Does diet and/or supplements help symptoms?

[[Jo...]]

Forgive me, I'm new here. I've been reading as much as I can, I still get overloaded mentally but I have some questions.  This board is a fantastic help, up till I was on my own.

 

I was clear 5/17/14. Summer was bad, I don't remember much about June.  I made several big mistakes at work.  Anyway tinnitis started up in mid-November.  I foolishly listened to a friend who recommended taking xanax again to see if the tinnitis would go away. I did and naturally the ringing stopped.  I went off xanax again 12/21.  I have taken none since then, nor will I again.  My stupidity.  Now, Monday, facing returning to work after the holidays the symptoms have started up again, primarily ear ringing and anxiety attacks.

 

I get that my brain is healing and I'm going to have anxiety attacks and tinnitis for months, maybe years.  My question is how can I modify my diet to help lessen the symptoms?  Or would that make any difference?  Would any particular vitamin or herbal supplement help?

 

I started this off with the belief I had to suck it up and just do it, that there would be no relief until I was off xanax completely.  Now I guess my understanding is I won't feel any relief until my brain adjusts to where it was pre-xanax. 

 

This was hard to write. 

 

Be well.

 

[[ja...]]

Diets and supplements for my experience are useless ...

 

Indeed, I always ate normally (though I had lost a few pounds, then recovered).

[[Lo...]]

diet is huge!!!  i think the paleo diet has helped me alot. also fish only 3 times a week. salmon if you can.  i don't know if it is coincidence but I've been eating a lot of spinach for a couple weeks and i have been in a good window. the last couple days for me have been rough but i think its because I'm about to start my period. sorry for the details just trying to tell ya what has helped me. i think diet is very important through this. i drink smoothies in the mornings and nuts fruits and veggies for snacks.. i think eating right helps out in the long run and it is not a bad things to do. i changed my whole diet going through this and it is worth it. just as much as getting off these drugs in my opinion. bad diet will cause anxiety and sorts of stuff. i don't know why people think diet is not important. it is important rather we are going through withdrawal or not.  i don't why we all wouldn't think about changing our diets in order to feel better. i can definatelly tell a huge difference. these drugs deplete our body of nutrients so we need to put them back in our body with our food. some days we are just gonna feel like shit but just keep pumping good healthy food in ya. again i swear by spinach/ lol good luck to ya. i was on the verge of giving up. i wanted to kill myself and i the anxiety just wouldn't ease up. I'm doing so much better since i have been paying attention to my diet. chaining my diet got me out of a wave and into a long window. again minus the last couple days. i may have more bad days but will keep eating my spinach, animal protein and tons of fruits and vegetables.

[[Fr...]]

John53,

 

That's exactly how I agreed to start Xanax in the first place. I was having anxiety/panic attacks and a doctor said to me: "Well, neurological disorders don't respond well to anti-anxiolytics, so if you take one ... just one, and the symptoms go away, then you'll know it's not a serious neurologic disorder."  After he'd ran every test in the book and I still wasn't convinced. That made sense to me. I took Xanax and sure enough, felt great. And that's where I stayed for over a decade. Still, I own that, because he also said:  "You'll need to learn how to manage your anxiety or you'll be on this for a very long time."  For a long time it was the easier route. Now I'm doing what I should have done in the first place. Practicing how to manage anxiety. Recently, when I went to an ENT about symptoms, he recommended Klonipen. So, if a benzo treats it, then a benzo caused it. I think we have to give ourselves time to heal and the person herein who suggested that we eat healthy because in the long-run it's just smart, is giving very sound advice.

[[Ja...]]

All supplements are bad news for me, they all increase symptoms. But diet is huge. No gluten, sugar, mostly organic, just lean meets, veggies, fruit in moderation, nuts, seems to really help even out the cortisol spikes and reduce anxiety.

[[Lo...]]

yeah supplements are not working for me either. they made me worse. i didn't realize it until i stopped taking them.  i do take a probiotic but thats it.

