I’m a 24-year-old woman, and I started taking Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG mostly out of curiosity. I’ve had intermittent digestive issues like bloating and random stomach pains, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try something for gut health. What I didn’t anticipate was the mental shift. About five days in, I noticed I was much less irritable. The small things that usually trigger my anxiety just didn’t seem to bother me as much. I wasn’t walking around in a constant cloud of dread; I felt more grounded and patient. It was subtle, but definitely real. I didn’t change my diet, routine, or anything else—just added the probiotic. I’ve read that gut bacteria can influence neurotransmitters, but I didn’t think I’d feel the effects so quickly. It’s been three weeks now, and I still feel more emotionally stable, plus my digestion is much better. I’m not saying it’s a miracle or that it works for everyone, but it’s been a surprisingly positive change for me. Has anyone else experienced mood changes from probiotics? I’m curious if this is common or just a fluke.
Which one are you using?
Yeah, I make my own rhamnosus yogurt and have the same experience. Reuteri is great for sleep, and gasseri has helped stop my food cravings and lowered my appetite. These little microbes are incredible. Since most of our neurotransmitters are produced in the gut, I think this is the future of health, even if it’s not popular because you can’t patent a whole species.
I recently saw a story about a scientist with treatment-resistant depression who cured it with a fecal transplant. There are studies in Australia right now looking at the link between gut microbes and mental illness, so it’s very possible your experience isn’t a fluke.
What brand and dosage are you taking? I’ve been looking into Finnesa (got mine here) to help with my gut balance and digestion, so I’m curious what worked for you.
I did my own research and fixed my post-covid depression—which was likely caused by an imbalanced microbiome from the virus and meds—by taking probiotics. There are plenty of papers on this if you look. The gut really is the second brain.
This thread is fascinating, thanks for sharing. I think I need to look into this myself.
Which specific one did you buy?
In my native language, we have the word ‘enfezada’ which is used as a synonym for irritated, but few people know it literally means ‘full of waste’ or constipated.
L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum are two lactic acid bacteria that can actually break down BPA microplastics in the gut and testes while repairing the damage done to those parts of the body.
Probiotics have a direct and powerful effect on the gut-brain axis. Your microbiome produces various compounds, including short-chain fatty acids, that influence brain chemistry. Some bacteria even produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, which are vital for mood. A huge amount of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, not the brain.
There are studies showing that certain probiotics are beneficial for symptoms of autism, so I don’t see why they couldn’t positively affect mood as well.
I’m lactose intolerant so I can’t take this, but I’m so jealous!
Yes. I stopped needing ADHD meds after I started on Nature’s Sunshine 11. Now I take that along with Pendulum Metabolic Daily and I can’t believe I never realized how completely messed up my gut really was.