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?

@Lokikitty I feel your pain on the sleep front, it effects so much when you can't sleep.

Love the sound of the Halloween bookmarks!

I was reading about protein and healthy fat only today, I've started to think about protein, healthy fat and fibre in a meal. I never thought of fat as fuel until now.

Hope you're still enjoying the new job, nearly half term!

Glad you understand Rainbow. Not many people understand the effects of long term sleep deprivation.

I'm doing origami boxes next week. The children are looking forward to making them.

The new job is going really well. I feel like I've got a bit closer to my colleagues this week and I'm getting to know the children better.

Talked about some really emotional stuff in me counselling session tonight, so feeling a bit low.

1 more week before half term. I haven't got anything planned, so not looking forward to it yet.

Hi @Lokikitty,

Sleep gets mentioned a lot on my course, it's one of the core basics that makes everything else that bit harder.

I hope you felt ok today after your counselling session, it can take a lot of out of you.

Are you doing any work during half term or having the week off? I'm going to arrange a couple of play dates for my daughter but not going to overdo it.

The healthy eating is still going pretty well, I made some healthy biscuits today with chia seeds. My daughter didn't like them but that's par for the course 😂

Hi Rainbow, I'm not working over half term. The sports event at the special needs centre isn't taking place for some reason. It's probably for the best. I've got 2 art classes booked and I've arranged to meet a friend for a walk. Trying not to plan too much.

I felt really tired and flat this morning. Started to feel a bit better in the evening. My daughter cooked chicken and mash for tea. Only ate an hour ago because she forgot to put the oven on!

The biscuits sound interesting. I still have chai seeds that I haven't used.

I'm working tomorrow and hoping to have a quiet day on Sunday. Have you any plans for the weekend?

Hi @Lokikitty,

Sounds like you've got a good balance planned for half term.

Chicken and mash sounds like good comfort food, we had lamb shanks with mash on Friday and yesterday we had lemon sole, Saturday had become our fish night which is a big change for me because I've never been a fan but I'm up for trying anything now!

Hope you had a restful day today. I've done very little, took my daughter to her dance class again yesterday though and that was good 👍🏻

Hi Rainbow, lamb shanks and lemon sole sound lovely. I haven't had lamb for ages.

I had a very restful day on Sunday. Not by choice though. I started coughing Saturday night, so had to go for a pcr test Sunday morning. Then needed to isolate until I got the negative result Monday morning. At least I didn't end up being off work.

Glad you're enjoying taking your daughter to her dance class. How are the walks going?

My art club didn't go as well as I would have liked today. A lot more children were in this week and the gift boxes were too tricky for the children. I'm doing pipe cleaner crafts after half term, so that should be nice and simple.

Hi @Lokikitty,

Lamb gets mentioned as a good source of protein in a book I've got called 'the anti anxiety food solution'

Glad your test was negative and you didn't have to miss work.

The walks are going ok thanks, just got to keep it up and be slow and repetitive I think .

That's a shame about the gift boxes, it can't always be easy finding crafts that are the right level of difficulty. Too simple and they will get bored!

I feel a bit rubbish today and I'm wondering if it's because I had a couple of snacks last night of things that I had cut out previously - had a bag of crisps and a graze flapjack 🤷‍♀️

Hi, Rainbow

Hope you are feeling better. I've been having quite a bit of junk while I've been under the weather. Still eating lots of healthy food as well, so guess it's fine for the time being.

Glad your walks are going well. I haven't felt like walking the past few days. It's been too rainy and grey. I did go to do a full food shop last night, for the first time in a month.

I've been watching videos on pipe cleaner crafts. Decided to make butterflies, flowers and snails at my art club after half term.

Last day today at school. Don't know if I'm working tomorrow. Agency haven't got back to me yet, which is annoying. Then a week off, which should hopefully be nice.

What are your plans for next week?

Hi @Lokikitty,

Hope the last day of term went well?

