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Glutamate is good to know about.
It’s the oldest intercellular signaling chemical in evolutionary history. Sponges use glutamate to communicate between cells, so it predates nervous systems.
It has tons of distinct meanings in the human body’s context, but mostly it means “fight or flight”. A state of excessive glutamate signaling, sometimes referred to as a “glutamate storm”, is associated with feelings of overwhelm and panic attacks.
It can be blocked from binding by a chemical called L-theanine, which occurs naturally in tea and can be bought in pills at supplement stores. Studies have shown that people who take L-theanine supplements experienced reduced beta wave amplitude and increased alpha wave amplitude.
In my own experience, L-theanine pills can basically nullify the “frozen” feeling I have with procrastinating on complex work, such as homework or software development, or even just complex decision-making.
In other words, it’s the most effective anti-procrastination substance I’ve ever encountered. This is compared with:
- anti-anxiety meds like xanax
- blood pressure meds like propranolol
- more coffee
- adderall
- ritalin
- cocaine
- alcohol
- antidepressants
- microdosed LSD
- microdosed psilocybin
- pseudoephidrine
- maca
… all taken at once. Not recommended
