Kava Worked Better Than Anything Else I've Tried: Here's Why That Blew My Mind
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I’ve lived with anxiety for as long as I can remember. My mum thought I’d grow out of it. I didn’t.
There were signs early on—like wetting myself at age 5 during a guitar lesson, and again at age 7 at a new school after we moved two hours away into the country. I can still feel how overwhelming those moments were, but back then, no one really saw it as anxiety. Just nerves. Just shyness. Just a phase.
It wasn’t.
Now, a smidge over 50, I know better. I was masking. Hard.
Over the years, I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, scoliosis and back damage, IBS, eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE), and a tangled mess of sensitivities—including food triggers and chronic pain.
The big realisation? These things are comorbid—they feed off each other. On top of the conditions already mentioned, I also live with dermatitis and psoriasis, both of which flare when my inflammation is high—and that inflammation comes from pain, stress, food sensitivities, and anxiety. It’s a loop. When my body is inflamed, my skin reacts, my mood dips, and my nervous system spirals. The cycle isn’t just emotional—it’s physical, layered, and constant. ADHD fuels my anxiety. Pain triggers depression. Overthinking makes my body tense. It’s a cycle I’ve spent years trying to break.
The ADHD diagnosis in particular was a cathartic moment. Some people say, "It's just a label." I assume those folks have always felt like they fit in. I haven’t. Classic middle child. I was the black sheep. I’ve always done things differently—read palms, talked about energy bodies, didn’t drink alcohol for 15 years while raising kids. That kind of weird.
Now, I wake with anxiety. It doesn’t need a trigger—it’s just there. And every night is a puzzle: how do I treat my mind, body, and energy field?
I’ve tried THC (yes, I have a script), Valium (scripted too), ADHD meds, and I also take Cymbalta for depression and fibromyalgia—which helps with about 70% of the fibro pain. Meditation, mudras, reiki, magnesium, breathing, red light, gua sha, massage, chiro, Qi-Gong, no dairy, no gluten, no eggs, no nuts, no soy... You name it, I’ve trialled it.
Then I tried Kava
I wasn’t expecting much. I’d heard whispers, but assumed it was just another earthy wellness thing. But I’m being completely honest when I say: nothing has worked as well as Kava.
I was mindblown.
My first thought? "Is this legal?!" I double-checked about six times. (It is! More on the rules below.)
Let me be real—it tastes gross. Like dirt, bark, and the inside of a vitamin bottle, with a hint of licorice & chocolate. I scull it fast. It's worth it. And I say this as someone who only drinks alcohol if it tastes like a dessert. Kava isn't delicious. But it works. My tummy doesn’t always love it, but I’ve had worse from a bad iced coffee. The mild nausea at times is nothing compared to my old IBS days before diet restrictions!
So Why Does Kava Work So Well?
Kava works on GABA receptors in the brain—the same ones Valium targets. But unlike Valium, it doesn’t wipe you out. It relaxes without sedating. It slows the brain’s anxious chatter without dulling your sparkle. It’s also a natural muscle relaxant, and some varieties are anti-inflammatory. For people like me—whose body is in fight-or-flight mode by default—Kava is like an off-switch that doesn’t punish you for using it.
It clears my head, calms my body, and actually lasts for hours. I feel a sense of calm with it in my system. It doesn’t feel like I’ve numbed myself—it feels like I’ve returned to centre.
I take about a teaspoon in 200ml of water. Sip or scull, up to you. I’ve heard you can get tablets too—I haven’t tried those yet but I’m definitely keen.
Should You Try It?
If you have anxiety, chronic pain, or even if you’re someone who self-medicates with alcohol to unwind: yes, try it. It’s not cheap—but honestly, neither are any of the natural or prescription options we already juggle. And unlike alcohol, your liver will thank you.
Nothing I’ve tried—not THC, not Valium, not ADHD meds—has created this kind of clarity and calm at once.
Some Notes:
Disclaimer: Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying Kava—especially if you're taking other medications. While it worked wonders for me, everyone's body and prescriptions are different.
Yes, it’s legal in Australia under the Kava Pilot Program.
Yes, you can drive on it.
No, it’s not a magic cure. But it’s the best thing I’ve found.
If you have anxiety, especially the kind that runs through your nervous system before your thoughts even begin, give it a go. I’ll drop a link below to the brand I used.
Also—if you’ve got a short pinky and a long index finger, like me? You might be on the same internal anxiety merry-go-round I’ve been riding my whole life. You're not alone, suss out my ADHD innatentive blog here if you want to read more about how I pieced together the fact Empaths & those that wake with anxiety have a short pinky finger.
You deserve to feel peaceful. This helped me get closer to that. -Ang x