[[Jo...]]

diet is huge!!!  i think the paleo diet has helped me alot. also fish only 3 times a week. salmon if you can.  i don't know if it is coincidence but I've been eating a lot of spinach for a couple weeks and i have been in a good window. the last couple days for me have been rough but i think its because I'm about to start my period. sorry for the details just trying to tell ya what has helped me. i think diet is very important through this. i drink smoothies in the mornings and nuts fruits and veggies for snacks.. i think eating right helps out in the long run and it is not a bad things to do. i changed my whole diet going through this and it is worth it. just as much as getting off these drugs in my opinion. bad diet will cause anxiety and sorts of stuff. i don't know why people think diet is not important. it is important rather we are going through withdrawal or not.  i don't why we all wouldn't think about changing our diets in order to feel better. i can definatelly tell a huge difference. these drugs deplete our body of nutrients so we need to put them back in our body with our food. some days we are just gonna feel like shit but just keep pumping good healthy food in ya. again i swear by spinach/ lol good luck to ya. i was on the verge of giving up. i wanted to kill myself and i the anxiety just wouldn't ease up. I'm doing so much better since i have been paying attention to my diet. chaining my diet got me out of a wave and into a long window. again minus the last couple days. i may have more bad days but will keep eating my spinach, animal protein and tons of fruits and vegetables.

 

I love fish. Is it the Omega 3 I wonder?  I quit in May and now I've really fallen off a good diet.

 

Thanks and be well.

[[Jo...]]

John53,

 

That's exactly how I agreed to start Xanax in the first place. I was having anxiety/panic attacks and a doctor said to me: "Well, neurological disorders don't respond well to anti-anxiolytics, so if you take one ... just one, and the symptoms go away, then you'll know it's not a serious neurologic disorder."  After he'd ran every test in the book and I still wasn't convinced. That made sense to me. I took Xanax and sure enough, felt great. And that's where I stayed for over a decade. Still, I own that, because he also said:  "You'll need to learn how to manage your anxiety or you'll be on this for a very long time."  For a long time it was the easier route. Now I'm doing what I should have done in the first place. Practicing how to manage anxiety. Recently, when I went to an ENT about symptoms, he recommended Klonipen. So, if a benzo treats it, then a benzo caused it. I think we have to give ourselves time to heal and the person herein who suggested that we eat healthy because in the long-run it's just smart, is giving very sound advice.

 

Interesting. Yeah it's the panic attacks that are hardest for me to deal with.  10 times worse than the original anxiety that caused me to go to a doctor.  But I'm hearing that more and more -- time.  Maybe I just need time.  Meantime though this is a helluva tough experience.

[[Jo...]]

All supplements are bad news for me, they all increase symptoms. But diet is huge. No gluten, sugar, mostly organic, just lean meets, veggies, fruit in moderation, nuts, seems to really help even out the cortisol spikes and reduce anxiety.

 

A friend recommended Isonitol but after a bottle I noticed no difference.  Someone else suggested magnesium.

 

I've never been sensitive to gluten.  I need to start eating nuts again.

 

I hate doctors too.

[[Ke...]]

As everyone said, YES, diet is extremely important. As chronic exposure to benzos has caused neural adaptations, people going though withdrawal should be eating foods that heal and help to regulate the nervous system. On the other hand, things that stimulate the nervous system such as sugar, caffeine and gluten should be avoided or minimised. Haven't you noticed increased anxiety after eating a chocolate bar or a bowl of ice cream?

 

In regard to supplements, it appears the majority of people have had issues. Any supplement that is meant to improve nervous system function, should probably be avoided. It might have something to do with the increased sensitivity of our receptors?

 

In the end, I think all of this is a blessing in disguise!  If you have adjusted your diet to help nourish your body whilst going though withdrawal, these adjustments will carry on into your life after you're healed and your health will be improved in the long run. And who cares if you cant take supplements or vitamins! You should be getting all the goodness you need through the foods you eat anyway. 

 

Here are some foods you should start eating a fair bit of:

 

All vegetables- good ones are spinach (seriously go nuts with the spinach), broccoli, capsicum, carrot, sweet potato, kale and mushrooms.

