panick attacks/depression

[rawxanne]

Hi everyone,

I slipped of the raw wagon about 50% a few weeks ago and in the past few days I have just gone back to 100%.
But im feeling really floaty, depressed and worse of all Ive been having panic attacks :( (i havent had these for years).
Ive been eating foods that stabilise my blood sugar. But the panic attacks are freaking me out. Has anybody else experienced this going raw? Its probably just detox??? But maybe i should slow it down a little, cos I dont feel good:(

Help!

freya.x

[Shoney]

Freya,

I used to suffer terribly from panic attacks. I never figured out what caused them or why I don't have them anymore in the degree that I used to.

As for slowing down on raw, I wouldn't. If you are able to keep going 100%, that's the best way to get your body cleaned out. Just think of the millions of cells that replace themselves every day, and the food you want to provide those new cells. Also, what we feed our body directly affects the brain, and it could be that your slip-up triggered the connections in your brain that are associated with the panic attacks. I had a class on how the brain works a couple semesters ago, and it is fascinating stuff. It takes quite awhile to establish new behavior patterns because of how the neural networks are wired. Every time you do what you want to (eat raw, exercise, etc.) you are helping to literally strengthen the synaptic connections in your brain that will make it easier to do what you want the next time. Does that make sense?

I suggested this to someone else earlier today, that I think journaling can be helpful. When I used to have panic attacks, I would get all flighty and not be able to focus and hyperventilate. Maybe if you could start journaling when a panic attack is coming on, you can help prevent it from getting worse, and figure out the thinking that helps trigger it.

Just my two cents here!

Blessings,

Shoney

[chilove]

Hi there,

I have of heard of this happening. I do think that it is a detox symptom. It makes sense that toxins circulating through the blood stream on their way out could affect the brain.

Only stick with 100% raw if the attacks and depression are managable and you feel confident and safe. If not, definitely back off the raw, add some healthier cooked, vegan items (steamed veggies, plain baked potatoes, yams, ect..) and proceed slower after that.

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Eva]

My best friend used to have panic attacks all the time... And I was her roommate during the worst time, so we have had a lot of conversations about what caused them for her (she has not had one in years).

For a long time, she had no idea what was wrong with her. It turned out, she was very sensitive to fake sugars, and it was almost a guarantee that she would end up having a panic attack any time she had anything with aspartame or something similar (Nutrasweet, Equal, Sweet n Low). Once she completely avoided stuff like that like the plague, they almost completely stopped UNLESS she was under high stress. Now, she keeps her workweek to 40 hours (whereas before, she would sometimes work much more), travels more, and avoids those things that stress her out. There are a few people whose calls she will only return when she is in a FANTASTIC mood. :) Otherwise, she has drastically changed her diet. She's vegetarian (some cooked, but she eats mostly raw by coincidence), and she does have cheese and yogurt but only the organic, NO sugar or ANYTHING added yogurt. She very rarely has anything out of a box.

What we finally determined (and she hasn't had a panic attack in about 2 years) was that it was the chemicals.

For your situation, I would be very willing to place a bet that you are getting rid of the toxins, and your body is reacting. Especially since your body has a history of panic attacks, perhaps it may be helpful to also have as many organic fruits and veggies as possible.

I was driven to raw because of major stomach aches (that are gone, and I'm just into Week 2!). I truly believe that those of us who have had real problems, we are REALLY lucky because our bodies are more equipped to put warning signs in our face.

Stay strong, and be thankful for these warning signs!

[vwinters]

For what it’s worth Freya, I went raw on March 1st & I had three panic attacks the first week which I treated with Temazepam (generic Valium). I’ve not had one since. I’m not convinced it was due to the diet since I’ve had ½ dozen attacks in the past six months and they tend to come in clusters. I am hopeful that raw foods will help me with this issue as well as my other health problems. I believe it's a chemical/hormone imbalance.
VW

http://www.ketoforum.de/diet-ticker/pic/weight_loss/11398/.png (http://www.diaet-ticker.de)

[dreamrawalwz]

I used to get panic attacks, usually when I'm OFF raw or when I'm just going back to 100% raw again. Usually there ARE triggers and reasons, even if you can't think of it right now. I believe it's a chemical reaction to the toxins in your food or being detoxed. There is such thing as emotional detox. I went through that 2 weeks ago and it was BAD, but I got past it and I think mentally I'm better than I ever have been in my life!

[rawxanne]

Thanks for all your insights and advice guys I will stick at it as best I can :)


Freya

[Linda1970]

For what it’s worth Freya, I went raw on March 1st & I had three panic attacks the first week which I treated with Temazepam (generic Valium). I’ve not had one since. I’m not convinced it was due to the diet since I’ve had ½ dozen attacks in the past six months and they tend to come in clusters. I am hopeful that raw foods will help me with this issue as well as my other health problems. I believe it's a chemical/hormone imbalance.
VW

http://www.ketoforum.de/diet-ticker/pic/weight_loss/11398/.png (http://www.diaet-ticker.de)

Hi Vwinters,

I hope you are not taking valium anymore. It's a very potent but nasty drug.

[Linda1970]

I personally think that it's the excess energy due to switching to 100% raw. I almost had it when I first got into raw. Mine never turned into full-blown panic attack, although I was close. I think it never turned into panic attacks because I gradually switched to raw, rather than immediately 100% raw.