Nootropics for social anxiety may help to promote a healthier social mindset.
Ever avoid the gym because you feel people are staring? Or avoided a party because of nerves? Maybe you've skipped a class or activity that involved public speaking. If you’ve felt social anxiety symptoms that interfere with life activities like these, you know how hard it is to overcome.
Social anxiety is more common than most people realize. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 7.1% of U.S. adults experience social anxiety disorder in a given year, and about 12.1% will meet criteria at some point in life.
Is it getting worse? While year-to-year tracking of social anxiety specifically is limited, broader anxiety and mental-health indicators suggest things are trending in the wrong direction. For example, a West Health–Gallup poll (Dec 2025) found Americans’ self-rated mental health hit a record low—a backdrop that likely increases social avoidance and anxiety for many people.
If you are looking for supplements or nootropics that can help with social anxiety and its intense fear -- something calming that supports confidence and makes social situations feel easier -- you're in the right place. We're covering the best of them in this guide. Let's get to it!
Key Takeaways
- Nootropics may help social anxiety by easing stress reactivity and supporting calm focus and relaxed mental clarity.
- Feel timelines: L-Theanine can be felt within 30–60 min; adaptogens and neuro-supportives often build over 1–2+ weeks.
- Stack strategy: Start stim-free and low/slow; avoid late dosing and high caffeine before social events.
- Whole-person approach: Pair supplements with breathwork, sleep, and CBT-style skills for the best outcomes.
Top nootropics for social anxiety
- Phosphatidylserine (PS): Known for reducing cortisol levels, PS may help soothe anxiety and improve interest in socializing, particularly in older individuals or those experiencing stress.
- Bacopa Monnieri: This adaptogen helps balance mood and has shown potential for easing anxiety with prolonged use, though further research is needed for its specific effects on social anxiety
- Rhodiola Rosea: An adaptogen that helps reduce stress and improve performance under stress, Rhodiola may also alleviate symptoms of generalized anxiety, which can overlap with social anxiety.
- L-Theanine: Found in green tea, L-Theanine has anti-stress effects, promotes relaxation and settles the central nervous system, all of which can help manage social anxiety symptoms.
- Vitamins B6, B9, B12: Essential B-vitamins can support brain function and help alleviate stress and anxiety, particularly in women during menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Best nootropics for social anxiety in one stack: Mind Lab Pro®
Mind Lab Pro® (MLP) is a caffeine-free nootropic stack that combines these ingredients to help soothe social anxiety by promoting a relaxed, focused, and calm mindset. It is designed as a whole-brain booster, including support for mood balance, improved cognitive function and overall brain health without triggering anxiety or side effects associated with stimulants.
Some nootropics for social anxiety might make it a little easier.
In this guide, we will discuss what causes social anxiety, some of the symptoms of social anxiety, and outline the best brain supplements you can use for anxiety management.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is characterized by irrational fears, feelings, and negative physical reactions in social situations. There are two types of social anxiety:
- Generalized Social Anxiety: Anxiety that occurs in every social situation a person encounters
- Non-generalized Social Anxiety: Anxiety that is specific to certain social situations (social anxiety disorder). For example, a person might be terrified of public speaking.
These two types of anxiety characterize different levels of social anxiety. However, they can both be identified by the same symptoms.(1)
- Irrational fear of being judged or rejected by others in social settings
- Fear of speaking in social settings
- Avoiding social settings all together
- Excessively overthinking conversations and actions before and after the fact
- Fear of failure
- Low self esteem
- Elevated stress levels
- Hypersensitivity
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Nausea
Related Post: Nootropics for Introverts
Why Should You Seek Help for Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety has been linked to a variety of other issues including alcohol and drug abuse, depression, using healthcare resources in excess, and bad quality of life.
Even mild anxiety could be affecting your life in more ways than you realize.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of social anxiety on a regular basis, especially panic attacks, talk to your doctor first, and consider taking the right nootropics for an extra source of natural support.
Below, we’ll discuss what to look for and what to avoid on your mission to combat social anxiety with nootropics.
Keep in mind, however, that therapy may be the most logical first step if you haven’t already consulted a psychologist or psychiatrist.
I took the tablets before a social event I was feeling anxious about, and I swear I must have had 5x the charisma I normally do.James H.
Mind Lab Pro® uses Stimulant-Free Ingredients: Social anxiety marks just one reason why Mind Lab Pro® is 100% caffeine and stimulant-free -- to ensure zero of the negative side effects associated with synthetically made and modified stimulants.
Top Nootropics for Social Anxiety
However, the following Mind Lab Pro® ingredients are supported by research demonstrating their potential to help with anxiety, mood and relaxation -- which form an effective stack to buy for social anxiety support.
Mind Lab Pro® nootropics social anxiety benefits:
- Moderating cortisol levels (stress hormones) associated with stress and anxiety;
- Regulating neurotransmitters for better brain chemical balance, associated with calm relaxation;
- Tuning your brain waves to a more calm and relaxed state
Let's take a look at the most promising Mind Lab Pro® ingredients for social anxiety concerns:
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Phosphatidylserine may help soothe social anxiety by counteracting stress in the body. Specifically, phosphatidylserine has proven to reduce the effects of exercise-induced stress caused by cortisone release in males.(5) When it comes to women, PS may lead to a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and more interest in socialization for the elderly.