 

Fruits- go easy on fruits high in sugar but bananas are AWESOME especially if you feel panicky. ALL berries but especially BLUE BERRIES, avocado, oranges and apples

 

Brown rice is ESSENTIAL for maintaining insulin levels. Kidney beans and lentils are good for this too.

 

Quinoa is great as it is protein rich and helps build up and heal the nervous system. Eggs, turkey or chicken also good for protein. Try limit red meat.

 

Try and eat salmon 2-3 times a week. Probably the BEST food for nervous system and brain function because of the abundance of Omega 3s and 6s.

 

Try not to cut out too many carbs because a lack of carbs is just going to make you feel jittery and anxious. Eat whole meal bread with lots of seeds and grain maybe only once a day to minimise gluten intake.

 

Nuts!! almonds are probably the best.

 

This might piss some people off but when I read posts from people who say things like, I'm 15 months out and just had a wave like acute, I cant help but to think it might have been triggered by a supplement or by diet??

 

This is currently my second withdrawal but I can remember last time, I had been withdrawal symptom free for a year and was feeling amazing when I decided to take super strength fish oil. Even after a year of feeling great, this sent me into acute like symptoms for a couple of days. Just something to think about

 

[[Ke...]]

Oh one tablet you should be taking- a probiotic!! This is really important and won't amp up withdrawal symptoms

[[Lo...]]

diet is huge!!!  i think the paleo diet has helped me alot. also fish only 3 times a week. salmon if you can.  i don't know if it is coincidence but I've been eating a lot of spinach for a couple weeks and i have been in a good window. the last couple days for me have been rough but i think its because I'm about to start my period. sorry for the details just trying to tell ya what has helped me. i think diet is very important through this. i drink smoothies in the mornings and nuts fruits and veggies for snacks.. i think eating right helps out in the long run and it is not a bad things to do. i changed my whole diet going through this and it is worth it. just as much as getting off these drugs in my opinion. bad diet will cause anxiety and sorts of stuff. i don't know why people think diet is not important. it is important rather we are going through withdrawal or not.  i don't why we all wouldn't think about changing our diets in order to feel better. i can definitely tell a huge difference. these drugs deplete our body of nutrients so we need to put them back in our body with our food. some days we are just gonna feel like shit but just keep pumping good healthy food in ya. again i swear by spinach/ lol good luck to ya. i was on the verge of giving up. i wanted to kill myself and i the anxiety just wouldn't ease up. I'm doing so much better since i have been paying attention to my diet. chaining my diet got me out of a wave and into a long window. again minus the last couple days. i may have more bad days but will keep eating my spinach, animal protein and tons of fruits and vegetables.

 

I love fish. Is it the Omega 3 I wonder?  I quit in May and now I've really fallen off a good diet.

 

Thanks and be well.

 

of course it is the omega 3  in my smoothies i put avocado..spinach (enough to make the smoothie green )  ..yogurt..blueberries...bananas..almond milk..sometimes protein powder....i drink in once or twice a day. it helps out my mental stuff. good luck.

[[Lo...]]

As everyone said, YES, diet is extremely important. As chronic exposure to benzos has caused neural adaptations, people going though withdrawal should be eating foods that heal and help to regulate the nervous system. On the other hand, things that stimulate the nervous system such as sugar, caffeine and gluten should be avoided or minimised. Haven't you noticed increased anxiety after eating a chocolate bar or a bowl of ice cream?

 

In regard to supplements, it appears the majority of people have had issues. Any supplement that is meant to improve nervous system function, should probably be avoided. It might have something to do with the increased sensitivity of our receptors?

 

In the end, I think all of this is a blessing in disguise!  If you have adjusted your diet to help nourish your body whilst going though withdrawal, these adjustments will carry on into your life after you're healed and your health will be improved in the long run. And who cares if you cant take supplements or vitamins! You should be getting all the goodness you need through the foods you eat anyway. 

