Hi Amy,
I just wanted you to know that I know how you feel. Your story sounds very much like mine. I had been off meds for months, before I found this program. Got all the way to step 6, was feeling really good, then... fell off the wagon, deep into the sugar crazy cycle. Doing the steps all over again, hasn't been easy. My body was throwing all kinds of fits, including anxiety, hyper-stimulation, edginess etc. When I went back to my book, Potatoes not Prozac, it explained why. If you don't have it, I'd recommend getting a copy. The chapter on "Brain chemistry 101", helped me understand so much. I am still learning, as I keep my journal and pay attention to what my body is telling me. I really resisted keeping a journal, at first. I just wanted to get the steps done to "move on" and get it over with (like a spoiled kiddo really, I felt an inner temper-tantrum) but now I embrace it and I like what I am learning about myself. I am not crazy, I just needed someone to listen to me... ME! I know that you may not want to hear that its a process, but it is a good one. ;) I am learning that I am normal, at least normal for a sugar sensitive person. There is nothing wrong with me. My body is functioning perfectly. It is doing exactly what it is suppose to do, in telling me what it needs. I am just learning how to listen to it. Most of us are not taught to do that growing up. I am not all the way through the steps, but I am feeling better than I was. I can definitely relate to the tail spin you describe when I run into hidden sugar.

Take comfort.
Lucy

: Hi,

: I have been a big sugar junkie since
: childhood till upto two years ago.
: I started having panic attacks and
: anxiety and attributed it to sugar
: and caffeine. I went on
: antidepressants and I still ate
: sugar as my serotonin levels went
: back to normal. After coming off
: antidepressants, I again became
: super sensitive to refined sugar.
: Basically, whenever I eat even a
: small amount of sugary stuff, my
: heart starts racing and I feel
: more anxious and hyper stimulated.
: I have since eliminated refined
: sugar from my diet wherever
: possible for the past year or so.

: Is this normal? What can I do to help
: myself feel better?

: Thanks.