As Sandy's World Turns - Episode 3

(This is the second of a series of articles about various mental health challenges, illustrated through the journey of a fictional character named Sandy Struggles)

Sandy's World - Episode 3

When the patient left, Sandy made a beeline for the break room, her sanctuary away from the clinical chaos. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The familiar scent of the break room—coffee, disinfectant, and faint traces of someone’s microwave meal—offered little comfort today.

Sandy’s eyes landed on the vending machine in the corner. Without thinking, she fished out some coins and fed them into the machine, her fingers hovering over the buttons. She punched in the code for a chocolate bar, then a packet of chips, and finally, a bottle of soda pop. The machine clunked and whirred, dispensing her chosen comfort foods one by one.

She sat at the small, round table, unwrapping the chocolate bar with a sense of urgency. The first bite was sweet and comforting, momentarily distracting her from the relentless anxiety. She moved on to the chips, the salt and crunch offering a different kind of solace. The soda, fizzing and sugary, provided a brief burst of energy.

But as she ate, a new wave of discomfort washed over her. Sandy knew these foods weren’t helping in the long run. The sugar rush and subsequent crash would leave her feeling worse, the salt would make her bloat, and the caffeine would only heighten her jitters. Not to mention, derail her efforts to fit into the jeans hanging in the back of her closet. Yet, in the moment, it was all she could do to keep the anxiety at bay.

She finished the last of the chips and crumpled the empty bags into a ball. The break room clock ticked steadily, a reminder that her reprieve was almost over. Sandy took another deep breath, willing herself to find a better way to cope.

She knew she needed to address her anxiety more constructively—perhaps with the same care and attention she gave her patients. But for now, she had to get through the day.

Wiping her hands on a napkin, Sandy stood up, smoothed her uniform, and squared her shoulders. The anxiety was still there, lurking beneath the surface, but she had patients to see, people who needed her. She’d figure out the rest later.

Eating Your Way Out of Anxiety

What you eat has a very direct and significant impact on your felt stress and subsequent mood.  There are certain foods and substances that aggravate anxiety. Excessive salt, sugar, preservatives and hormones found in red meat, pork and most commercially available poultry products, are substances that stress the body.  Stimulating substances like caffeine and nicotine are notorious for their anxiety aggravating effects as well.  Reducing intake of caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and processed foods can significantly improve anxiety symptoms and overall well-being.

How we eat has an equally significant impact on anxiety too.  Emotional eating, eating too fast or on the run, drinking too much fluid with a meal, overeating, skipping meals, extreme dieting and restrictive eating patterns can increase stress on the body and exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Mindful eating practices, including a balanced diet rich in whole foods, regular meals, and adequate hydration, are essential for managing anxiety.