 

Here are some foods you should start eating a fair bit of:

 

All vegetables- good ones are spinach (seriously go nuts with the spinach), broccoli, capsicum, carrot, sweet potato, kale and mushrooms.

 

Fruits- go easy on fruits high in sugar but bananas are AWESOME especially if you feel panicky. ALL berries but especially BLUE BERRIES, avocado, oranges and apples

 

Brown rice is ESSENTIAL for maintaining insulin levels. Kidney beans and lentils are good for this too.

 

Quinoa is great as it is protein rich and helps build up and heal the nervous system. Eggs, turkey or chicken also good for protein. Try limit red meat.

 

Try and eat salmon 2-3 times a week. Probably the BEST food for nervous system and brain function because of the abundance of Omega 3s and 6s.

 

Try not to cut out too many carbs because a lack of carbs is just going to make you feel jittery and anxious. Eat whole meal bread with lots of seeds and grain maybe only once a day to minimise gluten intake.

 

Nuts!! almonds are probably the best.

 

This might piss some people off but when I read posts from people who say things like, I'm 15 months out and just had a wave like acute, I cant help but to think it might have been triggered by a supplement or by diet??

 

This is currently my second withdrawal but I can remember last time, I had been withdrawal symptom free for a year and was feeling amazing when I decided to take super strength fish oil. Even after a year of feeling great, this sent me into acute like symptoms for a couple of days. Just something to think about

 

this is awesome advice. 

[[je...]]

Great info! I make myself fresh juice every morning. Kale, cucumber, celery and apple. I think it has helped me a lot along with eating healthier.

[[Ke...]]

Thanks!

 

It is completely bizarre that people think diet doesn't play a role in healing!

 

I'm pretty much obsessed with food haha. Clean eating is so important to me so if anyone needs any recipe ideas/ meal plans- hit me up, I'm happy to help

 

Here's a sample:

Breakfast: bowl of oats, spoon of manuka honey, almond milk, 1 banana, a handful of berries and a sprinkle of chia seeds

 

Snack: Green juice (spinach, celery, carrot, beetroot, apple) and some almonds

 

Lunch: Spinach, leek and sweet potato frittata

 

Snake: avocado on wholemeal toast

 

Dinner: Baked salmon with miso marinade and Asian salad

 

Mmmmm all so delicious haha!!

 

 

[[Lo...]]

Thanks!

 

It is completely bizarre that people think diet doesn't play a role in healing!

 

I'm pretty much obsessed with food haha. Clean eating is so important to me so if anyone needs any recipe ideas/ meal plans- hit me up, I'm happy to help

 

Here's a sample:

Breakfast: bowl of oats, spoon of manuka honey, almond milk, 1 banana, a handful of berries and a sprinkle of chia seeds

 

Snack: Green juice (spinach, celery, carrot, beetroot, apple) and some almonds

 

Lunch: Spinach, leek and sweet potato frittata

 

Snake: avocado on wholemeal toast

 

Dinner: Baked salmon with miso marinade and Asian salad

 

Mmmmm all so delicious haha!!

ok man this is beautiful eh.....i need to get creative.  ha

[[Co...]]

I agree that the paleo diet works good but for me it needs to be lower in carbs. Supplements all make me worse and I've tried them all.

[[Jo...]]

Wow thanks Longwalktofreedom and KellyJane.  I'm printing this. No I haven't noticed a jump if I eat sugar (refined or natural).  I'm going to try to pay attention more to what I've eaten before an upswing of symptoms.  Like now, I'm having a big time panic attack, hands shaking, hard to breathe.  I wasn't hungry so I haven't eaten but I did have a cup of green tea.  The only thing I've noticed is if I have pork there is sometimes a reaction later.  Does the spinach need to be cooked or can I just do a salad?

 

I drink at least 1 cup of decaf green tea a day.  I work overnight so I go to bed about 8:00 a.m. and get up around 4:00 p.m.  As a result I often don't eat a breakfast.  Actually I often eat just one meal a day, although not always.  I hadn't thought of blood sugar but I'm going to guess that one meal is not good for the body.  I guess I've been following a train of thought about healthier eating having an impact on my health, which I'm certain it does, but it might make this thing easier.  Since I've been on this night schedule my diet has gotten rather bad, so it's been on my mind to improve it back to where I used to be.

