19 Best Nootropics for Social Anxiety & Socializing in 2024

Updated on March 18, 2024
 by — reviewed by Jason Williams, PhD (Contributor: George Collins / Editor: Yoko Hill)
Nootropics ease social anxiety and enhance socializing abilities.

Social anxiety is a mental health condition that prevents you from interacting in a social setting due to intense fear and anxiety.

If you have experienced being afraid of any social interactions due to fear of being judged or embarrassed, then you may know how gravely it affects your self-esteem and how hard it is to overcome.

Since chemical imbalance in your brain causes social anxiety due to long-term stress, nootropics work to restore balance in neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

To relieve you from the negative implications of stress and anxiety, read this review and discover how the best nootropics for social anxiety can help you.

How to Choose the Best Nootropics for Social Anxiety?

When selecting the best nootropics for social anxiety, it’s crucial to understand the key factors that can impact their effectiveness and suitability for your needs.

FactorDescriptionWhy It’s Important
Ingredient ProfileThe specific nootropics and any additional compounds in the formula.Certain ingredients are known for their efficacy in reducing anxiety and enhancing social performance.
Dosage & PurityThe amount of each ingredient and its quality.Proper dosages are essential for effectiveness, and purity ensures safety and potency.
Side Effect ProfilePotential adverse reactions or interactions with other supplements or medications.Minimizing side effects is crucial for a positive experience and long-term use.
Scientific BackingResearch and clinical trials supporting the use of the nootropics.Evidence-based choices are more likely to provide the desired outcomes.
User ExperiencesAnecdotal reports and reviews from individuals who have used the nootropics.Real-world feedback can provide insights into the effectiveness and tolerability of the nootropics.
  • Ingredient Profile: The composition of a nootropic is paramount. Ingredients like L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, and Rhodiola Rosea have been researched for their anxiolytic properties, making them top choices for social anxiety.
  • Dosage & Purity: It’s essential to verify that the nootropic contains the clinically effective dosages of its key ingredients and that these ingredients are pure, free from contaminants, and of high quality.
  • Side Effect Profile: Understanding potential side effects and ensuring that the nootropic is well-tolerated can prevent adverse reactions that might exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
  • Scientific Backing: Nootropics backed by scientific studies offer a level of credibility and reassurance that their use may be beneficial for managing social anxiety.
  • User Experiences: Reviews and experiences from other users can provide additional context on the nootropic’s effectiveness and help gauge whether it’s a good fit for your specific situation.

Best Nootropics for Social Anxiety of 2024

According to scientific studies and our own research, the 19 best nootropics for social anxiety are:

1. Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro is a highly potent nootropic supplement known for its safe ingredients. It features 11 natural nootropic ingredients that are clinically proven to improve brain function and mood.

Some of the ingredients include:

  • Bacopa Monnieri
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Lion’s Mane Mushroom
  • L-Tyrosine
  • L-Theanine
  • Rhodiola Rosea
  • Maritime Pine Bark Extract
  • B vitamins (Vitamin B6, B9, B12)

Mind Lab Pro helps regulate chemical messengers like serotonin to achieve chemical balance to have a more relaxed state.

2. NooCube

Noocube enhances cognitive performance and increases your mental energy, which can be beneficial when dealing with social anxiety. Since the symptoms of anxiety are tiring, nootropics can relieve you from exhaustion while lowering anxiety levels.

This nootropic also improves focus without any jitters usually experience with caffeine.

Noocubes’ ingredients include the following:

  • Huperzine A
  • Alpha GPC
  • Cat’s Claw
  • Oat Straw
  • Bacopa Monnieri
  • L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine

3. Performance Lab Mind

Performance Lab is one of the top nootropics that helps boost focus and cognition. Aside from the typical brain-boosting benefits, this nootropic also controls anxiety by putting you in a relaxed state. With an enhanced mood, you may be able to relieve yourself from brain fog and any signs of stress.

