Trauma can deeply impact our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, leaving lasting scars that can be challenging to overcome. While therapy and support are essential components of trauma recovery, certain supplements can also play a supportive role in promoting healing and resilience. At mindful Synergi we carry a large range of prescription strength supplements that are clinically proven to help manage your symptoms of stress and trauma naturally.
Understanding Trauma:
Trauma can manifest in various forms, including acute incidents like accidents or violence, ongoing experiences such as abuse or neglect, or cumulative stressors like chronic illness or discrimination. Regardless of its origin, trauma can disrupt the body’s stress response system, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and physical health issues.
Targeted Supplements for Trauma Recovery:
Magnesium:
Magnesium is essential to several biological systems. It is a cofactor for over 250 enzymatic activities, including energy, protein, and muscle function. Magnesium regulates stress and promotes relaxation, which is important for mental health.
Magnesium supplements may help those with trauma and chronic stress-related anxiety, sleeplessness, and muscle tightness. Magnesium naturally relaxes the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting stress reduction.
Magnesium regulates GABA, a relaxing neurotransmitter, to reduce anxiety. Magnesium increases inhibitory neurotransmission and decreases neural excitability, aiding relaxation and stress reduction.
Magnesium also regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s stress response system. Maintaining HPA axis function and preventing dysregulation, which can increase stress, anxiety, and insomnia, requires adequate magnesium levels.
Due to its excellent absorption and tolerability, magnesium glycinate and magnesium citrate are recommended for stress and relaxation. A chelated form of magnesium, magnesium glycinate is rapidly absorbed and less prone to induce gastrointestinal discomfort, making it a good choice for sensitive stomachs. Magnesium citrate, which is well-absorbed and light laxative, may also help digestive disorders.
In conclusion, magnesium supplements may help trauma and chronic stress sufferers. Magnesium can reduce anxiety, sleeplessness, and muscular tension by relaxing, modifying neurotransmitter activity, and maintaining HPA axis function, improving mental health and resilience.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
The body cannot generate omega-3 fatty acids, a group of polyunsaturated fats, thus, it must get them from food. ALA, EPA, and DHA are the primary omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish oil supplements and fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich in EPA and DHA. These accessible omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied for their health advantages, including brain health and emotional well-being.
Omega-3s regulate neurotransmitter function, affecting mental wellness. Neurotransmitters affect emotion, cognition, and behaviour by communicating between neurons. EPA and DHA impact serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which regulate mood and stress.
The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids benefit mental health. Chronic inflammation can induce anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Omega-3 fatty acids may lower brain inflammation and promote mental wellness by treating illnesses.
Clinical investigations demonstrate omega-3s may alleviate depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Neuronal membrane fluidity, neurotransmitter signalling, and neuroplasticity are needed for brain function and stress resilience. Omega-3s may modulate these. However, their mechanisms are still being investigated.
Brain health and mental well-being depend on omega-3s, notably EPA and DHA. Omega-3s may naturally treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD by reducing brain inflammation and improving neurotransmitter function. Fish oil supplements and omega-3-rich diets may boost mental health and stress resilience.
“Calm X has literally changed my life, I had no idea the power of a formulated magnesium blend would have on my ability to sleep and regulate my emotions”
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D deficiency has been strongly associated with an elevated risk of mood disorders and disruptions in stress response mechanisms. While sunlight exposure remains the primary source of vitamin D synthesis in the body, many individuals, particularly those with limited sun exposure due to factors such as indoor lifestyles, geographic location, or use of sunscreen, may not obtain sufficient levels from sunlight alone. Consequently, supplementation with vitamin D may be necessary to ensure optimal levels, particularly in populations at risk for deficiency.
Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is essential for supporting overall mental health and resilience, as vitamin D receptors are present in areas of the brain involved in mood regulation and stress response. Research suggests that adequate vitamin D levels may help mitigate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD by modulating neurotransmitter activity, reducing inflammation, and promoting neuroplasticity.
In the context of trauma recovery, ensuring adequate vitamin D status is paramount, as it may help support mental well-being and enhance the body’s ability to cope with stress. Incorporating vitamin D supplementation, alongside other therapeutic interventions, can play a valuable role in promoting resilience and facilitating the healing process following trauma.
L-Theanine:
L-Theanine, an amino acid found predominantly in green tea, has gained popularity for its relaxing and stress-relieving qualities. Supplementing with L-Theanine is a natural and efficient strategy to relieve trauma-related symptoms including anxiety and hyperarousal.
One of the primary processes by which L-Theanine works is by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain. L-theanine stimulates the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter recognised for its relaxing properties. L-Theanine induces relaxation by increasing GABA levels and decreasing anxiety and tension. Furthermore, L-Theanine has been proven to boost alpha brain wave activity, which is linked to a state of wakeful relaxation and mental clarity.
Furthermore, L-Theanine may increase sleep quality, which is an important element of trauma healing. L-Theanine, which promotes relaxation and reduces stress, can assist people with trauma histories have deeper and more restorative sleep, resulting in better overall well-being and resilience.
L-Theanine has also been shown in studies to reduce hyperarousal symptoms like irritability, hypervigilance, and an enhanced startle response, all of which are prominent indications of trauma-related stress. L-Theanine promotes emotional stability and serenity by modifying the body’s stress response mechanism.