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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Greg A. on June 29, 2001, at 16:37:35
Does anyone experience a marked increase in anxiety symptoms following meals? I am currently being treated for depression with Remeron, Prozac and Wellbutrin. My depression has a major anxiety component to it. The treatment has been pretty effective so far (6 months) but almost daily I seem to have this post-lunch increase in anxiety. Mornings go along pretty well most days and then right after I eat I start to feel tension in my chest, my breathing is shallower, and I have the usual ‘fight or flight’ symptoms. Sometimes this subsides in a couple of hours but often it persists through into the evening. There is nothing I do after lunch that would account for this. I skipped lunches for several months and this helped, but lately I notice the symptoms even if I have a couple of glasses of water. I have thought of changing the timing of my meds. but I hate to screw up what seems to be working for depression. I can certainly do without the afternoon agitation though so if anyone has any theories or advice I’d like to hear it.
Thanks, Greg A.
Posted by sl on June 29, 2001, at 17:39:04
In reply to Food and Anxiety, posted by Greg A. on June 29, 2001, at 16:37:35
You may want to examine wHAT you eat as a possible allergen or aggravator.
Weed out the common food-allergies, like wheat and dairy, try to WASH any produce really well with a scrubby brush, etc. Eat a special vegan-diet like this for a few days and see how you feel.sl
> Does anyone experience a marked increase in
anxiety symptoms following meals? I am currently
Posted by dana on June 29, 2001, at 20:51:10
In reply to Food and Anxiety, posted by Greg A. on June 29, 2001, at 16:37:35
Hi Greg,
I am so glad someone brought this up. I had found the same thing was going on for me. What I have learnt through two years of therapy and medication is that when you eat .. or when you do ANYTHING..like walking up stairs...your body has to RESPOND.......increased heart rate.... as it absorbes the food....... normal bodily functions....adrenaline etc etc........things that we would probably have never even focused on had we not become ill with depression or suffered from Panic/anxiety.
Because depression/anxiety/panic......makes us HYPER VIGILANT with regards to our bodies, you may be associating EATING with illiciting a response...... one that is SIMILAR to the feelings associated with panic/anxiety etc. So now you have allowed it to form a CYCLE of thoughts.....and the OBSESSING starts.....
Say to yourself....... THIS IS NORMAL
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NORMAL
MY BODY NEEDS TO PRODUCE A RESPONSE
MY BODY IS EFFICIENT
IT IS NORMAL
IT WILL PASS
NOTHING DANGEROUS IS GOING ON HEREsomething along these lines........ This is why so many sufferers just lock themselves away unable to get out of bed.....fearful of ANY hint of feelings that are similar to how we felt during an anxiety or panic attack.
Please train yourself to breathe properly......it is the KEY to retraining and recovery......
BREATHE DEEPLY AND HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR ABOUT 7 SECONDS.........breathe out slowly.......saying the WORD R E L A X..........
then for the next five to ten minutes.......BREATHE IN FOR THE COUNT OF THREE SECONDS.........HOLD FOR THE COUNT OF THREE SECONDS...........RELEASE FOR THE COUNT OF THREE SECONDS..............
breathing from the DIAPHRAGM.......... most important................
This technique regulates your breathing.....and OVERBREATHING is a big cause of anxiety...... lightheadedness....... etc..........
Hope this helps........
Dana
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