Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Anxiety and Wheat

CrisD

Recommended Posts

CrisD Newbie
CrisD
Posted

  • Hello,

I'm new to this site, so forgive me if this is repeat question/issue (I looked at previous threads and didn't see a related topic right away).

I am not celiac but wanted to reach out to people who are, in hopes that someone can provide me with some information regarding Wheat and Anxiety.

A little back story, I've dealt with anxiety on and off for years.  I am not on any medication and deal with anxiety and panic attacks are it happens (not too often, thankfully).

So, my issue is wheat - I find I am lethargic, bloated and feel gross after eating pasta, rice, bread, etc.  I don’t even really enjoy these foods but most are the foundation of all meals I eat regularly, and because once I stop eating them, my anxiety rears its ugly head.

I stopped eating wheat for about a month on 2 separate occasions.  I felt AMAZING!!  I increased my protein and veggie intake, I had so much energy, I stayed full longer, I slept better, I didn't crave snacks in the evening, I just felt incredible.  I was NEVER bloated, I lost weight, the puffiness in my face went away - EXCEPT my anxiety went CRAZY within a few weeks!  I had a panic attack and was riddled with anxiety for days and it started to rule my life.  I eventually started to eat wheat again to see if it would calm my anxiety, and it did.

I've read that, yes, cutting out wheat could increase anxiety, I've also read it actually can ease your anxiety.  Sadly, since eating wheat again, I've put on weight, I feel awful physically, I'm tired all the time but I'm terrified to cut back on wheat because the anxiety and panic is debilitating.

Has anyone dealt with this?  How did you manage it?  Does it work it's self out if I push through and continue to avoid wheats? HELP!!

 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted

First were you tested for Celiac? Second have you considered NCGS as a issue? Some test negative but have many of the issues assoisied with celiac disease and reactions to gluten. Before getting off we tell anyone to go ahead and get tested while your still eating it. A gluten challenge later will be utter hell, and the reassurance of a issue can help you stick to the diet, get you help in various areas, and give you a bit of a road map of you life, body, and other issues.

If you have panic attacks a few weeks off wheat, this is withdrawal, yes like a drug. This is quite common for almost everyone, sort of hit it on week 2-4 and it can last weeks, everything that happens with a drug withdrawal check you symptoms you will see they match up when you stop for awhile once over that hill it is great and you life changes for the better if you react badly to wheat.  

To help deal with these issues I normally suggest Natural Vitality Calm Magnesium in small doses starting at 1/4 tsp working up to a dose that works for you over a week or two, and using Liquid Health Stress & Energy these can help with the stress and anxiety, I also take Neurological support from Liquid health, using both formulas 1 tbsp each 3 times a day has been part of my regime for over 4 years.

knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted

Here's an article that might help explain the connection between wheat and anxiety.

Open Original Shared Link

Hope this helps.

Victoria1234 Experienced
Victoria1234
Posted
12 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Here's an article that might help explain the connection between wheat and anxiety.

Open Original Shared Link

Hope this helps.

This article is fascinating! Thank you. Every person with any reaction to wheat should read it.

Joyful joanna Rookie
Joyful joanna
Posted

Everything you are saying is indicative of celiac disease. Empirically speaking.

I had three weeks of the worse anxiety I had ever had following giving up gluten. It was like a horrible withdrawal. My insides felt like they were shaking and I jumped at the slighted noise. It began to subside after three weeks and I emerged from it feeling better than I had in 40 years. Hang in there, it sounds like gluten withdrawal and it does go away eventually. My body was reacting to not getting any gluten. But, it was worth it.

I have been gluten free for a year and a half. I cleaned out my pantry, sterilized my kitchen and have learned to cook and bake gluten free and make easy delicious and nutritious meals and food for myself and my husband who eats glutenfree meals I make. Gluten free is an adjustment and a definite learning curve, but you can do it! I also have an autoimmune reaction to the wheat of the sea, seaweed products. They are putting carreggnan in everything. You might be sensitive to that too. It is made with seaweed as is MSG.

DO NOT EAT AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY! I got glutenated there off the gluten free menu with specific instructions to the chef about preparing my meal as I am a celiac. Worst autoimmune reaction I have ever had eating out. That is my biggest challenge. Hardly anyone understands celiac disease in the restsurant industry. 

