Struggle with Sleep and Anxiety? It might be your genes

Over 40% of adults struggle with anxiety, brain fog, hormone imbalances, or even sleep issues—yet no one can give you a clear answer why? It could all come down to a single gene: COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase).

At Body Tonic, we believe in getting to the root of chronic health issues rather than masking symptoms. If you’ve been feeling off and suspect your body isn’t working as efficiently as it should, your COMT gene could be playing a major role. Understanding it could be the key to unlocking better mental clarity, hormone balance, and deeper sleep.

What Is the COMT Gene and Why Does It Matter?

The COMT gene controls how your body breaks down dopamine, norepinephrine, and estrogen—all of which impact your mood, stress response, and hormone levels. This also affects how your brain and nervous system wind down at night, making it a critical player in sleep disorders.

Depending on your genetic variant, you may have either a slow or fast COMT function:

• Slow COMT: Your body holds onto dopamine and estrogen longer, making you driven and ambitious but also prone to anxiety, estrogen dominance, stress sensitivity, and insomnia.
• Fast COMT: Your body breaks down dopamine and estrogen too quickly, leaving you calm under pressure but possibly struggling with low motivation, brain fog, hormone imbalances, and poor sleep quality.

If you’re constantly wired but tired, waking up at 3 AM, or struggling with deep sleep, your COMT function could be at play.

Signs You May Have a COMT Imbalance

• Anxiety, racing thoughts, or difficulty relaxing
• Brain fog, low motivation, or ADHD-like symptoms
• PMS, heavy periods, or estrogen dominance
• Difficulty metabolizing caffeine or alcohol
• Sleep disorders (trouble falling asleep, frequent waking, light sleep, or non-restorative sleep)
• Struggles with chronic stress or burnout
• Mood swings, irritability, or difficulty focusing

If you checked more than a couple of these, your COMT gene might be working against you. But don’t worry—Body Tonic can help.

How to Optimize Your COMT Function for Better Health & Sleep

Once you understand your genetic tendencies, the next step is targeted nutrition and lifestyle support. The right strategy depends on whether you have a slow or fast COMT variant.

For Slow COMT (Anxiety, Sleep Struggles, Estrogen Overload):

• Support methylation: Take SAMe, B vitamins (especially B6, B12, and folate), and magnesium.
• Help clear excess estrogen: Consider DIM, calcium D-glucarate, and sulforaphane (broccoli sprout extract).
• Calm the nervous system for better sleep:
  • L-theanine (reduces racing thoughts)
  • Magnesium Glycinate (relaxes muscles and nerves)
  • GABA & Glycine (help the brain wind down at night)
  • Adaptogens like Rhodiola (support stress resilience)
• Avoid overstimulation: Reduce caffeine, alcohol, and high-dose dopamine boosters like L-tyrosine.

For Fast COMT (Brain Fog, Low Estrogen, Light Sleep):

• Support dopamine production: Supplement with L-tyrosine, Mucuna pruriens, or adaptogens like ginseng.
• Boost brain function & sleep quality:
  • Creatine (enhances brain energy)
  • Omega-3s (DHA + EPA) (support dopamine function and cognitive health)
  • Phosphatidylserine (reduces nighttime cortisol spikes)
• Balance hormones naturally: Use flaxseeds, maca, or chaste tree extract for estrogen support.
• Avoid excessive detoxing: Skip high-dose methylation supplements and estrogen detoxifiers like DIM.

How COMT Impacts Sleep—And What to Do About It

Your COMT gene plays a major role in how your brain clears out stress hormones at night. If your body holds onto too much dopamine and norepinephrine (slow COMT), you may feel wired but exhausted, making it hard to fall asleep. If your body clears them out too fast (fast COMT), you may struggle with deep sleep, waking frequently, or feeling unrested.

At Body Tonic, we specialize in functional medicine testing to pinpoint exactly where the breakdown is happening. Whether your cortisol is too high at night, your estrogen is imbalanced, or your neurotransmitters aren’t functioning optimally, we can create a plan to get your body back on track.

Get to the Root of Chronic Disease at Body Tonic

If you’re constantly tired, anxious, moody, hormonally imbalanced, or battling sleep issues, it’s time to stop guessing and start testing. At Body Tonic, we offer comprehensive wellness consultations to uncover the root causes of your health struggles—whether it’s your COMT gene, hormone imbalances, or metabolic dysfunction.

Our expert practitioners will create a personalized health plan based on your unique biochemistry, including:
✔️ Advanced lab testing to check hormones, neurotransmitters, and genetic markers
✔️ A deep dive into your symptoms, sleep patterns, and stress levels
✔️ Customized nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations
✔️ A roadmap to long-term health optimization

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you suspect your COMT gene is affecting your mood, energy, hormones, or sleep, it’s time to take action. Book a wellness consultation at Body Tonic today, and let’s get to the root of your health struggles—so you can start feeling like yourself again.