Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, in the brain. It has a calming effect by blocking certain signals in the nervous system. The brain produces and ...

GABA helps calm our nervous system, which can help calm anxiety and stress and help us sleep. It can help us sleep by slowing brain activity and dropping our heart rate and blood pressure.

Antidepressants are widely used as a drug based intervention to treat more severe cases of postnatal depression. While they ...

Nutt adds: “There is evidence that your GABA system becomes a bit less sensitive when you drink a lot of alcohol, and if you’re a heavy drinker, to be honest, you may not get much of an effect ...

When you first drink, alcohol starts to turn on the GABA system in the brain. That's what produces the sociability, relaxes you, takes away that social anxiety.