 

Does aerobic, or some exercise to get the heart moving, make a difference?

[[Co...]]

I find eating several small meals throughout the day keeps me more stable.

[[je...]]

Yes John, exercise makes a huge difference. I get depressed if I don't exercise and I feel it has helped my mental sx  like anxiety and depression a ton! You can eat the spinach in a salad that would be fine jenny

 

A nice snack I make is sweet potato fries-- chop them up into fries and add olive oil, Himalayan salt and bake. Mmmm.

[[Lo...]]

Wow thanks Longwalktofreedom and KellyJane.  I'm printing this. No I haven't noticed a jump if I eat sugar (refined or natural).  I'm going to try to pay attention more to what I've eaten before an upswing of symptoms.  Like now, I'm having a big time panic attack, hands shaking, hard to breathe.  I wasn't hungry so I haven't eaten but I did have a cup of green tea.  The only thing I've noticed is if I have pork there is sometimes a reaction later.  Does the spinach need to be cooked or can I just do a salad?

 

I drink at least 1 cup of decaf green tea a day.  I work overnight so I go to bed about 8:00 a.m. and get up around 4:00 p.m.  As a result I often don't eat a breakfast.  Actually I often eat just one meal a day, although not always.  I hadn't thought of blood sugar but I'm going to guess that one meal is not good for the body.  I guess I've been following a train of thought about healthier eating having an impact on my health, which I'm certain it does, but it might make this thing easier.  Since I've been on this night schedule my diet has gotten rather bad, so it's been on my mind to improve it back to where I used to be.

 

Does aerobic, or some exercise to get the heart moving, make a difference?

i eat raw. 

[[BJ...]]

I'm glad to see you're doing much better off these days, Longwalk....  Great advise on the food.  I kind of got away from that lately but am right back on it.  It does make a difference eating the right foods.  Exercise works tremendously as well to ease anxiety symptoms when they pop up.  I run 4.5 miles every day and always feel better afterward.

[[Lo...]]

I'm glad to see you're doing much better off these days, Longwalk....  Great advise on the food.  I kind of got away from that lately but am right back on it.  It does make a difference eating the right foods.  Exercise works tremendously as well to ease anxiety symptoms when they pop up.  I run 4.5 miles every day and always feel better afterward.

 

man thanks....i am doing a lot better. i never thought i could feel this way without drugs. i still am not 100% but getting there fast. the depression is gone and my anxiety is getting a little better. more time will help with that. still not driving how i used to. i think its awesome you go running. i need to exercise more it would probably knock out some of my anxiety. this new year i just want to work on being healthy and making good choices for myself. big hug. hope your feeling better too.

[[Ke...]]

Hi John,

I can guarantee you will feel a difference if you eat more regularly and aim to eat foods that will nourish the body. I like to just pretend that I'm hypoglycaemic haha  - http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthyeating/sample-menu-reactive-hypoglycemia.html.

Eating something every 3-4 hours, whether it be a snack or meal, will regulate insulin levels and prevent spicks in anxiety.

Also, I would stay away from anything decaf. It has been bormarded with chemicals to get the caffeine out of it. Maybe try peppermint, chamomile or ginger and lemongrass tea instead ? That's probably me just being waaay to health conscious though! 

[[An...]]

I try to eat healthy, but not exactly to help my withdrawal, just to stay healthy in general.

 

Other than that, I have my morning cup of coffee and sometimes a cup of soy milk at night, simply because that's my routine, and I've always felt more at ease while carrying out my routine (even the act of washing laundry every weekend is oddly therapeutic).  I did ask my psychiatrist about the coffee, but he said that 1 cup of coffee doesn't do much, and it's better to stick to a routine that gives a little help, than try to screw it up by ditching the coffee and get even more anxious as a result.

 

Oddly enough, though, lately salads make me gag a little.  I have no idea why.