[benrjackson]

I suspect you have been downvoted because some people may perceive your answer as a glib trivialization of a debilitating condition ('just pop a few probiotics and everything will be ok').

However, I have upvoted you because I agree that probiotics can play a part in coping with anxiety for some people.

I have experienced anxiety attacks for the last several years (including several full on panic attacks). For several years before the onset of the anxiety episodes I have also had IBS like symptoms (which continue to this day). I have noticed a clear link between the two (anxiety accompanied by nausea and frequent trips to the toilet). I could go into the disgusting detail but I won't.

To cut a long story short, I have found that consumption of high dose probiotics containing B longum has corresponded with a decline in sympton severity & frequency [1]. I am not suggesting that this is a cure (or that it will help all anxiety sufferers). Other things that help are reductions in caffeine & alcohol intake, increased exercise (the more extreme the better) and acceptance of the physiological symptoms of anxiety - it is easy to think that heart palpatations etc caused by anxiety are a result of genuine physiolgical issues (which in turn causes more anxiety).

[1] https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Lalonde/publicat...