You can also use this as a nootropic anxiety stack. It consists of four main natural ingredients that increase blood flow to the brain and promotes neurotransmitter production. The ingredients are as follows:

  • L-Tyrosine
  • Citicoline
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Maritime Pine Bark Extract

4. Brain Pill

Brain Pill is another nootropic supplement that promotes cognitive functions, focus, and mental clarity through enhancing the blood flow to the brain. With better blood circulation, you may experience mental alertness and prevent cognitive decline.

Brain Pill is one of the nootropic supplements that serve as anti-anxiety smart drugs. It helps calm our nerves, which prevents manifestations of panic attacks experienced with having social anxiety.

BrainPill owes its powerful nootropic effects to the 13 ingredients in their formula. Some of these are:

  • Vinpocetine
  • B vitamins (vitamin B12, B6, B5, B9)
  • Citicoline
  • Bacopa Monnieri
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • DHA Complex

5. Qualia Mind

Qualia Mind is an anti-stress and anxiety nootropic supplement that contains high-impact ingredients. The 28 ingredients are clinically proven to promote cognitive function and increase mental clarity, which prevents any panic attacks associated with social anxiety symptoms.

This nootropic also targets your overall mood by promoting neurotransmitter production like serotonin and dopamine.

Some of the ingredients that you can find in Qualia Mind are:

  • Thiamine
  • Niacin
  • Vitamins C, D3
  • B vitamins
  • Acetyl-L-Carnitine
  • Cognizin

6. Alpha Brain

Like other nootropics, Alpha Brain helps reduce anxiety symptoms as it promotes clarity through the natural ingredients in its formula. This smart drug also aids the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in motivation, attention, and arousal for a heightened “flow” state.

The following are the ingredients that promote the powerful benefits of Alpha Brain.

  • L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine
  • Oat Straw Extract
  • Alpha GPC
  • Bacopa monnieri
  • Huperzia Serrata Extract
  • L-Leucine

7. L-Theanine

L-Theanine is usually found in green tea, which is known for its relaxing effects. It is an essential amino acid that reduces anxiety levels by increasing GABA production. Others use Phenibut as it is a synthetic form of GABA.

You can also consume L-Theanine with caffeine as it increases your reaction time and reduces mental fatigue without the jitters that come with it. It can also lower cortisol levels and prevent an increase in blood pressure.

8. L-Tyrosine

Dealing with social anxiety drains your spirit. With Tyrosine, you can stay focused without feeling burned out.

This amino acid also mitigates the stress that you experience in any social situation. It helps you by lowering stress levels, which triggers your fight or flight response, and increases dopamine production to promote well-being.

9. DHA

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid associated with better cardiovascular health. Research shows that DHA also prevents the effects that come with psychological stress.

The increase in relaxation may prevent panic attacks triggered by unfamiliar social situations.

10. Theacrine

Theacrine is an alkaloid that shares a similar chemical structure as caffeine. Despite the similarities, Theacrine will not give jitters or cause problems with tolerance build-up.

Theacrine helps increase your focus and reduces sleepiness, just like what you get with your daily dose of coffee.

11. Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri is a famous ingredient in various smart drugs. This is a perennial herb that boosts body functions and balances our mood, especially under extreme stress.

12. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen used to relieve manifestations of social anxiety. This natural substance lowers cortisol levels while increasing energy to offset the impacts of anxiety.

Aside from this, Ashwagandha also boosts concentration and relieves fatigue. It can also maintain chemical balance and possibly reverse the damage caused by chronic stress. Overall, Ashwagandha supplementation can improve your quality of life.

13. Maritime Pine Bark

You can use this natural substance to deal with the stress that comes with panic attacks.

Maritime Pine Bark also improves blood flow and can enhance your immune system, which may be affected by anxiety.

