Healthy eating/gardening/anxiety

[rainbowninja]

Is anyone interested in joining a thread about the impact of healthy eating on their mental health?

I've suffered from anxiety for years but it's been a lot worse since I became a mum.

With lockdown in the mix I just feel physically and emotionally depleted.

I've had some tests done and I know that I am low in certain vitamins etc. I've been recommended supplements to take and to 'eat the rainbow' (basically eat shed loads of veg). I want to give it a go for my own sake and my daughter because I know I'm not being the best mum to her. I'm anxious and irritable.

It feels quite overwhelming but I am quite interested in learning about nutrition, I also quite like the idea of having a go at growing some of my own veg as I've been enjoying being outside lately and I know it helps me.

I don't want to do it on my own though so I wondered if there were any other anxious mumsnetters out there that would be interested in learning/growing with me. No pressure to change anything overnight, maybe we could just cheer each other on for drinking an extra glass of water or something?

Hi Loki, I love the sound of the dark chocolate and banana flapjack. After deciding that the dark chocolate had effected me I had a dairy free choc and orange pot - it was mostly almond milk but with a bit of chocolate and I had the exact same thing. Woke up at 5am with my heart hammering. I wonder if it's the caffeine in chocolate, it had never occurred to me but I've always avoided coffee and soft drinks for that reason.

That's interesting about the autism assessment, is it the first time you've been tested? How do you feel about it?

Hi Rainbow, I used to be quite sensitive to caffeine. I would have to stop having tea at 1pm, otherwise it would affect my sleep. Then I went the other way, by drinking so much tea that it didn't have any effect. I could even have tea before going to bed. I rarely have tea now because I'm having it without sugar and I don't really enjoy it.

I made aussie crunch with my sister yesterday. I had a tiny piece 😋

I have mixed feelings about the assessment. You only have to be tested once. I find out the outcome tomorrow. I'm okay if I get diagnosed with autism. The thing I'm struggling with is whether to disclose it at my new job. And I'm wondering how understanding people at work will be if I do disclose the information.

Hi @Lokikitty! How's your week?

That's interesting about how having tea has changed the way it effects you, I'm not sure I have always been so sensitive to caffeine, maybe there are other factors involved which effect how well we can tolerate it.

Hope you're doing ok after the assessment result and that whatever the outcome you feel it was a useful exercise?

Hi Rainbow, my week has been up and down. I've had less challenging children this week but I'm not sleeping well, so wishing Friday would hurry up. How has your week been?

I got diagnosed with autism on Monday. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I can access post diagnosis support, which starts soon. The thing that I'm very worried about is disclosing this information to my new school. I found an online forum for autistic teachers and teaching assistants. That was an interesting read.

Hi @Lokikitty

My weeks been ok thanks, focusing on doing my training course which is now on the subject of the immune system which is interesting. I've had a bit of physical anxiety but I've been focusing on trying to control my blood sugar by eating more protein and also reminding myself about 'mindfulness'. I did a course in it a few years back and found it really helpful.

I can understand why if you've experienced difficulties in certain areas for a long time that you'd want to get a diagnosis as like you say it can make finding support easier. How does it work with confidentiality? If you decide to tell your HR department do they have to tell your line manager etc? It sounds like in your type of work it's a positive thing that you have your own experience which you can use to help you support others? I expect you need time to get your head around what it means for you though and then when you are comfortable with it you can decide if or how to communicate it to others.

My mental health always suffers when I'm eating a crap diet... I really notice it. It's hard to stay on track, well I find it hard 😀

Gardening and growing veg has kept me sane this year, I'm really enjoying growing stuff and getting my hands dirty it's good for the soul.

I read The Joy of Gardening by Ellen Mary which was lovely and captured how I feel about well being and gardening. It's a very lovely little book! Ellen Mary has a Facebook page etc too.

Eating good you have grown is a fantastic feeling 😀

Oh I got excited by gardening and well being and didn't notice this was a older thread 🙈

Hi Rainbow, glad you're finding the course interesting. Minfulness sounds like a good course to do.