Try going gluten free again after you have had the testing done. Just know that your anxiety may worsen with gluten withdrawal, but then it will get better! Good luck.

stacieb Apprentice
stacieb
Posted

after I gave up gluten, my knee they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. the rotator cuff they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. my digestive problems were gone. I didn't visit the bathroom over and over with cramps and diarrhea. I felt great. a few months later I started having other problems. weak, shaking, real bad. doc did full panel blood test and everything is normal. yet it kept getting worse. missing a lot of work. 

they told me it was anxiety. I have anxiety, I know what that feels like. butterfly stomach, chest pain. this was different. though after they told me this was anxiety, I started having daily all day anxiety attacks.  first they upped my dose of paxil, that didn't work. so they added another anxiety med, didn't help, it kept getting worse. 

I have no Idea what is going on, but I cant live with this debilitating anxiety for much longer, i have missed so much work i am probly gonna get fired, which just fuels the anxiety. what am I to do????

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
17 minutes ago, stacieb said:

after I gave up gluten, my knee they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. the rotator cuff they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. my digestive problems were gone. I didn't visit the bathroom over and over with cramps and diarrhea. I felt great. a few months later I started having other problems. weak, shaking, real bad. doc did full panel blood test and everything is normal. yet it kept getting worse. missing a lot of work. 

they told me it was anxiety. I have anxiety, I know what that feels like. butterfly stomach, chest pain. this was different. though after they told me this was anxiety, I started having daily all day anxiety attacks.  first they upped my dose of paxil, that didn't work. so they added another anxiety med, didn't help, it kept getting worse. 

I have no Idea what is going on, but I cant live with this debilitating anxiety for much longer, i have missed so much work i am probly gonna get fired, which just fuels the anxiety. what am I to do????

Magnesium and a Full spectrum B-vitamin supplement geared for stress.....Honestly most gluten based foods are sprayed and fortified with the stuff. So going gluten free means you need a more varied diet to still get them. Top it off with when you have celiac you have asorboation issues with these.

Magnesium there are 2 top options. 1. If you have constipation with it we suggest Natural Vitality Calm and starting off small dose at 1/4 tsp twice a day and slowly upping it to the full dose over a week or two or til you get loose stools. If this one gives you issues we suggest Doctors Best Magnesium and just going with the full dose. These help with nerves, joints, and muscles issues.  Amazon has best pricing on these

B-Vitamins I suggest a combination of Liquid Health Stress & Energy and using Liquid Health Neurological Support I use 1 tbsp each 3 times a day personally. Lucky Vitamin has the best pricing here.

I also found snacking on foods that promote calmness, brain function, and saratonin help. Pumpkin Seeds/protein, Hemp seeds/protein, and cocoa nibs. You have to be careful on the brands used here. I suggest whole seeds going to GERBS allergen Friendly Foods, Powders Oregon Seed Oil Co. for pumpkin and jarrow for hemp. Cocoa nibs I just use Crio Bru ground nibs as a snack base/topping and mix it with a sugar free sweetener as a base.

OH for emergency panic attacks I have a vape pen with CBD gold oil in it that seems to work great.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted
6 hours ago, stacieb said:

after I gave up gluten, my knee they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. the rotator cuff they said I would need surgery on, didn't hurt anymore. my digestive problems were gone. I didn't visit the bathroom over and over with cramps and diarrhea. I felt great. a few months later I started having other problems. weak, shaking, real bad. doc did full panel blood test and everything is normal. yet it kept getting worse. missing a lot of work. 

they told me it was anxiety. I have anxiety, I know what that feels like. butterfly stomach, chest pain. this was different. though after they told me this was anxiety, I started having daily all day anxiety attacks.  first they upped my dose of paxil, that didn't work. so they added another anxiety med, didn't help, it kept getting worse. 

I have no Idea what is going on, but I cant live with this debilitating anxiety for much longer, i have missed so much work i am probly gonna get fired, which just fuels the anxiety. what am I to do????

It might be Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. MCAS is when your defensive cells go overboard and react to every little thing.  I react to many medications because of MCAS.

 Open Original Shared Link

And it might be vitamin deficiencies.  Low vitamin D can cause anxiety, as can deficiencies of some B vitamins, like B 12, niacin (B3), folate and thiamine (B1).  

Celiac Disease causes malabsorption which results in malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  The eight B vitamins are water soluble and need to be replenished every day.  They aren't stored in the body very long.  You may not be getting enough B vitamins from your gluten free diet because of poor absorption (your intestines are probably still healing) or because gluten free versions of foods aren't enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  

Check with your doctor to rule out deficiencies.

