Adaptogens Show Early Promise

Mark Manson and Drew Burney review ashwagandha and similar supplements, noting intriguing early results but inconsistent quality and limited confidence.

Play episode from 01:11:04

chevron_right

Transcript

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

Here's the uncomfortable truth about anxiety: most of what people reach for to fix it was chosen because it feels easy, not because it works. The supplement that went viral on TikTok, the CBD gummy, the glass of wine after a hard week... they range from doing nothing to actively making things worse.

We ranked 17 of the most popular anti-anxiety interventions from the absolute worst to the number one most effective, according to the research. Along the way, we get into why alcohol is the anxiety cure that 2 billion people use that actually creates more anxiety in the long run. We talk about the UGC marketing conspiracy behind the magnesium craze. We break down the difference between harmonious and obsessive anxiety, why your brain is literally doing therapy on itself every night while you sleep (and what happens when you don't let it), and why exercise is essentially practice for being afraid. The pattern that emerges is painfully clear: everything that actually works is a lifestyle change, and everything that doesn't is a quick fix. The real question isn't which intervention is best. It's whether you're willing to be uncomfortable long enough for the right ones to work.

Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/anxiety/

• Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁨https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁩

• Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved

Check out our sponsors:

• Waking Up: Get 30 days free at https://www.wakingup.com/solved

• Shopify: Sign up for your $1-per-month-trial at https://shopify.com/solved

• Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off and use code solved202650off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only

• Wealthfront: Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: https://www.wealthfront.com/solved

This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Mark Manson receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on wealthfront.com/solved. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.

Chapters:

0:00 CHAPTER 1: What Is Anxiety and Why Do We Have It?

17:32 CHAPTER 2: #17 Alcohol (Bullshit Tier)

25:04 CHAPTER 3: #16 Magnesium and #15 Journaling

37:51 CHAPTER 4: #14 CBD and #13 Digital Detoxes

45:16 CHAPTER 5: #12 Breathwork and #11 Benzodiazepines

56:29 CHAPTER 6: #10 Probiotics and #9 Yoga

1:05:21 CHAPTER 7: #8 Adaptogens and #7 SSRIs

1:21:25 CHAPTER 8: #6 Psychedelics

1:33:02 CHAPTER 9: Top Five – Social Connection, Sleep, Exercise, Meditation, and Therapy

2:04:23 CHAPTER 10: Final Takeaways

Follow Mark