14. Ginkgo Biloba

People have been using Ginkgo Biloba as a natural remedy to maintain a healthy brain. As a valuable ingredient in nootropic supplements, Ginkgo Biloba may help people suffering from anxiety disorders as it promotes focus, boosts mood, and lowers blood pressure.

You can also combine Ginkgo Biloba with green tea to experience higher relaxation effects.

15. Nicotine

Nicotine is among the best nootropics to deal with social anxiety. It not only promotes focus but also sharpens your reaction time.

However, this doesn’t mean that cigarette smoking can be an alternative to nootropics. Large amounts of nicotine may lead to addiction, but a microdose can produce outstanding focus and energy effects in focus and energy.

16. Rhodiola Rosea

This herbal adaptogen combats the negative effects of anxiety and depression. Although it is known for lowering stress levels, it also shows effects in dealing with manifestations associated with generalized anxiety; It is a type of disorder characterized by persistent worry over things that are out of our control.

A study shows that Rhodiola Rosea’s oral administration led to a significant reduction of certain brain waves associated with the signaling pathways of dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and other chemical messengers.

17. Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Lion’s Mane Mushroom is an edible mushroom with anti-inflammatory effects and helps promote neurogenesis and regeneration of cells. This will help increase focus while also reducing the anxiety of the users.

Research shows that Lion’s Mane mushroom also helps treat other cognitive disorders like Dementia.

18. Citicoline

Citicoline is among the top ingredients of various anti-anxiety supplements. It is naturally-occurring choline in the body that stimulates dopamine release to promote mood enhancement. Increasing Acetylcholine levels also contribute to your sense of well-being.

19. Phosphatidylserine

This is an essential fatty tissue in our brain that manages cortisol levels. This, in turn, will help relieve social anxiety symptoms by dealing with stress levels.

To be specific, PS reduces exercise-induced stress in men while decreasing signs of anxiety in women.

What to Consider Before Buying Nootropics for Social Anxiety?

Before making a nootropic purchase, it’s important to consider several factors to ensure that you’re making an informed decision that aligns with your health goals.

1. Individual Brain Chemistry

Every person’s brain chemistry is unique, which means that nootropics can affect individuals differently. It’s important to consider how certain substances typically affect you and whether you have any known sensitivities or allergies.

2. Interaction with Current Medications or Supplements

If you’re currently taking medication or other supplements, it’s important to understand how a new nootropic may interact with them. Some nootropics can either potentiate or diminish the effects of other substances.

3. Short-term vs. Long-term Use

Determine whether you’re looking for immediate relief or long-term management of social anxiety. Some nootropics offer acute effects, while others may need to be taken consistently over time to notice benefits.

4. Lifestyle and Dietary Factors

Your lifestyle and diet can influence the effectiveness of nootropics. Factors such as sleep, stress levels, nutrition, and exercise can all play a role in managing social anxiety and should be considered alongside supplementation.

5. Cost and Accessibility

Finally, consider the cost of the nootropic and its availability. Ensure that it fits within your budget and that you’re able to obtain it easily to maintain consistency in your regimen.

How We Picked the Top Nootropics for Social Anxiety

We deployed a comprehensive evaluation process to identify the best nootropics for social anxiety relief. Our selection criteria encompassed effectiveness, ingredients, scientific evidence, brand reputation, product transparency, manufacturing quality, user feedback, price, and value. By thoroughly examining each of these factors, we have compiled a well-rounded and trustworthy list of the finest nootropics for alleviating social anxiety symptoms.

Effectiveness

We studied clinical research and user experiences to ascertain the potential of each nootropic in reducing social anxiety, specifically focusing on stress relief, mood stabilization, and relaxation.

Ingredients

We inspected each formula, prioritizing proven, natural, and high-quality elements that target the underlying causes of social anxiety.

Scientific Evidence

We consulted peer-reviewed research and meta-analyses to corroborate the effectiveness of central ingredients in mitigating social anxiety symptoms.

