Do you feel easily triggered into a state of stress and have a hard time recovering back to baseline? Do you struggle to fall and stay asleep? Does it feel like you're often on edge, with energy crashes throughout the day? Do you feel a lack of motivation or focus?

If so, you might have a mutation on your COMT gene. You're not alone — roughly 25% of people have a variant of this gene that significantly affects their ability to regulate stress and mood.

So, what does that mean? Let’s break it down.

What is a COMT Gene Variant?

The COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase) gene plays a crucial role in breaking down neurotransmitters like dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine. These chemicals influence focus, motivation, stress response, and mood regulation.

There are different variations of the COMT gene, and they affect how quickly or slowly your body processes these neurotransmitters. The most well-known variant is the COMT Val158Met polymorphism, which comes in two forms:

• Val/Val (Fast COMT): Breaks down dopamine and stress hormones quickly, which may contribute to lower baseline dopamine levels, potentially impacting focus and motivation.

• Met/Met (Slow COMT): Breaks down dopamine and stress hormones slowly, leading to prolonged effects of stress, anxiety, and overstimulation.

• Val/Met (Intermediate COMT): Falls somewhere in between, with moderate neurotransmitter breakdown speed.

How Does the COMT Mutation Impact Physical and Mental Health?

If you have the slow COMT variant (Met/Met), your body has a harder time clearing stress hormones, meaning you may experience:

• Chronic Stress & Anxiety: Stress lingers longer than it should, making it hard to ‘come down’ after a stressful event.

• Irritability & Mood Swings: Excess dopamine and norepinephrine can cause heightened emotional sensitivity and a quick temper.

• Sleep Disturbances: High nighttime cortisol and excess dopamine can make it difficult to unwind and stay asleep.

• Energy Crashes & Burnout: The inability to efficiently regulate neurotransmitters can lead to fatigue, especially in high-stress situations.

• Increased Sensitivity to Caffeine & Stimulants: If your body is already slow at breaking down dopamine, stimulants can amplify anxiety and restlessness.

• Estrogen-Related Symptoms: COMT also metabolizes estrogen, so imbalances can lead to hormonal mood swings, menstrual irregularities, and heightened PMS symptoms.

Conversely, if you have the fast COMT variant (Val/Val), you may break down dopamine too quickly, which can contribute to lower motivation, difficulty sustaining focus, and a tendency toward depressive symptoms.

Why Determining if You Have the COMT Mutation Can Be Life-Changing

Understanding your COMT status can be a game-changer for mental and physical health. By identifying whether you have a slow or fast COMT variant, you can take targeted steps to balance your neurotransmitters and optimize your well-being. Getting targeted lab testing can shed light on what's really going on inside your body (not just your mind). The good news? These genetic mutations can be supported with targeted, natural interventions. 

With specific lifestyle and nutritional strategies, you can mitigate the downsides of your COMT variant and enhance your ability to handle stress, regulate mood, and optimize mental clarity. If you’ve been struggling with chronic anxiety, burnout, or mood instability, testing for the COMT mutation could be a pivotal step in understanding your body’s unique needs and making meaningful, lasting changes to your physical and mental health. If you're ready to improve your quality of life, learn more about lab testing here.