Does anyone else here on the board ever find that their anxiety level can increase while dieting/limiting calories? I've had issues on and off over the years with Generlaized Anxiety Disorder and I found most recently while dieting my anxiety just shot way up. I went back on anti-depressant medicine to bring my mood back in control but feel afraid now to return to dieting because of the fear that my anxiety will again get bad. If anyone else has had similar issues of anxiety and weight loss I would like to hear what your experience has been.

From a purely biological standpoint it does seem to make sense that limiting calories could trigger some anxiety/depression because carbohydrates are used by the brain to produce serotonin - the same brain chemical anti-depressants aim to boost. But unfortuantely even when I take anti-depressants I don't automatically stop craving carbs. I tried talking about this occurance with my Dr. but he and his assistant were both encouraging their weight loss system which includes diet pills. I would prefer to lose weight without diet pills. I even would like to get off of anti-depressants permanently. I guess I just want to find more natural remedies to imrove my mood and lose weight.

I also have extreme anxiety and as it has escalated, my weight has reached its peak.

My gut reaction is to be wary of diet pills of any kind while on medication for anxiety/depression etc. I'm curious what is in them and would question a doctor hawking his own wares for profit. Maybe I'm just suspicious though! It could be great! Please do tell more.

Could it be that before you were using food to ease your anxiety and now that you are dieting, you've lost that outlet?

You don't have to quit eating carbs - simple carbs are wasted calories, but complex carbs are good for us. Perhaps it's your eating plan. My depression got worse with every pound I gained and has diminished with my loses. I do WW - nothing is off limits, but the quantity might be less.

Passionista - My gut reaction is to not want to take diet pills either while on anti-depressants. Hoenstly I wouldn't even want to take them if I wasn't on anti-depressants. I feel I just need to learn how to better manage my conditions (weight, anxiety) without pills. Sorry to hear you also have anxiety. Is there any treatment that has helped you?

CLCS - Yeah I do think I use food to manage emotion, definatly. I just wish I knew a better way though because I need to lose weight for other medical reasons.

I know it is dificcult to start (especially if depressed) but do you incorporate excersice into your weight loss goals? Even if not for weight loss, it should ease depression and anxiety.

I was reading something just the other day about our (human) missplaced emotions of aggression and anxiety because no longer are we hunting or in fear of our lives from predators, but now it's shifted to road rage by being cut off or tail-gated and worrying about deadlines for work/school.

I too, suffer from depression and am feeling anxiety right now. Perhaps you are anxious about the diet and worrying about the calories and it being successful and that has more to do with it than the actual foods being eaten.

I have agoraphobia (Anxiety disorder) Think I spelled that right ~Anyways....I have anxiety attacks daily all day long. I just walk instead of eat. Try that.. Just pace back and forth from room to room and drink lots of water cause that will feel ya up ~so u aint hungry........Anxiety sucks so I feel for ya...HANG IN THERE.

I too,noticed my anxiety levels rising the last time I tried to lose weight. I did some research and found that not getting enough potassium can cause the same feelings that I get when I have a panic attack (shakiness, heart palpitations etc..). I realized that I wasn't eating enough potassium rich foods. When I did, the panicky feelings went away. Lack of magnesium can cause the same problem.

I wasn't really watching my vitamin and mineral intake, which could possibly relate to my anxious feelings. It would be a good idea to take a multi-vitamin while dieting.