Posted by Mr. SadPuppyDog on September 27, 2002, at 13:43:23
In reply to Can be caused by low blood sugar reaction., posted by awake at last on September 27, 2002, at 13:08:06
> Do you have a history of problems with low blood sugar? I'm hypoglycemic and I know that drinking alcohol can cause this effect for me.
> When I drink alcohol - which contains a high amount of sugar and carbs, my body over-reacts to the increased level of sugar in my blood and produces too much insulin. To offset this imbalance, my body then tries to decrease the insulin to a normal level by releasing adrenaline (ie...causing the panic attacks).How do you know this? Has a doctor told you this information? Or is this just your "opinion" of what happens to you based upon reading alternative medicine books? Alcohol worsens both anxiety and depression thru depressing the central nervous system. It has nothing to do with diet or blood sugar. Alcohol, thru its CNS depressant qualities, just makes ALL mental illnesses worse...much worse.
> Since you said that Remeron seems to help, I suspect this could be the issue. Remeron is designed to suppress the production of nor epinephrine....thus you are suppressing the release of adrenaline.
> Unfortunately there is no magic pill to make this better. Had I known when I was younger that this was what my problem was, I would have quit drinking back then, because continuing to expose your body to high levels of carbs and sugar will only make the hypoglycemia worse - or turn a minor blood sugar problem into full hypoglycemia.
> Now, you might be thinking that taking the Remeron is a good way to get past this - but I wouldn't advise it. By suppressing you body’s ability to naturally level out your insulin levels - you may find that your insulin levels then stay too high.
> It's a vicious cycle I know - I've lived with having to control mine for years now. Note that hypoglycemia is a major cause of depression.
> Do you ever get this same feeling after eating a large meal of carbs - like pasta or potatoes, or after eating a dessert full of sugar? Or does your family have a history of hypoglycemia or diabetes in it?
> If so you might want to check it out.
>I dont think diet has much to do with panic attacks. Sorry. In fact, I find eating a meal loaded with carbs to be relaxing afterwards. I read that carbs release endorphins and serotonin in the brain after you eat them. Thats why they say eating starch at bedtime will make you sleep and relaxed.
This thing about diet is way way overhyped in this country. As long as you eat a basic diet thats decent is all that matters. I dont believe anxiety or panic is in anyway related to diet...sorry I do not go for this "alternative medicine" theory. Please do not fall for this alternative medicine stuff, its mostly BS designed to sell you OTC supplements, which is a multi-billion dollar, totally UNREGULATED business BTW.
Mr. Sad PuppyDog
poster:Mr. SadPuppyDog
thread:121218
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/121252.html