These days, every business needs an online presence and a mental health private practice is, at the most basic, a type of business. Gone are the days where word of mouth was good enough to create an ever flowing stream of clientele. Nowadays, potential clients will check out your reviews, your competitors, and your website. If you have a blog that provides valuable insight into your services and tips for the reader’s mental health and wellbeing, then that person will remember.

However, you may be thinking that you want to write your own blog. You have the knowledge, you are a good writer, and you want to ensure that your content uses your voice. While these are all good things, there are other aspects to consider as well. Since you may not know why a therapist should hire a writer, let’s look at some of the reasons that it can be beneficial. 

Does L-Theanine Work?

L-Theanine is a common nootropic or smart pill that many consumers wonder about. Should you take it? Are there side effects? Does it work? Hopefully, this article will answer all your questions…and more!

What is L-Theanine?

Green tea is known to have health benefits ranging from weight loss to lower risk of diseases. L-Theanine is found in tea, especially green tea, and is a water-soluble amino acid. It is not produced by the human body, so the only way we can utilize it is to ingest it.

L-Theanine is thought to work by impacting certain chemicals in the brain including serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters regulate tons of functions in our body and assist with sleep, memory, and mood.

What are the Benefits of L-Theanine?

Studies show that L-theanine may have a beneficial impact on mental health including mood, sleep, and concentration. More studies need to be done, but evidence points to some positive effects.

  • Anxiety

Some studies show that ingestion of L-theanine contributes to a reduction in stress response. It is potentially a relaxing agent for both the physiological and psychological systems. Experts believe that it can be a highly effective anxiolytic and can help consumers respond adequately to stressful stimuli.

It may be a natural alternative to habit forming anxiolytics like benzodiazepines. In addition, it doesn’t cause sedation and impairment like many prescription anti-anxiety medications.

  • Mental Focus

Various studies show a positive correlation between l-theanine and concentration. Some of the research includes caffeine in addition to l-theanine because they are consumed together in tea. L-theanine can ease the uncomfortable side effects caused by caffeine and the combination is thought to benefit productivity.  

L-theanine has also been shown to have a positive effect on memory. One study shows that is could even be useful in treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s.

  • Immune System Support

There are several studies that indicate l-theanine may support a healthy immune system. There is even evidence to suggest that l-theanine can even help to prevent the flu. Staying healthy is on our collective minds a lot these days since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, so this may be an important benefit to you.

  • Anti-Inflammatory

Researchers have shown that l-theanine has anti-inflammatory properties. This could even make it a supplemental pain killer for pain caused by inflammation. More studies need to be done to see what types of inflammation l-theanine can reduce.

  • Improved Sleep

L-theanine could help you sleep because of its relaxing and anxiolytic properties. There is evidence to suggest it helps people fall asleep faster than they would without the supplement. Not only that, but they seem to have better quality sleep as well.

There have been positive indications that l-theanine may help improve sleep quality in children with ADHD. Not only that, but there is no evidence that it is habit forming like other sleep inducing substances. 

 

Does L-Theanine Cause Side Effects?

First, make sure you speak with your doctor before taking l-theanine, especially if you take prescription medications. Never take l-theanine while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Studies have pinpointed the following side effects:

  • Lower Blood Pressure
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty Sleeping
  • Digestive Problems

In addition, l-theanine may have interactions if you are taking:

  • Hypertension medications
  • Any supplements or medications that lower blood pressure
  • Stimulants, including synthetic or concentrated caffeine

Dosage

Different dosages are good for different beneficial effects, but it is important that you always start low and work your way up to avoid side effects.

A single dose of 100mg is a good place to start and then you can work your way up to 200mg a day.

Let me know what you use l-theanine for in the comments section below.

 

Prevent Overeating While Working From Home

The pandemic has caused countless changes to our daily lives. More than ever before, people are working from home. This alters the way we eat and can cause us to eat too much or snack on unhealthy foods.  

At home we always have access to food. You’re sitting at your desk and get up to go to the bathroom. On your way back, you pass the fridge and can’t help but pop it open to take a look at what it has to offer. What’s inside is typically unhealthy. This is a problem…

It is important to have a healthy routine in place so that our bodies and minds expect us to continue to eat healthy foods. However, there are other things that we can do to limit the amount of sugar, calories, and fat we take in.

Continue reading “How to Prevent Overeating When Working from Home”

5 Benefits of CBD Oil

CBD Bottle and Dropper Near Teacup

CBD has become increasingly popular, but that doesn’t mean you know what it can do for you. There are many benefits touted by companies in the CBD industry, but where is the proof? I am here to tell you about 5 benefits of using CBD that are backed up by evidence (However, do not take CBD oil without the advice of a medical professional)  Continue reading “5 Benefits of CBD Oil”


There are plenty of things I regret… in fact, more than I would like to admit. These things often cause me a great deal of anxiety because I feel like I have missed out on an opportunity or wish things could have gone differently. For example, not telling my mother how much I cared for her as often as I should have. Or not living in the moment more often. Or taking things for granted. This is why I think it is important to talk about how we can deal with regret in a positive way.

Continue reading “How to Deal with Regret”

 

 

Hi guys, how are you doing? 2020 has been a hell of a year in so many ways both personally and publicly. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it… or rather, what aspects you look at and how you react to them. You know about the political and social events that have occurred throughout this year, but what about the way they alter and affect the big picture of our daily lives and how you can turn negatives into positives?  Continue reading “Coping During a Pandemic”