Hope this helps.

 

BlackShoesBlackSocks Enthusiast
BlackShoesBlackSocks
Posted

l have a generalized anxiety disorder diganosis from around 06.

 

l never felt like l fit into the anxiety disorders even though l was obsessive all my life, l actually do think l had a brief display of OCD behaviors around 5th grade.

 

It really did hit to the point l had a few single panic attacks which l'd never had before around 20. l would say since, l feel very 'broadly' anxious which in some ways feels like my normal self so it's hard to tell if gluten is a factor. l probably no longer fit into the GAD criteria, no meds  or coping methods.

 

Actually l have had less morning anxiety only almost 2 weeks gluten free. Mornings have always been weird for me and l started drinking caffeine in middle school. For me it helps, anxiety seems kind of like a byproduct of brain to me maybe?

 

l will never give up caffeine but l have been waking feeling like it's not the first thing l think about to curb all the anxiety rushing in, l normally need to filter things pretty heavily until around noon, regardless of waking up early or not.

 

But l have also had a few brief panicky moments.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. SamAlvi
      - SamAlvi replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      Thanks again for the detailed explanation. Just to clarify, I actually did have my initial tests done while I was still consuming gluten. I stopped eating gluten only after those tests were completed, and it has now been about 70 days since I went gluten-free. I understand the limitations around diagnosing NCGS and the importance of antibody testing...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable. The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body. So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days. Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte...
    3. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine?
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine. Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine. Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats. Meat, especially organ...
    5. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc. Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food....
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,871
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Koyanna
    Newest Member
    Koyanna
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • SamAlvi
      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      By SamAlvi · Posted

      Thanks again for the detailed explanation. Just to clarify, I actually did have my initial tests done while I was still consuming gluten. I stopped eating gluten only after those tests were completed, and it has now been about 70 days since I went gluten-free. I understand the limitations around diagnosing NCGS and the importance of antibody testing and biopsy for celiac disease. Unfortunately, where I live, access to comprehensive testing (including total IgA and endoscopy with biopsy) is limited, which makes things more complicated. Your explanation about small-bowel damage, nutrient absorption, and iron-deficiency anemia still aligns closely with my history, and it’s been very helpful in understanding what may be going on. I don't wanna get Endoscopy and I can't start eating Gluten again because it's hurt really with severe diarrhea.  I appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed and informative guidance. Thank you so much for this detailed and thoughtful response. I really appreciate you pointing out the relationship between anemia and antibody patterns, and how the high DGP IgG still supports celiac disease in my case. A gluten challenge isn’t something I feel safe attempting due to how severe my reactions were, so your suggestion about genetic testing makes a lot of sense. I’ll look into whether HLA testing is available where I live and discuss it with my doctor. I also appreciate you mentioning gastrointestinal beriberi and thiamine deficiency. This isn’t something any of my doctors have discussed with me, and given my symptoms and nutritional history, it’s definitely worth raising with them. I’ll also ask about correcting deficiencies more comprehensively, including B vitamins alongside iron. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to help. I’ll update the forum as I make progress.
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable.  The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body.  So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days.  Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test.  But even that test has been questioned as to accuracy.  It is expensive and takes time to do.   Because of the discrepancies with thiamine tests and urgency with correcting thiamine deficiency, the World Health Organization recommends giving thiamine for several weeks and looking for health improvement.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Many doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition and deficiency symptoms, and may not be familiar with how often they occur in Celiac disease.  B12 and Vitamin D can be stored for as long as a year in the liver, so not having deficiencies in these two vitamins is not a good indicator of the status of the other seven water soluble B vitamins.  It is possible to have deficiency symptoms BEFORE there's changes in the blood levels.   Ask your doctor about Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine that is better absorbed than Thiamine Mononitrate.  Thiamine Mononitrate is used in many vitamins because it is shelf-stable, a form of thiamine that won't break down sitting around on a store shelf.  This form is difficult for the body to turn into a usable form.  Only thirty percent is absorbed in the intestine, and less is actually used.   Thiamine interacts with all of the other B vitamins, so they should all be supplemented together.  Magnesium is needed to make life sustaining enzymes with thiamine, so a magnesium supplement should be added if magnesium levels are low.   Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  There's no harm in trying.
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine? 
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.