Low mood while fasting.

[Jemima]

Hi, I'm fairly new to all this and was wondering if anyone here had any advice for me, I'm on the 4th day of a juice fast and am feeling really down. Since starting my raw food and clean living mission about 2 months ago I've been feeling really really good, better in fact than I've felt for years, a few weeks ago I did a 5 day juice fast and it was amazing, I felt that emotionally I let go of things I'd been holding on to for years, my head was clear, amazing dreams etc etc all the things you hear about fasting. This time I just feel rubbish, as I say it;s day 4 and my mood has been low for the last 3 days I don't know what to do wether to break the fast or not. I have a serious skin condition that causes me a lot of pain and embarrassment and I was hoping to try and heal it through fasting but I'm worried this low mood is a sign I should break the fast, what do you think? When I fasted before I did have symptoms of an emotional detox, I would burst in to tears for no reason or become suddenly very angry but it would all blow over quite quickly and I always felt much better afterwards which is very different from this persistent low mood. Any ideas? Thanks.

[dime]

Maybe because your brain doesn't get enough glucose? Then your mood goes down. But after some time it kinda adapts to it.

Is there any difference between your previous juice fast and now, in terms of how/what you eat?

[Jemima]

Thanks for the reply, I'm having the same kind and amount of juices. Not masses of variety but enough and the same as the last time I fasted. I've lost a lot more weight in the past few days than I did during the last one which is good I suppose but not really the point of me fasting.

[dime]

If you've lost more weight than either you eat less or you're active more. Either way there's less energy for the brain. Try drinking more fruit juices. Just to test, when you're in low mood eat a spoon of sugar or honey; if that helps then you should definitely drink more fruit juices.

[Jemima]

I am more active, when I fasted before I was so shocked by the idea that I wasn't eating any food that I took it all very easy where as this time I'm on my bike and doing my pilates each day. I'm going to juice a melon now and have it before I go out this afternoon to see if that helps, thank you for your advice.

[siennagray]

Jemima, I'm sorry you're finding it rough this time. Hopefully increasing your intake will help. A general rule of thumb for fasting is to stop during a time when you are feeling good, not when something is going on-so as to not interrupt your body in the middle of a healing phase. Feel free to join us on the March fasters thread, we'll be happy to give you lots of support there.

[ykmaggie]

I'm sorry you're low

I can only think of two things - one, where are you in your cycle? I can get low moods the week before my TOM

Otherwise, your serotonin levels could be low. I had amino acid testing done and mine are very low too. It definitely can cause low moods

The other ladies mentioned fruit juice. Try maybe in the evening before you go to bed and see if that helps raise your levels

It might also just be a detox symptom. Every fast is different, so this could be a normal process that hopefully will pass in a few days

How many days are you hoping to fast?

[Aleesha Sattva]

As a very avid faster... I can honestly tell you...

This is fasting!

It just is. It's highs and lows, times of energy and times of lackthereof.

This is fasting.

You can't really 'fix' it with eating sugar (oh my gosh please don't take a spoon of sugar while fasting :eek: ) a spoon of raw honey is fine though. But it won't 'fix' your mood or your feelings.

You are detoxing... this detox is different than you last one and that's perfectly normal. I don't think I've had two fasts look or feel exactly the same. Some are struggles the whole time and others are pure bliss.

It's not a signal to break your fast, but if that's what you choose to do - you can always fast again. Today is not the only day you can fast in this lifetime. There is always tomorrow.

But if you do choose to fast through this... there's a gift in it. A gift of empowerment (that you did it, you made it through) and a gift in what your body has released (even if you are unaware of what it is... something is being released/shifted)... so embrace that and celebrate.

Because... (as my Mom always said,) "like the diamond ring through the dog, this too shall pass!"

:hug for you in this moment. Please come join us in the March fasting thread... we are a group of fasters who love to support and be supported!

[dime]

You can't really 'fix' it with eating sugar (oh my gosh please don't take a spoon of sugar while fasting :eek: ) a spoon of raw honey is fine though. But it won't 'fix' your mood or your feelings.

Why is honey fine but sugar not? :) Anyway, I suggested that as a way to check, not as a way to 'fix' something.

[Jemima]

Thank you all for your kind words, I had melon and pear juice before I went out and it did boost my energy levels but sadly not my mood. I think, as Aleesha said this is just part of this fast and all I can do is take it for as long as I can. I was hoping to fast longer this time between 10 and 30 days but I have a little 3 year old girl and can't be this sad all the time as she's having a rough time at the moment anyway and it's not fair. I'll see it through to 10 days I think and then if I'm not feeling more positive break it then.

Thanks for the support and suggestions.:heart:

[Aleesha Sattva]

dime i wasn't meaning to imply that you were suggesting it would fix something... i was letting jemima know that nothing will fix how she's feeling... it's just part of fasting.

while fasting you want to stay away from refined sugars... but raw honey has loads of nutritional value... so it's okay while fasting.

jem, if your daughter is having a hard time right now you may be assisting with her releasing of her emotions. because you are in a more 'open' state (by fasting) you may be channelling her release.

perhaps set aside some cuddle time for the two of you and see if it assists with both of you. :heart:

[dime]

while fasting you want to stay away from refined sugars... but raw honey has loads of nutritional value... so it's okay while fasting.

I don't see that nutritional value of honey here http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5568/2 :)

Jemima, yes probably it's not energy related then. Keep going, you can manage it!

[Aleesha Sattva]

it improves your immune system, it is antibacterial, less chance of heart disease, good for your blood sugar since it releases slowly, calms the mind, promotes sleep...

and much much more. i obviously used the wrong word... should have left out nutritional and just used value but i personally see all that as part of nutrition.

[Stina]

Random note ~ doubt I'll ever fast again. Just periodic phases of drinking green juice and mono eating fruit. Unless I was really ill and my body really called out for cessation of food.

[blissingod]

Severe calorie restriction ie fasting starvation etc decreases brain seratonin and many other hormones which can give these types of feelings which you have mentioned, If you meditate you can restore all of these hormones if you would like some advice on this just post your questions and i will be more then happy to answer them. Peace.

[janem]

Wow! Alisha - what a great response!!! You are so right - "this is fasting!" I think this is why we avoid fasting! You are so right about the sense of empowerment! I sometimes feel like I have a glow when I am fasting!
Hang in there - there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!