Healthy diet for anxiety sufferer?

For me, the exercise helps more than anything for anxiety and I've not had to take medications in a long time now. I have cut out most processed foods and refined sugars, etc. (though I'm not nearly perfect on it and don't obsess about it). But, any time I go more than a couple of days without walking, running, or working out in some way, I can feel depression/anxiety begin to build and just get plain *itchy! So, make sure to exercise. Find something you like so that you can do it for life! You are on the right track with healthy food choices so just keep at it!

My naturopath has me on the GAPS diet (www.gapsdiet.com) for other health reasons but an added benefit is it has reduced my anxiety to very rare occurrences. I thought it would be hard to come off sugar but I just decided that that was the thing making me the most miserable health-wise and I was willing to stop fighting my body and take care of it.

Anyways, the diet has worked wonders for a lot of people. It's not for the feint of heart that's for sure but if I can stick with it anyone can. My naturopath had me do 3 days for each stage of the introductory diet. I've been on it since January 18th.

Message me if you want more info.

Yoga and tai chi...
...and a glass of red wine here and there LOL

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52227

For me, working out has made more of a difference than my diet. Limiting caffeine has also been a big factor, but working out and working out HARD (not reading a book while idling pedaling a bike) has made all the difference in the world. I haven't had to take any meds for it for over a year now!

Low caffeine and high cardiovascular exercise. Google "anxiety brain study exercise" and you might find the study I read about aerobic exercise actually changing the brain cells of rats with anxiety. I have suffered from terrible anxiety over my life...it is better these days. I walk 1 1/2 hr everyday at midday.

Here is part of the article: Researchers at Princeton University recently made a remarkable discovery about the brains of rats that exercise. Some of their neurons respond differently to stress than the neurons of slothful rats. Scientists have known for some time that exercise stimulates the creation of new brain cells (neurons) but not how, precisely, these neurons might be functionally different from other brain cells.


In the experiment, preliminary results of which were presented last month at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago, scientists allowed one group of rats to run. Another set of rodents was not allowed to exercise. Then all of the rats swam in cold water, which they don’t like to do. Afterward, the scientists examined the animals’ brains. They found that the stress of the swimming activated neurons in all of the brains. (The researchers could tell which neurons were activated because the cells expressed specific genes in response to the stress.) But the youngest brain cells in the running rats, the cells that the scientists assumed were created by running, were less likely to express the genes. They generally remained quiet. The “cells born from running,” the researchers concluded, appeared to have been “specifically buffered from exposure to a stressful experience.” The rats had created, through running, a brain that seemed biochemically, molecularly, calm.

Less caffeine and exercise! Walking de-stresses me big time and I have a LOT of stress. Also, if I find that I'm dwelling on my stressors, I do something to distract me, whether it's cleaning house, gardening or whatever. My husband has a serious lung disease and we don't know how much time he has to live (hes only 53) and my mother has alzheimers and none of my siblings help out with her. I have to walk to stay sane. Sometimes I'll walk 8 miles though. lol
Just make sure that you take the time for YOU and do it. It WILL help you!

My doctor said take Effexor. Did not want to discuss other options. She is the only doctor, sucks living in a small town!

Unfortunately, some doctors are not very sympathetic to hormone imbalances, because it is difficult to diagnose. I also voiced my complaints to my doctor and felt like a hypochondriac!

While you're doing your research, you might want to check out this article:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/59795-natural-treat-female-hormone-imbalance/

Edit: I personally do not take any herbs, but do include sweet potatoes and lots of nuts and peanut butter in my diet! I also try to buy milk and meat that do not have hormones added. The only supplement I take is a probiotic, which helps with digestion and hormone balance.

Maybe some fish oil. I've been taking a tsp a day for several weeks now and it seems to have effected my mood for the better.

Also, this is going to sound negative... as much as there is all this talk about exercise helping with anxiety, I've been exercising for a couple of years now and I don't know that it's helped at all. I think my level of anxiety is about the same as always, though there is a nice calm period after working out.

I've reduced my caffeine intake and am monitoring sugar... Otherwise, I haven't made specific changes in diet for my anxiety, just general overall health stuff (more fresh veggies, etc). I think cutting out the processed stuff really helps.

Honestly, the thing that helps the most with my anxiety is exercise. When I am into my routine and getting at least 6 work outs a week, I feel much less anxious than the weeks when I'm not working out. I should also probably say that I am medicated but I've dropped my dosage within the last 2 months and am doing okay