Using Nutrition To Help\ Your Clients Overcome Social Anxiety Disorder - Sally W.
Research has found that Social Anxiety Disorder affects up to 13% of Canadians. Common triggers include speaking in public, eating in front of someone, meeting new people, going on a date and even going to school or work. The physical symptoms, such as sweating, trembling, stomach problems, dry mouth, dizziness and blushing can often help fuel the anxiety. The emotional symptoms include fear, panic attacks and negative emotional cycles. Part of being a counsellor is not just to help clients conquer their anxieties through therapy and CBT techniques. It is also to take a holistic approach and consider how fitness and diet can help in the battle against worry and anxiety.
Considering medication
In more serious cases when severe social anxiety is inhibiting someone from living an ordinary life where they can go to work or do their shopping, then anxiety medication can be prescribed. Before this, however, it is worth considering how diet can affect mood. Research has found that having a healthy diet that is rich in the nutrients, vitamins and minerals, can help reduce anxiety. It is also worth considering taking a regular nootropic supplement to improve vitamin intake. Nootropics that contain zinc, omega-3 and the B-vitamins can be particularly effective to help boost mood.
Cutting out negative foods
It is important to cut down on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, if you want to combat social anxiety, which all affect mood levels drastically. They can all mimic the symptoms of anxiety, including the shakes and heart palpitations. It is worth considering that many brands of soda contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, so these should be swapped for water. Many people that are living with anxiety will drink alcohol in an attempt to calm their nerves. This isn’t advisable — not only is alcohol a depressant, but in the long term, alcoholism comes with its own set of issues, both emotionally and physically.
Keeping A Food Diary
It is worth asking your client to keep a food diary of what they are eating and when they are eating it. You can then assess whether diet could be contributing to their anxiety. Ultimately you want your client to get to the stage where they are eating three well-balanced meals a day, that have all the vitamins and minerals they need to boost mood, helping them to cope with everyday situations. The timing of these meals is also important — eating dinner too late in the evening can cause weight gain and digestive issues. It is worth suggesting to your client that they follow a simple Mediterranean diet that is free from additives, colorings and refined sugar and you can even devise a meal plan with them with healthy suggestions for alternatives to high-calorie snacks.
When social anxiety is affecting how a person can function on a daily basis then counselling can be an enormous help. You will need to look at not just the initial symptoms, but take a holistic approach, assessing both the emotional and physical triggers. Changes in diet will help to keep the body fit and healthy, improving mood and helping balance the response to everyday social situations.
Considering medication
In more serious cases when severe social anxiety is inhibiting someone from living an ordinary life where they can go to work or do their shopping, then anxiety medication can be prescribed. Before this, however, it is worth considering how diet can affect mood. Research has found that having a healthy diet that is rich in the nutrients, vitamins and minerals, can help reduce anxiety. It is also worth considering taking a regular nootropic supplement to improve vitamin intake. Nootropics that contain zinc, omega-3 and the B-vitamins can be particularly effective to help boost mood.
Cutting out negative foods
It is important to cut down on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, if you want to combat social anxiety, which all affect mood levels drastically. They can all mimic the symptoms of anxiety, including the shakes and heart palpitations. It is worth considering that many brands of soda contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, so these should be swapped for water. Many people that are living with anxiety will drink alcohol in an attempt to calm their nerves. This isn’t advisable — not only is alcohol a depressant, but in the long term, alcoholism comes with its own set of issues, both emotionally and physically.
Keeping A Food Diary
It is worth asking your client to keep a food diary of what they are eating and when they are eating it. You can then assess whether diet could be contributing to their anxiety. Ultimately you want your client to get to the stage where they are eating three well-balanced meals a day, that have all the vitamins and minerals they need to boost mood, helping them to cope with everyday situations. The timing of these meals is also important — eating dinner too late in the evening can cause weight gain and digestive issues. It is worth suggesting to your client that they follow a simple Mediterranean diet that is free from additives, colorings and refined sugar and you can even devise a meal plan with them with healthy suggestions for alternatives to high-calorie snacks.
When social anxiety is affecting how a person can function on a daily basis then counselling can be an enormous help. You will need to look at not just the initial symptoms, but take a holistic approach, assessing both the emotional and physical triggers. Changes in diet will help to keep the body fit and healthy, improving mood and helping balance the response to everyday social situations.