You sound like you enjoy the art club, I enjoy doing crafts with my daughter too. She gets 'toucan box' which has some quite nice ideas in it.

Feeling quite anxious today but still managed a walk so feeling quite good about that.

Not too much planned for half term, will see a couple of friends but can't be doing with too much socialising at once 😩

We're having a beef casserole tonight and generally having lots of soups and roasted vegetables which is nice.

Hi Rainbow, last day of term went well. All the staff were treated to a McDonald's, which was nice. I made choc chip cookies to take to work.

I enjoy doing crafts. The good thing about art club is that the children have chosen to do it and love it as much as I do.

Well done for getting out for a walk. It's hard when you're not in the mood or the weather is terrible.

I know what you mean about too much socialising! It really drains me.

Beef casserole, soups and roasted vegetables sound lovely. I did pan fried cod for tea on Friday. It only took 5 minutes, so a healthy and speedy supper.

Hi @Lokikitty,

Sounds like a nice last day of term and I felt like you would understand that about socialising, I love being around other people but it does take a lot out of me.

The cod sounds like a win! I'm getting some pollock tomorrow in a recipe box which I'll be interested to try. I've been going quite low carb at the minute and it seems to have had a positive effect.

I had some biscuits last night for the first time in ages, I enjoyed them at the time but they didn't agree with me

Hi Rainbow

I had a very productive day yesterday. I did some cleaning, went to an art class and painted a cat on a t-shirt. It's part of my costume for my work Christmas do. We're going somewhere that has a abba tribute band. In the evening I spent some time with my brother, who is at my mum's for a week.

I think I tried to do too much. I didn't sleep well and feel quite low today. I went for a walk with my mum and brother. I cooked vegetable lasagne for them which turned out nice. I have been busy but just feel flat.

Sorry that the biscuits didn't agree with you. At least you enjoyed them.

Have you tried the pollock recipe?

Hi @Lokikitty,

How are you doing? I love the sound of the veg lasagne and sorry you didn't feel great after your busy day. It's hard getting the balance between keeping busy and distracted and not overdoing it.

I've found my mood and energy crashed a bit this week but feel a bit better today. I've brought my daughter to a Halloween workshop at the scout hut near my house. It's a bit of a challenge but still a huge step up from not being able to go anywhere!

The pollock was nice although I've had a really poor appetite this week. I get a few bites into any meal and give up. I'm looking forward to my online shop coming tomorrow. Treating myself to some deliciously Ella healthy snacks.

Hi Rainbow

Hope you and your daughter enjoyed the Halloween workshop. Well done for going. I'm thinking of going to a Halloween circus on Sunday.

Hope your appetite returns soon. Never tried Ella snacks. I haven't had much of an appetite, even after my long walk, which is unusual. I went for a long walk with my brother and daughter yesterday. We really enjoyed it. Treated myself to a scone at the tearoom 😋

I've had a good couple of days. I went for an art class this afternoon. I painted another cat. I wasn't happy with the first one that I did on Monday.

I had a counselling session in the evening. I discussed how hard it is to find the balance between keeping busy and doing too much. I'm glad you understand.

My cat t-shirt

Hi @Lokikitty, love your cat - it looks brilliant!

Glad you enjoyed the long walk and tea shop! I've not got my appetite back yet, my stomach still feels very tense.

A friend of mine has agreed to be a practice client for me on my course. She's just filled in the forms, I hope I can help her.

I made cauliflower mash today, you blend cauliflower with coconut milk and garlic. It was quite nice but I couldn't really stomach anything.

Thanks Rainbow. That was the second attempt. The first attempt at drawing the cat didn't go well.

Sorry to hear that you haven't got your appetite back yet. Hope that changes soon.

Glad you found a practice client for your course. What will you be helping your friend with?

I had porridge this morning with chai seeds, pecans and raisins. It was really nice.

Have you had a good day? I went to the cinema to watch Dune yesterday and got lots of chores done. Had a good day at work today. Just been practicing pipe cleaner craft.

