I would really like to know if anyone else has this problem.I know I can't have chocolate because of the caffeine but I was reading about another ingredient in chocolate that can worsen anxiety. I can't remember what it was called I just know it started with a t. Anyway I read the same ingredient is in cheese,turkey and wine so now I won't eat those either. I read that seafood is easy to develop an allergic reation to so I stopped eating seafood even though I love it. Now since starting the program I am having trouble eating foods with sugar to the point that I read every label and make my self feel sick if I do eat something that I'm afraid has too much sugar. I'm not bolemic or anything just paranoid about eating.If anyone else has any simlar issues please let me know. It is really bothering me. I just don't know how to turn off my bad thoughts.

I think you should become a "scarey thought detective" and find out for yourself which foods cause you distress and which ones don't. I personally do not have a reaction to chocolate. Not everyone does. You must determine these things for yourself. Perhaps small amounts of sugar do not affect you. Moderation is always a good rule of thumb.

Try the seafood. Perhaps you will not have an allergic reaction. Turkey has L-tryptophan which actually helps to reduce anxiety.

You can not believe everything you read. YOu must be a detective and find out what is true for you.

Breathe into those scary feelings. Use your calm breath. Use thought stoppage. Soothe yourself and replace those scary thoughts with something true and soothing. Tell that scary voice to shut up. It's time it moved on. Stay as present as you can. Thoughts. Just thoughts. Focus on what you are doing presently. Notice your what you touch, smell, taste, see and hear.

I do the same thing. I sometimes will sit there and not eat lots of things. I am allergic to lobster found out that by my husband buying it and them putting it on top of my steak. Lots of benadryl is what helped that. Then I am lactose intolerant. No milk. That takes out alot of foods. Dont worry about things that you have ate and do further research because I eat turkey and it helps me when I have anxiety well I don't have anxiety when I eat it. My chest starts hurting when I eat red sauce and pepperoni and other things like that. It makes me feel sometimes worse. I wouldnt sit there and worry though because I eat all of these things then it gives me a reason why my chest hurts and it has made me not panic when I have chest pains or other such things happen. Listen to a relaxation cd it helps. You have to reprogram your brain to not worry not use the cd and dvd to worry more. I did that so don't feel bad but don't let it keep from helping you!

God bless
Jennifier

I have recently become a lot more obsessed with food. I have had trouble with eating disorders in the past and I was working hard to be "healthy" I have always studied foods a bit obsessively but I have come to the point where I feel like "unhealthy" foods are like poison. I am terrified to eat anything fried or sweet. Anyone else been like this?

Oh, wow, can I relate. I really think about food a lot, especially foods that I haven't tried before. I already know of some that affect my anxiety level, like caffeine, milk, spices. I made a big mistake today. I was out and bought an iced-coffee, it looked so good! But, right now, am I ever suffering for that. I have to learn not only which foods affect me, but I also have to learn to stay away from them. I didn't think one small coffee would affect me, but it sure did. Now I will know! Good luck!
Rob.

The other ingredient in chocolate that causes anxiety is theobromide.

Artistguy do you know if theobromide is in turkey, cheese or wine? I have looked all over my house for the magazine that I read about this in but I can't find it. Please, let me know if you know or not. I miss eating cheese more tham I miss chocolate. LOL.

Not that I am aware of.

One way I have found of finding out what is in food is by googling it. There is a vast amount of information out there. There is such a thing called the "Brain-Gut" reaction. Look it up and read on it you would be surprised what it has to say. I have to be really careful what I eat because if it creates to much acid then it feels like my air is being cut off and I can't breathe, therefore I go into an anxiety attack. I cannot wait to get my cd's so I can start listening to them.

I just wanted to let everyone that I spoke with my pharmacist and ask her what the ingredient was in cheese that I shouldn't eat. She told me it was tyramine. She also told me that I didn't have anything to worry about because I don't take an MAOI. She said it was linked to really old antidepressant medications and could cause severly high blood pressure. So I had her spell it for me (haha) and I googled it. It turns out that it is in several foods that I eat everyday and didn't even know it (like yogurt). It is a natural substance that occurs when food is aged. I feel better knowing all of this but I still can't bring myself to eat cheese or turkey. I feel really silly especially knowing that it is ok to eat it.I just found out a couple of days ago so I guess I will give myself a little more time before I beat myself up to bad. By the way don't over react to things you read in magazines lol!