If I tell HR, they would have to inform my line manager, otherwise they wouldn't be able to put reasonable adjustments in place. Having had certain struggles my whole life definitely helps me to understand and support the children that I work with. It's the reason why the job comes so naturally to me and I find it so rewarding. I've had enough time to get my head around it as I waited 8 months for the assessment. I just hate not knowing how people will respond to the disclosure.

Hi @Lokikitty I can understand that, do you have any reasonable adjustments in mind that you would ask for? I told employers about my anxiety when I worked and always found they were very supportive.

Hi Rainbow, the reasonable adjustments that I could ask for are : asking to be kept in the same class, being told in advance of any changes and having a quiet place for lunch/completing paperwork.

I've had mixed experiences at my last school. One manager was very supportive when I disclosed my anxiety at the start of the pandemic. The added stress from covid related changes meant I could no longer hide my struggles. The manager was lovely and didn't treat me any differently.

Then I got a new manager and didn't think twice about disclosing. This turned out to be a big mistake as the manager had no understanding of mental health. She tried to imply that I'm not trying hard enough. The way she treated me made my mental health worse and I had to take a few weeks off work.

Sorry to hear that @Lokikitty, how people respond can make such a difference. You sound like you are getting clearer on what things cause anxiety for you though and about asking for what you need which is really positive.

I think if you explain it as clearly as you have here then you will hopefully get a positive response.

I've been feeling a little bit fed up today, part of my anxiety involves feeling 'depersonalised' which makes me feel not myself and disconnected. I'm trying not to freak out about it, it's a feeling I've never liked but I'm getting a bit more accepting that for whatever reason it is part of my experience.

On a positive note, I've lost 2 and a half stone since I started eating healthily. It was never my aim but it's a very welcome side effect!

That's amazing Rainbow 👏. You've done well. I've lost 1.5 inches from around my waist since eating well. Healthy eating puts an end to constant hunger. I've noticed this week that my taste buds have changed. I tried to treat myself to ice cream when I went camping at the weekend. As lovely as it was, I couldn't manage more than a few spoonfuls.

I know what you mean about feeling disconnected. I used to get that a lot. Accepting yourself and being kind to yourself makes a big difference. That's something that I'm trying to do.

Having met some of the staff at my new school, I've fairly sure that I'll get a positive result. I just struggle to control worrying.

That's great @Lokikitty! Waist circumference is an important indicator of health and I've noticed that too - healthier meals means less cravings for snacks. It's amazing how your taste buds change too isn't it? I feel like I'm enjoying my food more overall.

We had chicken tonight in a tandoori spice mix I bought, it was actually quite nice. Had it with rice, spinach and roasted peppers.

Great that you've met some of the people you'll be working with. When do you start? My daughter is back on the 1st Sep, feels early.

I know what you mean Rainbow. I feel like I'm enjoying the right kind of food for a change.

Your tea sounds lovely as always. I like Tandoori spice mix. It makes any chicken dish tasty.

I'm back on the first and it definitely feels early. I'd have gone back on the 6th at my old school. I've done my last shift for the summer at the special needs centre. So glad to have 4 days off. I really need it to rest and unwind. I also need to celebrate my DD's college results. She got mainly distinctions 😊

Oh so pleased for your daughter @Lokikitty

Hope you're having a lovely weekend. It's my daughters 7th birthday on Monday so we've got family staying.

I made some banana cookie dough bites earlier, it was literally banana, dates and desiccated coconut blended and then shaped into balls and baked in the oven. Lovely!

Hi Rainbow, I had a nice weekend, spending time with family, shopping and eating out. How was your weekend?

Your banana cookie dough bites sound lovely and healthy. I invited my DD's friends round yesterday. I made them some mini heart shaped shortbread biscuits and decorated them. I didn't have any. They are picky eaters, so I just got pizza in for everyone.

I've been for a walk today with 2 colleagues that I got to know from the special needs centre. It was really nice having someone to walk with.

