Anxiety, panic attacks and diet?

AngInCanada
AngInCanada Posts: 947 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've had problems with anxiety for years but more specifically panIc attacks for about three years. I used to suffer from daily, twice a day, all day panic attacks. It sucked so has. I went on cipralex and after doseage adjustments I have thankfully been feeling way better for the past year. That being said, the daily anxiety is gone but I still get panic attacks followed by rebound anxiety. Usually they are before my TOM and during. And around ovulation. I am only 31 and doc said I am not in peri menopause. I don't want to increase my dose and I don't want to use my prn ativan. Has anyone noticed a correlation between anxiety and the foods they eat? I've heard dairy and wheat are triggers for some but would hate to cut those out of I didn't have to. Any advice?

Replies

  • Thin1979
    Thin1979 Posts: 48
    I can totally relate. I too suffered panic attacks and anxiety. The worst trigger I found was any products with aspartame...Sucralose etc....I laid off the diet coke, sugar free stuff and the panic attacks and anxiety disappeared. I never took medicine for th condition but i I was really close to getting to that point. Try eliminating this poison. I wish you the best I know it's rough.
  • ridge1980
    ridge1980 Posts: 46 Member
    I quit caffeine and it really helped (for the most part- its been a year and I am slowly adding it back). I also see spikes in anxiety the day after enjoying some alcohol so I have to be careful with that.
  • sbilyeu75
    sbilyeu75 Posts: 567 Member
    I've been having anxiety/panic attacks since about a month before the birth of my son this year. I'm not sure why I'm having them, but I find that too much caffeine is a trigger. Also, I take Omega-3, a women's multivitamin and a 1/2 tsp of Natural Calm every day. It tends to get worse during ovulation and TOM.

    I have my first visit with a counselor tomorrow. I'm hoping to gain coping mechanisms as I'm trying to deal with this without getting on medication. However, if I don't see any improvement in a few months I'm going to start investigating hormonal imbalances. I had a tubal ligation and I'm not sure if that may be the source of my woes.
  • cruiser3004
    cruiser3004 Posts: 72 Member
    Hi, I have managed to eliminate my panic attacks by limiting the amount of caffiene i consume, which was a trigger (I used to drink diet coke as a water substitute).

    The main cause of my anxiety though was an excess carbondioxide bulid up in my blood stream, which was caused by improper breathing. (Chest breathing, which causes you to breath faster (like hyperventilationg) and hence cause C02 buildup)

    I started actively trying to retrain myself to breath properly (diaphram breathing), and slowly all my symptoms went away. I have not had a panic attack (or felt any real anxiety) in approx 11 years.

    This may not apply to you, but it has helped other people in the past.

    All the best
  • FatToFitMomma
    FatToFitMomma Posts: 8
    I've suffered from anxiety for most of my life. I found cutting out equal, splenda, and other artifical sweetners helps. So does limiting my coffee intake. My anxiety got worse last year after I had my 3 child (my son) and my Doctor said it's Post Partum Depression. I was on zoloft and after a few months I noticed a difference but I also gained my baby weight (40 lbs) back because it increased my appetite and I didn't do to well with that. Working out always helps me with stress and anxiety too.
  • AngInCanada
    AngInCanada Posts: 947 Member
    Thanks! Will read through these again later tonight when kids are in bed!!
  • jg627
    jg627 Posts: 1,221 Member
    Exercise did it for me. As soon as I quit my routine I turn into a mess.
  • kravii
    kravii Posts: 7 Member
    Hi! I've had anxiety and panic attacks (mostly due to a sensitive stomach) for as long as I can remember. I find that I've pretty much eliminated them by removing coffee, candies (the sugar high can sometimes leave you jittery), and working out as often as possible. The more you get used to the feeling of adrenaline, the less likely you are to "panic."
    I've also found Yoga extremely helpful.
  • mandi7013
    mandi7013 Posts: 7 Member
    I suffer from anxiety also and take medication. One of the medications made me gain weight so I went off it and now try to deal with the attacks by taking the one medication and exercise. I feel better when I exercise which I believe relives some of my anxiety. I do need to lay off the soda's (diet) like someone else had said earlier.

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