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Sugar and anxiety PanicEnd Message Board
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312 posts tatty 312 posts
tatty
Does anyone here notice a connection between sugar and their feelings of anxiety.

I have before noticed that an excess of sugar doesn't do me any good, ( I was advised that I was probably hypoglaecimic a few years ago and should avoid too much sugar - but as it was a test done in an alternative health clinic rather than by the Dr I didn't really take too much notice), anyway at work for the last few days there have been masses of sweets going round and biscuits - today at work I was eating the odd one throught the morning then went for lunch and had more sweets when I got back  - all of a sudden I felt awful, shakey, had problems focussing - I KNOW I hadn't been thinking the thoughts that would normally leave me feeling panicky and it was a different feeling altogether but left me feeling very peculiar and not at all well.

Has anyone else found a connection with what they eat and their physical symptoms ??
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DearJohn 1,127 posts
DearJohn
I learn alot from my 11 year old son when it comes to how he deals with certain situations. For example, when he eats to much sugar, he gets hyper, paces the floor, cant sit still, cant fall asleep, wiggles his feet, etc.. But what he never does is analyze or dwell on how he feels.

DJ
The best "reaction" to panic is NO reaction... If you remove the "tension", you remove the problem!
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nervousuk 3,358 posts
nervousuk
Hi Tatty
I find too much sugar seems to make me a bit shaky and a little speedy too. Caffeine definately didnt help when I was having full blown panic. Since I gave that up I have noticed a slightly calmer feeling. Caffeine seemed make me more jittery. I have a choc bar treat or a pudding  some days and that seems ok, I think its more excess of stuff. I dont think fast foods help much either. chemicals, colours ...ugh!
I have heard that steamed green vegetables and bananas are good for 'nerves'!

Sue
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood
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Jesse 643 posts
Jesse
One thing you have to remember is how food affects our bodies; for example, when most people wake up in the morning, they're sluggish -- they drink some coffee maybe, and eat breakfast. Naturally, their bodies speed up, and it's on about their day. With US however, we are constantly aware of how our body changes and reacts; therefore, after WE eat or drink something that gets our bodies moving -- we feel the effects, because we're already in tune to look for them.

Does sugar/caffeine do us any good? No, not really -- and it's bad for our health anyway. Does it cause panic? Alone... Probably not -- but it's our self-checking and awareness that causes panic anyway, right? =)

~ J.
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N/A posts

When I was first diagnosed with pannic 17 years ago I went to a nutrionally oriented psychiatrist who did a 5 hour glucose toleraannce test...he foound i was hypoglcemic.....once I changed the diet AND low dose of prozac/klonopin, I felt better than ever....to this day I avoid sugar but the impact is not as great anymore.......if i were you I would eliminate sugar/alchol/caffeine from diet
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ann 181 posts
ann

Hi DJ, very interesting analogy......you hit the nail on the head!!!!!!!!

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rastaman 37 posts
rastaman
I translated this from a spanish psychologist.

What you shouldn't do:

-avoid talking loudly and quicker than usual because it facilitates the hyperventilation...
-avoid consuming caffeine...café, cola drinks, chocolate, tea, energetic drinks...
-practise sport...
-avoid consuming sugar...
-avoid eating quick...
-to sigh and to yawn...
-avoid sleeping little.
-avoid drugs, alcohol etc...
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jeff Moderator 4,066 posts
jeff

