Is Your Diet Giving You Panic Attacks?

A panic attack is nothing to look forward to, and people go to great lengths to avoid stressing themselves out so they won't have one. However, most people have no idea that the very foods or beverages they are putting in their mouths can be causing their panic attacks in the first place. Since a panic attack is rarely instantly triggered (panic attacks usually take months to actually form), too often the finger is pointed at that stressful meeting with the boss and not the years of abusing the free coffee. Hmm...

Most people have the common misconception that their panic attacks are caused by a stressful event in their lives. Yet this is only partially true - panic attacks triggered by stressful or traumatic events most often don't even happen until months later. Too often, the source of a panic attack can't be traced to something horrific enough to cause one. So, how do panic attacks even happen?

Believe it or not, your diet is totally connected to your nervous system, and your nervous system is completely connected to your health. So if you think that extra cup of coffee has nothing to do with your panic attacks, guess again. Your panic attacks can be caused entirely and consistently because you are always putting your nervous system in overdrive by what you are (or aren't) eating. You can easily blame a grand majority of your panic attacks simply on your diet. So how do you fix your diet-triggered panic attacks?

A diet low in potassium or sodium can wreak havoc on your nervous system, and therefore make you more susceptible to panic attacks. And yes, excessive amounts of caffeine can put your nervous system in overdrive, and even food allergies can cause a panic attack. To find out what may be causing your panic attacks as far as food goes, try keeping a food journal to rule out several possible culprits. Start eating more bananas (or other fruits and veggies with potassium in them) and cutting back a cup or two on the coffee. You just may find out that those 7 daily cups of coffee are what is making you have panic attacks all the time as they start to decrease. Keep that food journal handy for tracking the amount of panic attacks you are having based upon your dietary changes.

If you keep having panic attacks and you just plain don't know why and have altered your diet to be more nervous system-friendly, see your doctor to rule out actual health concerns. It could be you are having panic attacks because there is something in your diet (or not) that is causing your nervous system to freak out on you. It could be hormones or some chemical alteration in your brain that is triggering those fight or flight hormones that make you have panic attacks. If you don't know what it is that is causing your panic attacks, you can't keep them from happening. Seeing your doctor can help you figure out what is causing you to have panic attacks, once and for all.

Source:

http://forums.webmd.com/3/anxiety-and-panic-disorders-exchange/forum/4830/?ecd=wnl_emw_072011