Feeling better

I have observed just noticed, over a few days, that coca- cola has been a trigger to bring on anxiety/paranoid feelings. I was able to relate this to my nurse practitioner in a calm manner. This really helped me because I don't have to go on any more meds just have to cut out the caffine.

Thank God for DBT!

SUGAR + CAFFEINE can create the physical symptoms of anxiety - jittery and hyper plus the crash when it wears off :) If you're super sensitive to their effects (like me!), then I'd like to suggest you check how you feel after you eat processed food - white bread, cereal, cookies or crackers, basically anything that comes in a box. Your body handles processed carbs like sugar.

Well the thing is is that my meds cause me to get very tired. I have taken 1 -2 cans of coke per day for years with no problems. I didn't have a jittery feeling just a scared paranoid feeling. I called and got an adjustment to my PRN medication and quit totally the caffine. My medication manager thought it was mania coming on even though I told her I wasn't having that rush feeling that I get when I get manic. It was just a hyper-sensitivity to feeling afraid that I may act out because I felt trapped. Then a week and a half later, after being caffine free, an event triggered those feelings again. So now my medication manager gave me the clearance to take more of my PRN meds on standard basis. I did just that and after a few days I am off the PRN and feel much better. I credit my mindfulness skills for this turning out as well as it has.

I like to have protein and limit the carbs. I do know that fruits and veggies are essential and I do have some bread but not alot. I am wondering if I have a problem with gluten. I had my gallbladder out last summer and it was taken out due to over activity. Then when it was extracted they found that the gallbladder had made a cast of itself on the inside..instead of making stones. I looked up overactivity of the gallbladder and there was information about celiac disease being related that. I also want to include that my pysch medication doses are lower and I seem to react seriously to unwanted side effects very easily. Plus I got hypthyroid last fall induced by lithium..I was taken off due to that very reason and the thyroid cleared up. But yet I have been slowly putting weight. I am 10 pounds heavier than last year at this time. Something is going on and I don't know how to address all this.

Hi folks,

Caffeine doesn't seem to bother me as much as SUGAR. Plus I joined a gym (rec center) & do a little something 5days a week EVEN if all I can do is hot tub, sauna or steam to relax my body ~ it helps w/mind & mood as well.

-kby-

I joined a gym just this month. I have started walking there. I agree with the mind body connection. They always say that exercise helps to balance your mood!

I am having my thyroid/ liver functions tested again today so I can rule anything else out ( which is a wise mind decision). I looked up gluten allergy and I don't think that is what is going on now since I am gradually gaining weight instead of losing...so this something I am going to put out of my mind for now ( another wise mind decision). I am also really being mindful of my choices in food (reducing vulnerability) as well now. After all this it may just come down to accepting reality ( radical acceptance) that my metabolism has slowed down and that I will have more weight on me than I used to.

Not sure if it's super "scientific" to advocate, but I went gluten free 6 months ago - I lost weight since I wasn't eating so many empty calories (my food choices have to be a lot more deliberate) and my mood has been more stable, at least on a daily basis. I think without the ups and downs from sugar/carbs, I'm able to feel more level throughout the day. I'm sticking with the GF diet because I feel so much better - energy level is up too! It can't hurt to try and you may find your body likes eating that way better :) I keep reading about how there is probably a wide range of gluten allergies vs. sensitivities and the best way to find out if you have an issue with it is to try and eliminate it from your diet for a while.

Also - not sure how old you are, but once I hit 30, I definitely couldn't eat the same way as I used to! It sounds like you are making a lot of positive choices and taking steps to feel better - keep doing what you have to!

I found out why I wasn't feeling well with the help of mindfulness skills. I have had a kidney infection! I found out last week and have been taking a round of antibiotics. I feel much better now...and my symptoms were valid. I have been retaining water and this has caused some extra weight gain. Thyroid is great and meds are not causing damage to kidneys. I guess I had one of those silent kidney infections that come on with few symptoms. My main symptom was pain ( wrapping around my right side) but I was confusing it with my gallbladder scar tissue from last summers surgery since it was on the right side. What helped me figure it all out was the use of observe just notice skill (from DBT) for a few days.

I am 40 now so I have to make better eating choices just for health's sake. I have been enjoying thinking out meal plans and want to hit the gym as soon as I feel my fatigue lift ( which is from the kidney infection as well).

This section of the forum is really positive and I appreciate such nice feedback! Will be visiting more often!