What Is Kava And Could It Be Your Cure To Social Anxiety?

“Kava is a great alternative to alcohol because it can create a sense of overall happiness without the negative effects of alcohol like hangovers, headaches, aggressiveness, and messed up sleep,” she tells xoNecole. “It’s also not addictive.”

While the effects of kava may vary from person to person, most kava drinkers say that the sensation they get from kava makes them feel “a wave of relaxation and much more social and confident in social settings,” Hannah says. It can even give a slight “tingle” on the tongue. While no two kavas are the same, the greatest difference is in the makeup of the kava that you drink — from its traditional powder form to instant kava and even its most accessible form, tincture drops.

“Some kava makes you feel much more uplifted and energized, while others put you to sleep,” she explains. “Interestingly, kava has a reverse tolerance, meaning that seasoned kava drinkers feel more of the effects of kava with less of it, and people who are just starting to try kava have to have a lot of it just to feel anything.”

Some people may find themselves drawn to kava as an aid to their social anxiety. With about 15 million U.S. adults having social anxiety disorder in any given year, many can run to alcohol to feel more at ease and more open during social interactions. With kava in the mix, you can get the mood boost and sense of calm that can help you show up as your most authentic self without the side effects of drinking.

Such is the case for Hannah. “Personally, kava has helped a lot with my anxiety and has made it much easier to talk to people,” she says. “And I couldn’t have done it without kava itself — it’s been my teacher in making me more outgoing and telling me to just be myself in social situations.”

Before taking the plunge and trying kava for yourself, Hanah emphasizes that not all kava is not the same, and with each variety, different kava cultivars produce different effects. “Some are good for the nighttime and sleep, while others are good for frolicking in the meadow during a sunny day,” she says. Always buy from a trusted supplier and know where your kava is coming from."

Once you have, get creative and enjoy your kava sip, by sip by adding your favorite milk and flavoring. “In other words… get traditional kava powder, knead it, strain it, mix with coconut milk, — you will not regret it.”

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