Can anxiety be caused by certain supplements I am taking for bodybuilding?

Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Robert in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Can anxiety be caused by certain supplements I am taking for bodybuilding?

Yes, definitely. Are you taking supplements to cut weight or lose fat or to build muscle or both? First cautions about supplements. I have been a noncompetitive bodybuilder and am currently an avid cross trainer. I can tell you in my opinion based on a lot of research and years of experience as an amateur athlete, the majority of supplements are not worth the money. Many don’t work. Some can harm you.
Few of them are regulated and tested appropriately for effectiveness, and some contain unsafe ingredients. Many weight loss products are high in caffeine or herbal preparations which can stimulate the central nervous system and contribute to anxiety.

Bodybuilding is a fantastic activity. You are transforming your body into a living work of art, maximizing its aesthetic appeal and deriving many health benefits besides stronger muscles, also, stronger bones, tendons and ligaments, resistance to degenerative skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis. You minimize risk of injury from every day weight bearing movements, lower the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, and boost your self-esteem.

Your size can also deter others from targeting you for criminal victimization and weight training can actually manage anxiety as well as anger, depression and stress. That and a feeling of power and accomplishment. The pump and development of muscles is exhilarating. It’s the same feeling people vainly seek by abusing drugs and alcohol.

The human body is a magnificent work of art and an incredible self-maintaining machine. It should be well cared for. In my opinion, you are better off with what is called natural bodybuilding, hard work, focus, maximum effort, a good diet, regular days off and good quality sleep and no or minimal supplementation. You can make very impressive gains in size and strength over time.

Something that a lot of people don’t understand is that you are limited by your genetics as far as how big and strong you can get. Among men, one out of several tens of thousands or possibly hundreds of thousands have the genetic makeup to make huge gains; among females, the ratios are even lower. You can only get as big as your genetic limits, which for most men is still very impressive. Not everyone can become a world-class competitor, but you will definitely stand out in the crowd among men in your age group.