PS achieves these two anxiety support activities in a similar way: By slowing the production of cortisol, which the body might be producing in excess in reaction to stress factors. High cortisol levels can create blood pressure concerns, which may contribute to social anxiety symptoms as well.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Phosphatidylserine.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is an adaptogen herb that may help balance the mood in stressful situations -- nicely complementing the anti-stress effects of PS. Studies on Bacopa Monnieri show it has the potential to help improve symptoms of anxiety with prolonged use.(6) It also has shown to have little to no side effects, making it extremely safe. However, more research should be done to determine whether consuming it can specifically soothe any symptoms of social anxiety.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Bacopa Monnieri
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola rosea is an herbal adaptogen that may also help women soothe symptoms of social anxiety. While it is known for reducing stress and improving performance under stress, it has also shown some promise for reducing symptoms of stress associated with generalized anxiety.
Specifically, rhodiola rosea has proven to reduce self-assessed generalized anxiety scores significantly when administered to those experiencing symptoms.(7) Keep in mind, however, that general anxiety is somewhat different from social anxiety.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Rhodiola Rosea
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is one of the main amino acids in green tea. It is often used for relaxation and has proven anti-stress effects.(8) For example, it may decrease stress in the brain and body by reducing the arousal of cortisone and slowing down heart rate.(9)
L-Theanine is also known to activate Alpha waves in the brain, supporting broad-spectrum effects all tied to relaxation and mood enhancement. Studies show it can help to reduce anxiety and balance blood pressure in reaction to stressful situations.
More on Mind Lab Pro® L-Theanine
Vitamins B6, B9, B12
B vitamins are essential nutrients necessary to maintain myriad healthy body and brain functions.
One study shows that essential B vitamins (along with fatty acids and zinc), may be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety related to menopause and premenstrual syndrome in women.
Researchers suggested the B-Vitamins might work on stress by decreasing secretion of salivary cortisol. Specifically, nootropic vitamin B6 has been suggested to help soothe symptoms of anxiety in elderly women.
More on Mind Lab Pro® B6, B9, B12
Best Nootropics for Social Anxiety in 2026: Mind Lab Pro®
Mind Lab Pro® is an advanced 11-in-1 nootropic supplement that functions as a whole-brain booster. It includes several of the best nootropics for social anxiety, expertly stacked into one formula.
The MLP Formula: Citicoline (CDP Choline) dosage 250mg per serving, Phosphatidylserine (PS) 100mg (from sunflower lecithin), Bacopa monnieri 150mg (24% bacosides, 9 bioactives), Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom 500mg (fruit and mycelium), Maritime Pine Bark Extract 75mg (Standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins), N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 175mg, L-Theanine 100mg per serving, Rhodiola rosea 50mg (Standardized to 3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides), NutriGenesis® Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg), Vitamin B9 (100 mcg), Vitamin B12 (7.5 mcg)
Mind Lab Pro can boost all sorts of cognitive functions. But when it comes to social anxiety, specifically, the formula may help by promoting:
- Stress resistance
- Relaxation
- Mood enhancement
Stim-free, clean and healthy for the brain, MLP is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a natural pathway to social anxiety relief. Whatever you want to achieve in life, Mind Lab Pro® (MLP) helps you promote mental clarity and maintain peak performance in a calm, healthy state.
Mind Lab Pro®: A Research-Backed Stack.
Two clinical studies have revealed that Mind Lab Pro® appears to boost cognitive performance across multiple mental functions:
- Subjects who took Mind Lab Pro® for 30 days showed improved performance in tasks measuring simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), and anticipation.(10)
- Subjects who took MLP in showed improved performance across several different types of memory, including auditory and visual memory, plus immediate and delayed recall.(11)
- Mind Lab Pro® didn’t significantly change speed or accuracy on a quick thinking visual decision task, but EEG data showed stronger brain-network coordination—suggesting better- connected information processing.
Which nootropics are most talked about for social anxiety?
Common picks include L-Theanine, Rhodiola, Bacopa, Lion’s Mane, and magnesium. Choose stim-free options before high-stakes events.
How long until I feel something?
L-Theanine may be felt in 30–60 minutes; broader calm-focus benefits from adaptogens often build with daily use over 1–2+ weeks.
Can I combine nootropics with therapy or medication?
Often yes—supplements can complement CBT or coaching. If you take prescription meds (e.g., SSRIs/SNRIs, benzodiazepines), consult your clinician for interactions.
Any ingredients I should avoid?
If you’re anxiety-prone, be cautious with stimulants and high-dose caffeine. Introduce one change at a time to gauge response.
Summary
Social anxiety can hold back quality of life by disrupting social interactions. However, you don't have to suffer.
There's a lot you can do to alleviate social anxiety and promote a healthier social outlook, safely and naturally -- including smart supplementation with the best brain-boosting nootropics.
Mind Lab Pro®, the Universal Nootropic™, uses all natural ingredients -- diverse brain boosting nootropics that are 100% caffeine-free.
This approach allows Mind Lab Pro®'s "social nootropics" to take full effect without triggering anxiety side effects that are commonly associated with stimulants.
References
- Anxiety Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. Link
- Starks MA, et al. The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008;5:11. Link
- Sokołowska L, Bylka W. Bacopa monnieri – activity and applications in medicine. Wiad Lek. 2015;68(3 pt 2):358–362. Link
- Bystritsky A. A pilot study of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(2):175–180. Link
- White DJ, et al. Anti-stress, behavioural and magnetoencephalography effects of an L-theanine-based nutrient drink: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Nutrients. 2016;8(1):53. Link
- Kimura K, et al. L-theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(1):39–45. Link
- Utley A, Gonzalez Y, Imboden CA. The efficacy of a nootropic supplement on information processing in adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res. 2023;49(1). Link
- Abbott-Imboden C, Gonzalez Y, Utley A. Efficacy of the nootropic supplement Mind Lab Pro on memory in adults: double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2023;e2872. Link
- O’Reilly D, Bolam J, Delis I, Utley A. Neural mechanisms of cognitive enhancement with a nootropic supplement. Brain Sciences. 2025;15(3):226. Link
