Emotional chaos?

I'm starting week 3 of this restricted diet. My food options aren't bad, I'm not starving, I get some enjoyment from food, it takes a long time to prepare but it's alright.

I have a strange problem, though. Since Friday last week I feel like crying all the time. It's not sad thoughts that cause me to feel this way, I just feel like tears are right there whenever I'm not busy working or thinking of something else. Almost as if something horrible has happened to someone I care about, but I don't know that anything has happened to anyone.

Usually I have a pretty upbeat attitude, and usually I don't get all tied up in emotions. When I was grieving the loss of my Yogi dog I let myself cry whenever I felt the need to, and that's the only time I can recall having this feeling that the tears are right there ever before.

Do you think that it could be a food issue? Could I have been gaining some kind of euphoria from one of the foods that I've stopped eating? I've decided to increase my intake of evening primrose oil in the hopes that will help. If any of you have any ideas for me, please let me know!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

I recently spent a month on a strict vegan diet, during that time I felt physically lighter, like there was a core inside me that was floating. I also felt like I was on the edge of euphoria all the time, I can only attribute this to the diet. Since I have reverted to a more vegetarian diet the feelings have waned...I kinda miss them. ;)

Disclaimer! I am not anything close to an expert! These are just my thoughts.

If your diet is drastically different than what it was, your entire body chemistry is changing. I doubt it is one food. It's more the combination of foods that you are no longer eating. Hopefully, as your body becomes more accustomed to this new eating style, your moods will even out, also. Give it some time. Try to keep busy. I wish I had better advice, but maybe someone else will come along to help out, too. Good luck! Don't give up.

Annie

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Originally Posted by annie

Give it some time. Try to keep busy. I wish I had better advice, but maybe someone else will come along to help out, too. Good luck! Don't give up.

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I'm trying to, thank you. I had a good cry and DH made a very nice dinner. I'm feeling a bit more level at the moment, but the edge is just a heartbeat away.....

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

I went through something similar when I finally went hard-core on the gluten-free diet. I was tired and needed to sleep, and slept nearly 12 hrs a night for a few weeks. I'd like to think my body was finally healing itself. (I also lost a ton of weight and felt much better.)

I don't recall feeling teary, more slow and almost meditative and SLEEPY. I slept really well, and woke up feeling marvellous every morning.

You could also be going through a depressive patch. You've recently been diagnosed with a condition that requires changes in your diet, some of them possibly permanent. It's taken a lot of energy and consideration to make the adjustments, and the new diet is probably not yet "normalized". Even if you're giving yourself plenty of credit for managing the change, you probably still -- at some level -- miss just eating whatever you get a hankering for. If this is ringing any bells of recognition, then that may be what has you on an emotional edge. A few things to remember if that's the case:
- It will pass. You will work out a new diet, get used to it, and eventually no longer miss the old one.
- Crying jags will also pass. Don't worry about letting yourself cry. You will be able to stop. (That was one of my biggest worries when I was depressed over Crohns, thinking if I let myself cry I might not be able to stop.)
- It helps to talk. To your partner, to family, to us, or to a professional. What professionals are particularly good at (I found, but that may be the one I contacted) is asking questions that put things in a new perspective.
- And keep up the good work. Keep learning your newly discovered needs. Keep congratulating yourself on learning them. Keep congratulating yourself on making tasty foods within your new dietary restrictions. Keep working out (feeling strong helps!).

p.s. Another thought: Crohns is entangled with stress hormones, so there could also be a hormone element to this.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{DoW}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thank you!
~T~

It could also be related to the short daylight syndrome.
Just know that tears and crying are actually good for you in that they help you release inner sadness and uncertainties. You know how we always feel better after a good cry? :o So when you feel teary, do let yourself have a good cry, it will make you feel better.
Also- not sure if this might apply or not (!) but when I was pregnant, I was very tearful for little reason during my first 3 months, both times. After the first trimester, it always went away. That shows that it might also be hormone related.
Sleep is also good.
Feel better.... :) :)

((((((((((((((((((((LBTC)))))))))))))))))))))

I don't have much to add, but I am sending some of those butterflies right back over to you.

((( LBTC )))

Could also be a symptom of PMS. Your diet is changing, which is affecting your body's balance in a big way... and your hormones, too.
When I get PMS, I tend to get weepy instead of bee-atchy. But my body's reaction to my cycle has also changed over the years, starting from my early thirties.

Maybe you should hang on to a few of those butterflies!!! :p

Just wanted to post a note of cheer...you sound like you could use some! Hang in there...

Hope you are feeling at peace soon!!!


***from what I recall...aren't you still somewhat new in your town? That can take a toll too on a few emotions. Pile all what you have dealt with lately...go in there and show that kick-bag what you've got...then give it a cry! I don't know...just trying to give you some ideas...I will leave you with a hug...

{{{{{{{LBTC}}}}}}}}

Awwwwwwwwwww, you girls are the best! Of course now I'm holding back tears of gratitude while I sit at my desk! hahaha

Thank you! Your hugs and butterflies are greatly appreciated!

Yes, I plan to workout using the heavy bag tonight, and will cry if I want to. :p Just got to make it through another work day....

And yes, new town, new job, new boss just started last week, DH has a new job, new diet, new disease, some new acquaintances, but you guys are the best friends I've got at the moment! Hmmmm should I call it a new job? Today is my one year anniversary! Ah, but it's one of those jobs that changes constantly, and that I had no real training or even orientation for.

Alrighty, back to work I go.

Hugs and butterflies (to all of you and to myself, too)

~T~

Hey LBTC,
Nothing much to add, but sending you lot's of happy, joyful vibes:D :D :D
You've had a crazy year, take advantage of this emotional release. Let it help heal you.

We're here for you!;) :p

Oh, ladies, thank you so much for your positive vibes and all those butterflies! Tonight I used the combinations that my former kickboxing instructor emailed to me, and got super sweaty using the heavy bag with DH holding the bag and grinning away. He loves how hard I hit it and how sweaty I get! heehee

Other stresses seem to be reducing, too. DH has a new new job, with a plumber that has to be easier to work for than the last guy, because a sleep deprived lion would be easier to work for. He starts tomorrow.

And the mortgage lady phoned back and she thinks that we will be able to remortgage the rental house so that we can buy out SIL so she doesn't have to sue us and we don't have to sell the investment before we want to. That would be nice.

And my new boss, well, at least I know I have to babysit him constantly. Not my favourite position to be in, but at least he's pretty kind about his scatter brained ness. I think I can get used to.

And I took way more evening primrose oil today. That might have helped.

And then there were all those butterflies, everytime I looked there was another message of support, of compassion, of positive thoughts, and encouragement, that I just can't help being happier.

If I cry tonight, it will be tears of gratitude. Again! Thank you thank you thank you!

Hugs and tons of happy colourful butterflies!

~T~

Seconding the aforementioned hormonal and dietary mayhem suggestions as above. It's certainly possible that one of your old foods was doping you up on serotonin (a lot of carbs do this). Also, is it possible you're going through something analogous to a herxheimer reaction?

If you're losing weight due to this new diet, bear in mind that many of the toxins in the human body are stored in fat. (Fat is also estrogenic, btw.) When a large amount of fat is being broken down, a lot of these molecules are getting released into your body to be processed and elimited.

Whatever you're going through, I just want you to know that you're loved and supported and when you break through to the other side you will feel so much better. :)