Kara S. Anderson

Homeschool connection, not perfection.

  • Blog
    • Mama Self-Care
    • Anxiety
  • Shop
  • Homeschooling
    • Favorite Homeschool Resources
    • Kara’s Book: More Than Enough
    • Homeschooling Blog Posts
    • The Homeschool Sisters Podcast
    • Shop
  • Kara’s Amazon Favorites
  • Policies and Disclosure
  •  

Is a food making your anxiety worse? (with a free tracking printable)

by Kara S. Anderson Leave a Comment

Is there a food that’s adding to your anxiety?

That’s the question I was asking myself recently, when I started looking up some of the stuff that can happen when you are intolerant or sensitive to a food (or food group, like dairy or nightshades or whatever). 

And there it was listed – a possible side effect of a food intolerance can include anxiety.

Plus other stuff was listed. A food intolerance can give you headaches. It can make your tummy hurt. It can make your muscles and joints sore. It can make you really tired.

And of course all of those things can add to anxiety because our busy, protective anxiety brains may decide those things indicate other health issues.

Important. Please Read ⬇️

Now. Before we go one step further – I am not a medical professional of any type. 

Please do not take anything I write here as a substitution for proper medical advice and care.

If you are in a crisis or need help, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or call the National  Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 800.950.NAMI or text NAMI to 741741.

No Cheating. Sorry.

Now, assuming that you have proper medical care, but are living with anxiety, one thing you can do if you believe food is worsening your symptoms is to eliminate the food and track how you feel.

I’ve seen conflicting reports on how long you should eliminate a food from your diet, but in most cases, two weeks to 21 days seems to be the minimum recommendation.

And certainly, if you start to notice a big difference in how you’re feeling, you can continue longer.

I don’t want to get bossy about how to do an elimination diet and/or adding food back in, so if this is your first time trying an elimination diet, be sure to research all that’s involved. (There are about 80 million books on this topic.)

But two tips: Nope, when you are doing a true elimination diet, you can not cheat. You can’t have just one Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, or one piece of pizza or one bite of anything if it contains the food you’re eliminating and get proper results.

Also, only eliminate one food at a time, otherwise, you won’t know specifically what food is potentially contributing to your anxiety without way more investigative work beyond the scope of this free printable.

A FREE Printable Tracker

I made this free printable food elimination tracker for you if you suspect that something you are eating is perhaps making your anxiety symptoms worse. (I say eating, but it could be drinking, like in the case of caffeine).

To use the tracker, simply track the date, anything going on physically, anything going on emotionally, any other thoughts, and rate your anxiety.

(You can print out as many of the tracker pages as you need, but I recommend you only check in once or twice a day, so this doesn’t become burdensome. You’re already shifting your diet and that takes a lot of effort.)

Based on my experience – give this time. It may take a week or more to see any changes. Drink lots of water. Maybe take some epsom salt baths to help your body detoxify.

*Again – I am not a medical professional.*

But, if you notice that you are feeling better without that thing – a food, food group, caffeine, sugar, etc., in your body – Wahoo. Because you feel better!

But also, don’t just decide – “OK, gluten is BAD forever” or whatever.

Just use this as some information, and proceed responsibly.

You know how to do that. You’re a grown up person and you’ve made it this far, with ANXIETY, so just keep going.

Talk to a doctor or medical professional. Tell your shrink. Call your mom.

And be proud of yourself even if you tried this experiment and your anxiety didn’t get better.

You are actively working to take good care of yourself, and that’s HUGE. High five.

 

Right now, it’s like this.

Finally, sometimes, when we have anxiety, we keep throwing figurative spaghetti at the wall trying to see if anything will stick.

Sometimes, we try so many things, that “fixing” our anxiety becomes a part-time job.

A popular phrase in meditation circles is “Right now, it’s like this.”

I like to remember that when I go into Fix-It Mode, because sometimes, there just really isn’t much we can do to “fix” our anxiety.

