Can Supplements Like Magnesium or L-Theanine Spark Inner Sound and Visualization?

Hello and welcome to another episode of Aphantasia Experiments. This one is actually going to be about aphantasia, and it's going to be a quick one because I'm walking my dog and I just need to get this thought out there. I’m going to tell a little story and ask my listeners: have you ever had an experience like this? If you have, please email me at roocreative@gmail.com
. I might not answer (I’m terrible at email), but I will keep it for my research because I feel like this is something.

So, backstory. I have not been sleeping very well. I had an injury a couple months ago, and that threw me for a loop. Since then, I just have not been sleeping. I’ve talked about this on the podcast before—sometimes when I don’t sleep, I feel like it’s because the universe is talking to me or whatever. I hear the hum. I know other people hear that hum too, and it can be loud. Sometimes it feels like wisdom is coming through, and other times it’s just irritating and I want to sleep.

Anyway, I had this rib injury which led me to find out I have a connective tissue disorder. That’s led me to see a bunch of doctors, nutritionists, and naturopaths. One thing a doctor recommended was magnesium glycinate. This is pretty standard for people who struggle with sleep. Now, my son has also been recommended magnesium, and I’m pretty sure it’s usually glycinate. But every time he’s taken it, he can’t sleep. He becomes a complete insomniac. The exact opposite effect.

The same thing started happening to me. I’ve tried magnesium glycinate two or three times, and each time I thought, “Oh, it’s probably just a fluke.” But no—I take it and I’m wide awake. Insomniac. So I went onto my Ehlers-Danlos support board and asked if anyone else had an opposite reaction to magnesium glycinate. A bunch of people said yes. Some mentioned that if you react that way, it might be because you’re extremely deficient—so your body needs to build it up before it helps. Others said to try taking smaller doses morning, afternoon, and night so it builds up in your system.

I also had people recommend different forms of magnesium, or even adding L-Theanine. So yesterday, I took magnesium in the morning instead of at night. Then in the evening, I took a natural sleep aid that had magnesium, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, and slow-release melatonin. I fell asleep easily—no problem there. The real issue is waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. (sometimes cortisol, sometimes—maybe—the universe guiding me).

Sure enough, I woke up again around 3 a.m. But something felt different. My mind was clear. Not groggy. It was unusual. I moved from my bed to the couch, like I always do when I can’t sleep. And then something strange happened: I realized I was hearing a song in my head. Not my usual “thought voice” where I kind of sing it silently, but actually hearing it, like through headphones.

It only lasted about 30 seconds, and I don’t even remember what song it was—something poppy, maybe Selena Gomez or Shawn Mendes. But the details didn’t matter. What mattered was that I heard it. And when it ended, I thought, “I need to remember this happened.” It was fleeting, but so real.

So here’s my big question: could a mineral or nutrient deficiency be contributing to aphantasia? Maybe not having enough magnesium, or L-Theanine, or something else prevents us from visualizing—or even from hearing things in our minds. Maybe people with aphantasia just need higher doses than average to access these inner experiences.

I’m not suggesting anyone take massive amounts of supplements. I’m just curious: has anyone else noticed an increase in visualization or auditory experiences after trying something like magnesium or L-Theanine? Or was this an auditory hallucination because I was so exhausted?

I’d really love to hear your thoughts. You can email me at roocreative@gmail.com
if you’ve had similar experiences.

Oh, and a quick side note—if you’ve reached out for Reiki sessions, I’m so sorry for the delays. I love doing Reiki, but I’ve been busy with my injury, summer travel (including Alaska!), and now back-to-school season. If you’re interested, email me first to check if I have space. I’m a one-person show, which is why you get these raw, unedited podcasts with wind, dogs, and all.

Lastly, I want to recommend a fascinating episode of Diary of a CEO with Zara Violet, who talks about afterlife communication. She has the neuroscience background to go deep into these topics, unlike me just experimenting on myself. Definitely worth a listen if you’re curious about consciousness.

Anyway, that’s it for this episode. Take care of yourself, and let me know if supplements have ever shifted your inner world, even just for a moment.