-avoid consuming caffeine...café, cola drinks, chocolate, tea, energetic drinks...(BUT THIS CAN BE ENJOYABLE TOO)
-avoid consuming sugar...(BUT BUT - that is one of the spices of life)
-avoid eating quick...(OK - I AM GUILTY)
-avoid sleeping little. (I HAVE NO CHOICE SOME TIMES- JUST CAN'T SLEEP)
-avoid alcohol ...(SEE FIRST ONE ABOVE)
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riannon176 384 posts
riannon176
I have never noticed a connection between sugar and panic.  Caffeine, yes.
I'm not giving up sugar, I've given up enough to this disorder!
Seasons don't fear the reaper, nor do the wind, the sun or the rain- We could be like they are.
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ozinpanic 696 posts
ozinpanic
I notice exactly that Tatty once i've enjoyed a sugar coated jam donut for morning tea on an empty stomach.  yummmmm!!!! But i say "oh its the donut that did it" and start counting my change for the one i'm gonna buy in the avo.  And there not even those Krispy Kremes you guys have over in the US ... boy imagine that, i'd be hallucinating.
If "bad" habits like rumination and self criticism can harm the mind, then "good" habits like meditation can heal it.
***********************************************************************************
The work will wait while you show your child the rainbow but the rainbow will not wait while you do the work.
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Spectralis 220 posts
Spectralis
I think too much worrying about what you eat isn't helpful during recovery.  I went through that phase when I first developed panic and depression.  What I forgot was that for over 40 years before my panic I'd eaten the same food with no ill effects.  So it seems logical to me that food isn't the cause of or a contributory factor in my nervous illness.  I can't speak for everyone though.

I did change my diet to a more healthy one with more fruit and veg but I've resisted my fear that certain types of food trigger panic.  It's not like I've done medical tests on myself so my fears about food were based on my own irrational fear driven thinking.

I don't drink coffee now because I got into a habit of drinking too much of it.  This used to make me feel artificially hyper and then make me feel tired when the caffine wore off.  I don't need to get that caffine hit to keep my energy levels up any longer but I can't say I'll never drink it again.

If a change in diet is the solution to curing nervous illness then we might as well put the Claire Weekes books away because her whole hypothesis about recovery would be undermined by a simple change in diet.  If only it were that simple.  I've made a lot of progress with facing and accepting and my diet hasn't changed significantly.
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N/A posts

i think diet plays an important role with anxiety....changing your diet doesnt mean that you cant follow claire weekes.....everything that can help you face is important......someone could have been eating sugar all their lives with no ill effects until they developed diabetes and then became symptomatic....same can be true with panic...sugar drives adrenaline as does caffeine and for people that are sensitive, its best to stay away from it if you feel its causing you to feel extra anxiety.....just my opinion.....
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Linda432 1,211 posts
Linda432

Tatty - I have had the same hypoglycemic type reaction when I eat something high in carbs and/or sugar with no protein to counter the sugar rise.  At that point, I'm shakey and ravenous until I get some protein calories in my system and then I feel a lot better.

To me, it's very different from panic; it's not adrenaline driven, it's weird feeling ravenous hunger feeling.  Needless to say I try to avoid this situation but sometimes that morning muffin and coffee at work is irresistable! So what do I do - add some peanuts to the snack and that seems to do it.

Linda
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nervousuk 3,358 posts
nervousuk
 East - "If a change in diet is the solution to curing nervous illness then we might as well put the Claire Weekes books away because her whole hypothesis about recovery would be undermined by a simple change in diet. "
 
I dont think anyones saying sugar, caffeine etc is the cause of panic??? No simple change in diet would stop panic disorder.

I think the foods mentioned can add to the problem slightly thats all. Caffeiene speeds you up...you dont want that if you are already prone to a racing heart etc.
Excess sugar puts more lactic acid in the blood..people who have panics already have higher levels.

They are just little things worth mentioning as in 'cutting down' not necessarily stopping to prevent exacerbating the symptoms we get in anxiety/panic. Its a personal choice when you know the facts.

Sue
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood
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N/A posts

To be honest, I think that sugar/caffeine can add to the problem of panic disorder greatly(although for some who are extremely hypoglycemic and intaking too much caffeine...it will dramatically reduce symptoms)  BUT i agree that taking them away wont cure panic for majority BUT adding them (for me at least) makes it SO MUCH WORSE.......
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