We can take good care of ourselves, and we can go to our appointments, and if we take meds, we can stay on top of that, and we can ask for help, but we may not be able to “cure” our anxiety altogether, even if we pray or take medicine or douse ourselves in essential oils, or exercise, or meditate, or do deep breathing, or pet a therapy llama or stop eating sugar.

This free printable is just one tool that I made to see if it would help me feel a little better, and I wanted to share it with you.

But that’s all it is – a tool.

 

Again, if you are in any kind of crisis, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 800.950.NAMI or text NAMI to 741741.

Sending you so much love, 

Kara

Looking for more? Join me over on Instagram, (@karastephensonanderson) where we chat connection over perfection, anxiety, overwhelm and doing the best we can. 

NEED HELP ORGANIZING YOUR FOOD LIFE? I GET IT. Check out my meal planning system ebook here

or click the image below.

This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Anxiety, Mama Self-Care

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey there!

I’m Kara – writer, tea drinker, yoga-doer and girl with the overdue books.

 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

My Book

My Amazon Shop

Get $25 off your first order:

Get a free gift set from Grove Collaborative

Copyright

You are welcome to link to my blog (of course!), but please do not use my words or photos without my written consent, that includes reblogging. Copyright 2013-2017. Read this site’s policies and disclosures here.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

karastephensonanderson

kara s anderson
It’s safer on the shore, right? The women stayi It’s safer on the shore, right?

The women staying in the house next to us saw me, camera in hand, safe in the sand …

“You’re the smart one,” a small, tanned mother of a 36-year-old daughter said.

Another chuckled and told us she regularly paddle boards across the bay with a wine glass balanced on the bow, salad on the stern …

The women were different from one another; friends for a long time, you could just tell, spending a month together at the beach, taking turns making simple, beautiful, rustic dinners, like pasta in a giant serving bowl and fresh artichokes.

🌊

“I think I want to try,” I told my friends, after some time waiting, watching … photographing the most gorgeous sunset.

Fear (anxiety) will make us well aware of all the risks, except maybe the risk of missing big, defining moments.
 
🌊 

I got back to shore and shook for 90 minutes. 

It was scary. 

It was so much.

🌊 packing
🌊making my bus
🌊checking my bag
🌊security
🌊flying
🌊going in the ocean
🌊feeling too far from the shore
🌊saying exactly what was in my heart

💙

It’s probably safer on the shore.

It’s probably safer at home. 

My body tells me that all the time, especially during the past two years - it’s pulled to what feels secure.💙

And yet. 

It’s different than with plants. 

We can’t grow if we stay rooted.

We can’t float if we don’t trust that we’ll be held once brave enough to take the first steps away from the shore.

🌊

“You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,”

-Mary Oliver

🌊

I don’t know if I could ever really explain to someone without anxiety how scary the past few days were, while also being some of the best of my life. 💙

I’m immensely grateful.
Sometimes you meet someone - not in person, but ac Sometimes you meet someone - not in person, but across the miles - and there’s just a connection.

I think it was Erin’s enthusiasm for reading Harry Potter with her kids and coming up with creative HP ⚡️ learning activities that made me realize she and I were meant to meet, even if it was only virtually.

Last week Erin, 42, wife and homeschool mom to two and a fellow animal lover was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Word spread quickly in the homeschool community. Erin - @erin_vincent35 - writes at Nourishing My Scholar, @chalkpastelart and Simple Homeschool.

She has been giving in the homeschool community for years - support, encouragement and tips for connecting with your kids through homeschooling.

We’re doing a GoFundMe for Erin. I’ll make it the link in my bio.

We want to help her raise money for treatment and to help her family through this.

If you’re inclined, you can donate, but you can also share her GoFundMe and that helps too.

Every little bit helps. 💜💜

Thank you, friends. 

We love you, Erin! 💜💜
Hi. I finally wrote a thing about transcripts fo Hi. 

I finally wrote a thing about transcripts for when you are unschooly.

This is just based on my experience with one kid, but I’m happy to try to answer any questions.

But two important things: first, our homeschooling here has been messy/successful - succmessful 💙

It’s worked for us. But it isn’t fancy, and so this transcript style isn’t either.

