I took magnesium every day for a month to see if it really reduced stress

Since the birth of my second child, I have struggled with depression, anxiety and anger. I’m sure many moms do – and it’s something we should all talk about more.

I’ve read a lot of articles, blogs, and books about stress management – I’ve tried deep breathing, going outside, and listening to calming music. I even talked to a doctor at one point. I had a hard time controlling my emotions.

However, deep into internet research one night, I discovered that low levels of magnesium can lead to high levels of depression. An article in The Guardian back in January referred to magnesium as the ‘latest fun supplement’ that people are taking to help them feel less anxious.

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I was curious, and read more about it, before deciding to go ahead with it. I couldn’t believe it, but I stopped at Holland & Barrett on the way home from work, and spoke to the lady in the store. He confirmed that magnesium can help with depression – and pointed me to some options.

I picked up this plastic jar of 90 Magnesium 375mg tablets – and thought I’d give it a few months to try. If it didn’t work, I’d drop the whole idea, I thought.

I started at the beginning of May, taking it day by day. If you can’t get into H&B recently, there are plenty of options on Amazon, such as this pack of 60 Vitabiotics Magnesium for £5.09. Or these Bettervits 60 capsules for £26.99 which apparently contain three forms of magnesium.

According to the NHS, Magnesium is a mineral that helps to convert the food we eat into energy, and to ensure that the parathyroid glands, which produce hormones important for bone health, work normally. Men need about 300mg per day, and women 270mg. It can be found naturally in many different foods such as spinach, nuts and wholemeal bread. The NHS says that having 400mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.

It’s the beginning of June – and I feel like I’ve noticed a change after a month on the tablets. I noticed it especially at the beginning of the experiment when I religiously took the tablet every morning. I felt calm while working, I felt calm about the children – I didn’t enjoy the disturbing thoughts that often came to my mind.

I felt more patient, I didn’t feel like I was going to explode at all. But after a few weeks there was one very difficult day where I felt stressed, anxious and angry. At first I was worried – maybe the magnesium is not working?

However, perhaps, it is true that it is not a magic pill that promises to eliminate all feelings of anger forever – it can do a lot more!

Overall, I feel like taking a magnesium supplement helps keep my stress levels down on a daily basis. So I’ll keep taking it, like it’s just a placebo effect, I feel like it makes me feel better in a small way. Sure, I’ll probably have the odd meltdown here and there, but I’m only human.

I will also try to get outside more, move more, and add more vegetables to my diet. I also recently found my Christian faith back in September 2023 which brought me great peace.

To find magnesium tablets, visit Holland & Barrett here. Or try Amazon’s Vitabiotics Magnesium or Bettervits 60 capsules also on Amazon.

Disclaimer – I bought this item with my own money and the above article is just my opinion. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor before taking supplements if you are unsure.