I’m a bit late here, but I’ve tried rhodiola, and it has exactly the same empathy-eating effect for me that you’re describing. Have you considered nicotine? It’s a nootropic that probably has prosocial and anti-anxiety effects (subjectively, it does for me), and most of the addiction potential apparently comes from MAOIs in tobacco, which aren’t present in gum, patches, or e-cigarettes. There’s also kava; it’s not a nootropic, but it’s prosocial and anti-anxiety and AFAIK doesn’t negatively impact cognition.
Have you looked at rhodiola and L-theanine? They tend to counter some of the negative effects of more intense nootropics.
No I haven’t, thank you for bringing them to my attention; I’ll be sure to give them a good look.
I’m a bit late here, but I’ve tried rhodiola, and it has exactly the same empathy-eating effect for me that you’re describing. Have you considered nicotine? It’s a nootropic that probably has prosocial and anti-anxiety effects (subjectively, it does for me), and most of the addiction potential apparently comes from MAOIs in tobacco, which aren’t present in gum, patches, or e-cigarettes. There’s also kava; it’s not a nootropic, but it’s prosocial and anti-anxiety and AFAIK doesn’t negatively impact cognition.