it?

Well, according to WebMD, once or twice a week for about three weeks is what’s suggested under the “possibly safe” tab. Of course, the product manufacturers will inform you that a far higher dose is required. (Duh, because they want you to run out and buy more as soon as possible). It seems that on average, though, once or even twice in one day (in 200 mg amounts) is what’s deemed okay, so long as you don’t take it with cholesterol lowering medication. But (as hinted above), the truth of the matter is that not enough research has been done regarding the long-term safety of high doses. And for that reason, your best bet’s probably to err on the side of safety, keep those doses to a minimum once a day, don’t take it every day, and then take a holiday of at least a few weeks between uses. Not only will that allow your system to clear it, but it will also lower your tolerance enough for you to feel the effects the next time you’re in an emotional crunch, have a burning desire, and believe you need it in order to eschew the notion of using.

As for me?

I actually gave this thing a try last night. (For the sake of journalism.) And, to be honest, while it admittedly did click me down a couple notches, it was probably a dumb experiment. Why? Because, yesterday was one of those days I was doing just fine. (So all it did was just make me a bit tired.) And, while I might retry my self-research another day when I’m in Eeyore mode, I dunno that I can promise that. Because these days, I have so many other tools to work with. I found them early on into my recovery because I had to; back when I was getting off benzos, I endured the worst kind of nightmare in order to get clean. Dependency and protracted Valium withdrawal is little more than hell’s fetid cellar. And, once my cognition was finally clear of schizophrenia-esque thoughts, hallucinations, and all the other horrible side effects that come with nixing pills like benzos, I vowed: “never again”. No matter how desperate. That shiz wasn’t worth it.

(I’d rather peel my skin off like a banana and roll my exposed tissue in Pink Himalayan salt than go through that again.)

So, what’d I replace all of that with?

By controlling my emotions via surrender to stuff like meditation and yoga. (Doesn’t hafta be yoga; though the nature of an “inside” practice varies for everyone, the basic premise works for all.) I learned all those seemingly mystical secrets on how to summon my own serenity. And I got intoxicated on something new: the capacity to manifest my own tranquility, at will. Thing is, I’m human. And sometimes I’m just too lazy to do these things I know will work. Sometimes I get in so much of a tizzy that I’m not willing to sit in silence silence the demons. Even so, when I think about losing control and letting some sort of supplement puppet my mind and body, something about it bothers me. So, I can safely say that while I might try it again in the distant future, my own bottle of the stuff will probably gather more dust than fingerprints. That said, I’m not against the idea of fellow addicts using this as a rowboat off get-high island. I’m not even condoning intermittent use. It might be fine. I’m just saying to be careful with it and don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because it doesn’t require the middleman of a prescription pad, that it’s necessarily safe to take on the daily in mass amounts.

Tried this stuff before?

Tell us about it in the comments below, if you like.