Second, for the love, remember - if you’ve been hanging out for me for any amount of time, the most important thing is our relationship with our kids.

So keep college in its place.

It’s not a contest. What you really want (I bet) is a place your kid will thrive without having to morph into some Bret Easton Ellis character, right?
 
Too far? 😉 

Post: karasanderson.com/transcripts/
Before. And after 🥰🥰 And a lil grid with h Before.

And after 🥰🥰

And a lil grid with headbands from our dear Jen - @thequirkydaisy 💜

(I ended up being able to donate 14 inches. Thank you for the advice about where to donate!)

P.S. Yes, @vanessanwright is also wearing our twin sweater today. 😂💟
OK. That was fun. Everything feels so different t OK. That was fun.

Everything feels so different than it did just 24 hours ago - in the best way. 🎓

I think we needed to do a thing. 🤷‍♀️ I think we needed a stop-point. 

Anyway, it was good, and I’m grateful and man, I love this kid. 💙🧡

P.S. Very glad I bought sparkly hats and a themed teddy bear.

I don’t know much about party planning, but these were wise investments, I think.
Hi. I’m totally fine, except tomorrow is my son Hi.

I’m totally fine, except tomorrow is my son’s graduation party and I’m not even close to fine, like … I find myself just sort of stuck here again, unable to do normal things like eat the salad I just made.

I was talking to my friend Jenn about this launching kids thing, and she said to be OK with both parts - to feel both parts.

The two parts are that yes, I am happy for my son and excited and this is true. This isn’t me trying to be happy. It’s real.

But also, I feel like I’m in a slow motion “emotional plane crash” - Jenn’s words.

She said I need to feel both, and *show* both - let both out - and that’s been the problem, I think.

I’m afraid to show the sad part. The scared part.

I’m afraid of those feelings being downplayed or dismissed by people who don’t get the complexity. 

I’m afraid of those things overshadowing the joy.

But then Jenn, without me saying any of that, saw it and got it and I realized maybe it would help to share all this, because maybe another mom will read this and feel seen and understood and know that she’s not alone in the beautiful, heartbreaking both of it all 🤍
I wanted to introduce you to my new pal, this Morn I wanted to introduce you to my new pal, this Morning Sidekick Journal.

A while back, I was talking to someone about needing a schedule, and she said, I think what you really need is to set your priorities each day 🤯

So I bought this journal I’ve been eyeing for a while that helps you create a consistent morning routine.

Then, the last step of my morning routine is to plan out my day in my bullet journal, and star the 3 most important things.

This little journal has already helped so much. I feel so much more focused and that helps me feel less anxious.

I highly, highly recommend this system, especially if like me, you like/ need accountability + have a hard time creating realistic routines and making them stick. 🌟

I’ll put a link in my bio for you! 

P.S. my erasable Frixion Color Stick pens pair perfectly with this. 🌟
I don’t really have anything to say except my fr I don’t really have anything to say except my friend Kym sent me these amazing Wonder Woman cuffs and I’m not taking them off.

I shall sleep in them.

They are so cool that my teens like them.

Also, some people see us.

Today we went to drop off a gift to one of my son’s college professor because she is special. She *gets* him. 

And fun fact: I was in one of her first classes when she started teaching.

Back then, she admits she tried to be tough, but it didn’t work. Caring was better.

Caring is better.

Let the people who care in and love them like crazy. 💙

Signed, 
My 5-year-old self who is still part of me and having the best day of her life.
Hey-o! It’s my birthday, and I always like to c Hey-o!

It’s my birthday, and I always like to celebrate by having a thing over at my site. 🧁💗🥳

➡️

The secret password is MAYSALE22

OK. Love you. Bye!
Such a sweet birthday 💗🧁 I’ll put a link Such a sweet birthday 💗🧁

I’ll put a link in my bio to the Frixion pens. The cute animal ones are from Target! 

P.S. Site-wide sale starts 5/9 at karasanderson.com

#bulletjournal #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalideas #pens
Load More...

Copyright © 2022 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in