Does Food Affect Your Mood

[princesa]

I tend not to be too health conscious. I don't drink soda, chips or fast food only b/c it doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy food but my day consist of downing coffee, bananas, granola bars and for dinner i'll either have cereal, a sandwich or any good helping of solely beef or chicken with no sides.

I notice most especially in the evening I am very prone to anxiety. I get bouts of insomnia b/c I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God. I know there is not one quick fix to this unsettling feeling that creeps up on me but I wonder if there are foods that contribute to this. [maybe the caffeine?]

I don't excersize b/c I don't have the time or motivation and I've been despondent over my shaky faith so perhaps it's more than an issue of diet.

Can anyone offer any advice on food habits, excersizes that has garnered a positive effect in their moods? Perhaps I should continue meditating.

Anyway, I guess my question ultimately boils down to, "Is there such a thing as being just a generally unhappy anxiety prone person, if not, what are some things that can be done to assist in elevating your moods to a level where you can wake up in the mornings with a feeling of peace and inner contentment instead of dreading the day before you?"

[Dee Dee Warren]

As to your last paragraph: yes there is. It not necessarily a curse but a blessing. It is often in despondency we get closer to God.

[princesa]

As to your last paragraph: yes there is. It not necessarily a curse but a blessing. It is often in despondency we get closer to God.

....let's hope this miserably cynical and anxiety prone grouch proves a prime example of that


**crossing fingers**

[Michelle]

....let's hope this miserably cynical and anxiety prone grouch proves a prime example of that


**crossing fingers**

*prays*

[Dee Dee Warren]

well princesa I think we could be great friends.

[princesa]

well princesa I think we could be great friends.

i don't doubt it =)

[docjam]

I tend not to be too health conscious. I don't drink soda, chips or fast food only b/c it doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy food but my day consist of downing coffee, bananas, granola bars and for dinner i'll either have cereal, a sandwich or any good helping of solely beef or chicken with no sides.

I notice most especially in the evening I am very prone to anxiety. I get bouts of insomnia b/c I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God. I know there is not one quick fix to this unsettling feeling that creeps up on me but I wonder if there are foods that contribute to this. [maybe the caffeine?]

I don't excersize b/c I don't have the time or motivation and I've been despondent over my shaky faith so perhaps it's more than an issue of diet.

Can anyone offer any advice on food habits, excersizes that has garnered a positive effect in their moods? Perhaps I should continue meditating.

Anyway, I guess my question ultimately boils down to, "Is there such a thing as being just a generally unhappy anxiety prone person, if not, what are some things that can be done to assist in elevating your moods to a level where you can wake up in the mornings with a feeling of peace and inner contentment instead of dreading the day before you?"

remind me and I'll get back to this...

[Adam]

....let's hope this miserably cynical and anxiety prone grouch proves a prime example of that
**crossing fingers**

You sound like a good candidate for SSRIs. But don't use Paxil. I can't speak for them myself, as Prozac gives me terrible migraines. Zoloft is good.
Adam

[semmie'ssister]

I tend not to be too health conscious. I don't drink soda, chips or fast food only b/c it doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy food but my day consist of downing coffee, bananas, granola bars and for dinner i'll either have cereal, a sandwich or any good helping of solely beef or chicken with no sides.

I notice most especially in the evening I am very prone to anxiety. I get bouts of insomnia b/c I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God. I know there is not one quick fix to this unsettling feeling that creeps up on me but I wonder if there are foods that contribute to this. [maybe the caffeine?]

I don't excersize b/c I don't have the time or motivation and I've been despondent over my shaky faith so perhaps it's more than an issue of diet.

Can anyone offer any advice on food habits, excersizes that has garnered a positive effect in their moods? Perhaps I should continue meditating.

Anyway, I guess my question ultimately boils down to, "Is there such a thing as being just a generally unhappy anxiety prone person, if not, what are some things that can be done to assist in elevating your moods to a level where you can wake up in the mornings with a feeling of peace and inner contentment instead of dreading the day before you?"

i get terrible insomnia, and I've never been able to determine why, but I highly doubt it has anything to do with caffeine (at least for me). becasue I was a crazy insomniac before ever being indtroduced to cafinated drinks. but in some cases, increased caffeine can affect ones ability to sleep/rest. And I wouldn't doubt that without proper rest, the body (typically) won't function properly, which could be a cause for your aniety. Although I'm no expert.

but in my personal experience, I have found that exercise has a positive affect on my mood. the more I exercise the better I feel physically and mentally. so for anyone who is not doing any exercise, I would highly encourage them to start an exercise program. Even if you just add a brisk walk to your schedule in the morning or evening, or try parking on teh far side of the parking lot instead of looking for a front row parking spot when you go shopping.

don't know if that was much help. but I hope your mood gets sunnier!:sunshine:

[djdavo]

"I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God. I know there is not one quick fix to this unsettling feeling that creeps up on me but I wonder if there are foods that contribute to this"

diet and exercise can affect this (trust me, i know. i've been overweight most of my life, and when i work out and watch what i eat i sleep better), BUT
..and this is a big BUT: if you're so stressed that you can't sleep on a regular basis, then medication can help a lot.
It depends on where you are in this stress pattern.

[Hamster]

Caffeine is a stimulant, if it's not causing the problem it's not making it any better.

I get bouts of insomnia b/c I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God.

Do you have access to a good therapist?

I control my anxiety problem using medicine, but I also do things like read books at night, or watch something on television that I'm interested in.

A year or so ago I was having anxiety so bad that I would start to drift off to sleep, then have a really dreadful thought or something, and I would spring back awake. It was horrible, absolutely horrible.

If you want to use some medication that isn't as serious as Paxil or something, try some allergy medicine. Anti-histamines can relax you and make you sleepy. There's also little to no chance you can get addicted to them (as far as I know). Just make sure you don't use an anti-histamine with a built-in stimulant (to "prevent drowsiness")

You might just be in a down mood because you're not resting well. Weirdly enough, I just wrote a small blog post about this.

[Moksha]

I tend not to be too health conscious. I don't drink soda, chips or fast food only b/c it doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy food but my day consist of downing coffee, bananas, granola bars and for dinner i'll either have cereal, a sandwich or any good helping of solely beef or chicken with no sides.

I notice most especially in the evening I am very prone to anxiety. I get bouts of insomnia b/c I stay up worrying about my children, their future, the state of the world and my shaky faith in God. I know there is not one quick fix to this unsettling feeling that creeps up on me but I wonder if there are foods that contribute to this. [maybe the caffeine?]

I don't excersize b/c I don't have the time or motivation and I've been despondent over my shaky faith so perhaps it's more than an issue of diet.

Can anyone offer any advice on food habits, excersizes that has garnered a positive effect in their moods? Perhaps I should continue meditating.

Anyway, I guess my question ultimately boils down to, "Is there such a thing as being just a generally unhappy anxiety prone person, if not, what are some things that can be done to assist in elevating your moods to a level where you can wake up in the mornings with a feeling of peace and inner contentment instead of dreading the day before you?"

Sounds like mild depression.
Yes continue meditating. Eat a health balance diet.
Get some regular exercise. This releases endorphins which are feel good chemicals in your brain.
Don't watch the news. Or at least not in the evening.
Stop worrying. Focus on the good things in life rather than the bad.

Moksha.