What I've practiced so far 😊

Hi @Lokikitty,

Animals can be really hard to draw so I commend you on your 2nd attempt! And love the pipe cleaner craft, my daughter would like that.

Appetite has got a little bit better today, I made egg muffins for breakfast.

My friend suffers with anxiety too and she has some other digestive issues so she's keen to find out about nutrition.

Porridge sounds lovely! Are you looking forward to being back at school?

Thanks Rainbow, I'm trying to gain confidence in my art. I've realized that I just need the patience to practice things a lot. I'm hoping that the children will love the pipe cleaner craft tomorrow.

Egg muffins sound lovely. I've just made sausages and garlic wedges for tea.

Helping your friend improve her health through nutrition will be really good. Eating well has really helped my IBS symptoms.

It's been nice being back at school and back to my normal routine. I'm glad that I managed to enjoy a few days off work. It's progress for me. I start my post diagnosis support next week. I'll be doing something called the autism star. I'll discuss how I'm doing in the 9 areas that autistic adults struggle with.

Hi @Lokikitty,

You're right, art takes a lot of practice. Hope the pipe cleaner crafts went well.

Sausages and garlic wedges sound nice, I've struggled to find the energy to cook today but I had a shop bought salad in the fridge so had that with some leftover chicken and a baked sweet potato.

I like the sound of the autism star, I'm a fan of structure! I remember there being stars for various things when I worked in mental health. It sounds like a helpful approach and well done for getting through half term and getting back into the swing of things.

I've felt anxious still but my little walks have been going well, I did 5 of them today!

Hi Rainbow, that's fantastic news about the walks. Glad it's going well.

It sounds like you had a very healthy meal. I treated myself to chips and eggs today. Just fancied it.

The pipe cleaner craft was a bit disappointing. I thought I had found something really easy for them to do but they found it tricky. They loved the thought of making cute butterfly rings and flowers but needed loads of support.

I've had a great few days back at work. I even started walking 2 miles to work yesterday. My sleep has improved and I felt upto it.

I'm looking forward to doing the autism star. When I've finished it, I get the option to do it in more detail in a group setting with other autistic adults. Did you enjoy working in mental health?

Hi @Lokikitty,

Hope you had a good rest of the week?

Glad you treated yourself to egg and chips when you fancied it. I had an omelette this morning, I've never been a fan of eggs much but I'm starting to quite like them in an omelette.

I did two walks today, I'm working up to being able to go to a pub near my house. I'm thinking it would be a nice thing to be able to do with my husband but I'm just having to pace myself with it. It takes a lot out of me because I've been virtually housebound for a year or so.

I did enjoy working in mental health, seems a bit ironic now I've found myself in this situation!

Hi Rainbow

How has your week been? The rest of my week has been up and down. My counselling session was hard Thursday evening. I had a great day at the special needs centre yesterday. The children I worked with made lot of progress, which was lovely to see. Unfortunately the traffic was really bad on the way home, so it took me 3.5 hours to get home.

I have 1 counselling session left on Thursday. I feel quite flat and disappointed because it hasn't made the impact that I was hoping for. If anything it has meant that I haven't had time to cook Thursday evenings and felt a bit out of it at work Friday mornings.

Hope you manage to go to the pub with your husband soon. Do you know what triggered off you being housebound for a year?

Hi @Lokikitty, yes up and down here too.

What sort of counselling are you having? I've not had any counselling for a while but I am having coaching which I find quite helpful. I do think it helps to be clear what the aim of the therapy is though as otherwise it can lead to disappointment.

I think it was a whole bunch of factors that lead to my anxiety getting so bad that I gave up trying to leave the house. Lockdown was probably a factor and I had some family stuff too which caused me quite a bit of anxiety. I haven't made it to the pub yet but I'm getting a bit more comfortable on the little walks.

I have been going low carb on my diet and I think it's helping me manage my blood sugar. We're having a beef a casserole tonight and it smells delicious 😋