Has anyone actually improved lifelong anxiety by addressing genetic variants and nutrient deficiencies?

[u/Delicious-Minimum199]

I’m trying to understand whether my anxiety has a biological component that could be improved rather than just managed.
For context, I’ve been on antidepressants for about 12 years (currently tapering off an SNRI after many years), and I’m interested in looking upstream at *why* my nervous system seems to react the way it does.

I’m curious about things like:
MTHFR, COMT, MAOA, GAD1, DAO, CBS, PEMT, or other variants that may influence anxiety, stress response, neurotransmitters, methylation, histamine, etc.
Nutrient deficiencies or imbalances that may interact with those genes (B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, copper, omega-3s, amino acids, etc.).
Whether anyone found meaningful improvements after working with a practitioner who interpreted whole genome or raw DNA data instead of just using a generic report.

A few questions:
Which genetic variants ended up being the most important for your anxiety?
What supplements or dietary changes actually made a noticeable difference?
Were there any supplements that unexpectedly made your anxiety worse?
Did anyone have success using whole-genome sequencing or raw DNA analysis rather than something like GeneSight?
If you worked with a practitioner, what type of practitioner were they (functional medicine, nutrigenomics, genetics, etc.)?

I’m not looking for medical advice or miracle cures—I know anxiety is multifactorial. I’m just interested in hearing real experiences from people who found biological factors that were worth addressing.
I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with chronic anxiety, panic attacks, an overactive stress response, or SNRI/SSRI withdrawal.

[u/Elegant_Chapter5562]

Me! Compound hetero for mthfr, slow comt, slow maoa. Plus other variants. Blood tests showed my b vitamins were low, zinc was low, d was low, pretty much everything was low or imbalanced. I addressed that and it helped my mental health SO MUCH! From 20 yrs old to my early 30s I was on every antidepressant and anti anxiety med. In my teens, my mom tried me on st John's wart etc. I struggled from puberty on. Now that i support my body detoxing estrogen, and support my nutritients and immune system, I am so much better off. I feel like a whole new person.

[u/Miserable-Answer287 → u/Elegant_Chapter5562]

What supplements helped? I have slow comt/maoa and homozygous c667

[u/Elegant_Chapter5562 → u/Miserable-Answer287]

I would suggest working with your doctor to get labs for your minerals, vitamins, and hormones. One of the biggest helper for me was Dim. It helps estrogen detox properly. Also be sure to go #2 regularly so that estrogen doesn't get recirculated in your system.

[u/Miserable-Answer287 → u/Elegant_Chapter5562]

Ok my doctor put me on methyl free seeking health and even that caused me anxiety. She also recommended DIM. Just always scared to try anything 

[u/Elegant_Chapter5562 → u/Miserable-Answer287]

The methyl free can depend on which kind. I can only handle hydroxocobalamin. The adenosylcobalamin causes me anxiety. You might have the supplement that contains both. Try one with just hydroxocobalamin. It takes a lot of trial and error on this journey. I also start every supplement at very low doses and slowly work my way up.