First day at my new job tomorrow. I've got my outfit ready and done my packed lunch. Now I just need to try and relax.

Hi @Lokikitty, I had a nice time with my family at the weekend celebrating my daughters birthday. The shortbread hearts sound lovely!

How was your first day at your new job? My daughter went back to school today. I'm still not in a position to do the school run but am trying to hang on to the positives. Since I started the healthy eating my menstrual cycle seems to be getting back on track and I've been a little less hormonal.

Hi Rainbow, glad you had a nice weekend.

You sound like you're trying your best to make positive changes and healthy eating seems to be doing you good. You'll get there.

I went to work yesterday, only to find out that I don't start until the 7th 🤣. The school's website wasn't very clear and no one had given me a start date.

I'm getting a few jobs done while I am off. Other than that I'm just trying to relax and get my sleep back on track.

Thanks @Lokikitty appreciate that ❤️

Sorry to hear you had a false start at work 😂 I hope the extra time off feels like a bonus and that it goes well when you do get there!

I made sag aloo for the first time yesterday evening and had guacaroni for lunch - basically pasta in guacamole - I used red lentil pasta.

Hi Rainbow, the extra time of work was hard for me as I didn't have any plans. I felt really low yesterday.

Your lunch and tea sound amazing. I love how adventurous you are with your food.

I went to a pottery class today with my daughter. It was tricky but good fun. I've got 5 more sessions booked.

Hi @Lokikitty,

Sorry to hear you were feeling low during the unexpected time off. How are you feeling about tomorrow?

I've had a bit of a funny weekend, it was my cousins wedding yesterday and I couldn't go and it was hard to think of all my family there without me. It also made me miss my aunt who died 3 years ago from breast cancer. To perk myself up I had a try on session of a few clothes that I haven't been able to fit in for a while and it helped a bit!

We're having lamb shanks for tea tonight, we weren't expecting the weather to be so warm!

I love the sound of the pottery classes, it's fab that you do that these activities with your daughter 😊

Hi Rainbow, I'm feeling nervous but kind of excited as well about starting work on Tuesday.

Sorry to hear that you have had a bit of a difficult weekend. It's fab about being able to fit into the clothes that you haven't been able to wear for a while. It's lovely when that happens.

I did chicken wings and made brownies using dates yesterday. It felt good to do a bit of cooking and baking.

I love doing things with my daughter. We have similar interests. We even share clothes. We haven't always had a good relationship, so it means a lot to me that we have got a lot closer in recent years.

Hi @Lokikitty, how was your first day at your new job?

Hope you enjoyed the chicken wings and brownies, they both sound lovely.

Thanks for sharing that about your daughter, I guess that's the reality of relationships at time's.

I braved a very short walk out the house today but found myself feeling really anxious for quite some time after. I'm wondering if when I do these short walks I should keep to a short distance but try and pause and calm my nervous system before I come back. Otherwise I think I'm just making myself more anxious by pushing myself and then rushing home again.

Made the banana and date cookie dough bites again today, my daughter likes them too which gave me something to be cheerful about.

Hi Rainbow, I've had a lovely first 2 days at work. The staff are so lovely and supportive and I've got a good class. I disclosed my autism to the head, deputy head and class teacher. They were all great about it. The strange thing is that the school is so supportive, it's unlikely that I will need support.

That sounds really sensible about keeping the walks to a short distance. Is there anyone that can help you feel more relaxed? Glad the cookie bites cheered you up.

I did Zumba tonight and really enjoyed it, even though it's been a hot evening. My instructer brought cakes for everyone to celebrate 2 birthdays. I just managed to resist.

Hi @Lokikitty, I'm so glad to hear that you had a positive start in your new job and a good response to disclosing your autism. It must be a weight off your mind.

I'm going to continue 'fine tuning' my healthy eating and see what really works for me. I'm taking lavender capsules now too.

We had family visit today so we did a roast dinner which felt like a nice start to the autumn. I also had a really good meeting with some other students on my course which I set up to feel a bit more connected.