Dosage

We evaluated the recommended dosages and ingredient proportions, verifying that they comply with the prevailing scientific findings for optimal efficacy.

Safety

We confirmed the safety of each ingredient by considering potential side effects and drug interactions and ensuring that they meet regulatory standards. FDA-approved ingredients received higher priority.

Brand Reputation

We assessed brands’ reliability and integrity by examining customer reviews, expert endorsements, and company histories.

Product Transparency

We favored products that provide complete ingredient information, including sources and concentrations, empowering consumers to make informed choices.

Manufacturing Process

We explored the manufacturing standards, giving preference to products produced in certified facilities that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

User Reviews

We scrutinized genuine customer feedback, emphasizing testimonials that highlight improvements in social anxiety symptoms and overall mental well-being.

Price

We weighed product prices against their competitors to ensure that they strike a balance between affordability and effectiveness.

Value

We determined the overall value by evaluating the interplay between price, quality, and efficacy, aiming to deliver an exceptional return on investment for readers.

What Causes Social Anxiety?

Like any psychiatric condition, social anxiety disorder is caused by the interaction of multiple factors, including social, biological, and environmental factors. Aside from your upbringing, social demands, traumatic events that may have triggered your anxiety, chemical imbalance in your brain structure may cause this condition.

Imbalance in neurotransmitter networks can lead to anxiety. GABA or glutamate is not the leading cause, Reddit reviews nor is it simply because of a deficiency in one neurotransmitter alone. All of these are interrelated and have multiple feedback loops. That is why Aniracetam and Phenibut, an analog of GABA, won’t magically deal with your anxiety. However, some of the racetams like Aniracetam and Oxiracetam affect ion channels, which causes excitability of neurons, thus, making other neurotransmitters more effective.

Some of the neurotransmitters where its deficiency causes social anxiety are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and glutamate.

Moreover, anxiety disorders are generally more common in women than in men due to hormonal fluctuations.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can cause psychological and physical signs that may manifest when thinking about social events and may exacerbate during the social interaction itself.

According to research, here are some things that you may experience when having social anxiety.

  • Persistent fear of social situations
  • Having anticipatory anxiety of an upcoming social event
  • Avoiding situations where you might feel embarrassed.
  • Increased Heart rate
  • Trembling
  • Sweating
  • Trouble breathing

Nootropics for Social Anxiety in Summary

Nootropics for social anxiety can be an alternative to prescribed anxiolytic medications. However, you must remember that nootropics are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Side effects may also vary depending on the users.

This review also does not serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any disease. You must consult your doctor first, especially when experiencing anxiety disorders that affect your lifestyle.

If you want to look for subjective reports on these nootropics, you may look for reviews to know the individual experiences.

Nootropics for Social Anxiety FAQs

What are nootropics and how can they help with social anxiety?

Nootropics are cognitive-enhancing supplements that improve clarity, memory, and mood. They can potentially alleviate social anxiety by reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and boosting mental performance.

Which nootropics are best for social anxiety?

Some popular nootropics for social anxiety are Aniracetam, Phenibut, Ashwagandha, L-Theanine, and Bacopa Monnieri. Each has unique benefits, so research and consult with a professional before use.

What effects do Ashwagandha and L-Theanine have on social anxiety?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that helps manage stress, while L-Theanine promotes relaxation without sedating effects. Both may help cope with social anxiety.

Are there any side effects of using nootropics for social anxiety?

Side effects may include headaches, digestive upset, or sleep disturbances. It’s essential to understand the appropriate dosage and consult a professional for tailored advice.

Can I use multiple nootropics together for social anxiety?

Stacking nootropics may provide enhanced benefits. Begin with individual nootropics before considering stacks, and consult a healthcare professional to ensure safety.

Where can I purchase nootropics for social anxiety?

Nootropics are often available online or at health food stores. Always choose reputable suppliers to ensure product quality and safety.

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