New Here

[Mystic_Mom]

I am not really sure where to post as I am new to this forum but I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Tiffany, I am a stay at home mother to two beautiful girls ages 4 and 1 1/2. I used to work at a spa as a Massage Therapist up until I was about six months pregnant with my oldest. I have had anxiety my whole life, anxiety and depression both run on my Father's side of the family. My mother used to call me a "worry wart" growing up, and I was never real comfortable with going places or trying new things. I didn't realize that I had an anxiety disorder until high school when I was also diagnosed with IBS. Knowing about it helped me cope some and for a while I did alright. It has never been easy, but it wasn't until after I started having children that my anxiety worsened. My agoraphobia and become unbearable and even trips to the grocery store are difficult, I find myself relying on my husband for a lot and thankfully he is very patient and supportive. I am not on any medication although I do take Rescue Remedy, a natural tonic, to relieve some of my anxiety. I feel it does help some. I am very health conscious and eat mostly all natural or organic foods. Since finding out last year that I had some food allergies and sensitivities I have worked harder and preparing nutritious meals and staying away from anything processed. I do exercise some, mostly yoga, but even that can be very difficult because as soon as my heart rate gets up there I start to panic. Anyway, this is already feeling a bit long winded so if you want to know more please ask I hope to learn more and meet others who struggle as I do... perhaps that would help me feel like I'm not alone.

[Paisleegreen]

Welcome, Mystic Mom!
You are not alone in this! I've cut back on my eating habits as well as they bring on anxiety symptoms. So that means chocolate and sweets in general. I do eat them once in a while, but I can start to feel a change in my head or brain start to feel symtoms in my gut or "jittery feelings" or maybe anxious feelings. I never know quite how to describe it. Just that I "feel" the difference whether it is a good feeling or not, I guess one has to decipher it. When the feelings make me feel like I might have a panic attack it makes me nervous. But that is where the program comes in and Lucinda says that it is just my anxiety and that helps to calm me down.

I just don't like feeling "upset" or "anxious" I like to feel calm, so I avoid foods that I have noticed make me feel anxious or irritable or too energized. Lean protein, eggs, tuna, chicken, lean beef, make me feel calm.

Also, being able to talk or laugh makes me feel calm and happy as well as walking or gentle aerobic activity. If I worry about my garden while I work in it, then I feel stress and sore. So it is a balancing act. I didn't use to be this way, I had my first panic attack last year at this time following a shocking experience and I had weaned myself off of anti-depressants. Paislee

[Mystic_Mom]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Paislee. I gotta say it feels better knowing others share such similar if not the same symptoms. I have been considering taking most sugars out of my diet, avoid all if possible, because I do feel like they encourage the jittery feelings... and I definitely understand the "difference" you are describing. For me, I always feel worse in the evenings and I'm not sure why that is. Possibly because its when everything slows down and I have time to sit and think? It doesn't help also if I'm tired and/or hungry. I have to eat small meals frequently throughout the day or I get anxious.