Great three days at the 2012 Annual Conference of Anxiety Disorders Association of America. I was accepted to do a poster presentation on Saturday night: Food and Mood: Case Study of Woman with Anxiety (using food changes and nutrients) and I had a lot of firsts – the first time attending this conference, my first poster presentation at a mainstream conference, first time meeting some of the excellent researchers in the field and first time exposure to some of the newest research on anxiety.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from the start… submitting my proposal, creating the poster, figuring out how big to make it so it could be read easily (it was 3ft high by 5 ft wide) and then standing with my poster answering questions for an hour and a half during the poster session. I am now I’m inspired to do some of my own food mood research.
My poster was a case study of a woman using real whole food, no gluten, no sugar, 5-HTP, GABA, zinc, vitamin B6 and other nutrients to end her anxiety and panic attacks. I was very pleased with the interest and was thrilled to share this important info about the food-mood connection!
Some other highlights from the conference (there were many!):
- Keynote by Dr Spiegel on self-hypnotism – in one study, participants were able to increase their gastric acid secretion. We learned that hypnotism has much good research for anxiety but is not used that extensively.
- Meeting and talking to Lindsey DeBoer, lead author of Dietary Supplements for Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review – to be included in a chapter in a new book called Psychobiological Approaches for Anxiety Disorders that I look forward to checking out
- Great quote from a session on Exercise for Anxiety: “Do your exercise before a stressful event and you’ll do much better” ~ Michael W. Otto, Ph.D. At the same session Jasper Smits, PhD shared much of the evidence of the benefits of exercise for anxiety, OCD, panic attacks and social phobia. Otto and Smits have a new book Exercise for Mood and Anxiety that I look forward to checking out.
- This short 2 min totally cool video!!! “Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator and feel better” is something we often hear or read in the Sunday papers. Few people actually follow that advice. Can we get more people to take the stairs over the escalator by making it fun to do? See the results here. http://www.thefuntheory.com/piano-staircase With thanks to Michael W. Otto, Ph.D and Jasper Smits, PhD for sharing this at the exercise presentation
- Doing a biofeedback relaxation session
- Meeting, listening to and learning from researchers, authors and editors of some of the major journals
- Meeting new people and making new connections
(On a side note, the ADAA was previously Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and was just renamed this weekend to be Anxiety and Depression Association of America.)
More research and conference highlights will be shared in future blogs… and all this and more will be included in future editions of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, available in major books stores, at Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com.
Trudy, I love that you are now at the cutting edge of nutritional research. Good going!
Sue
Thanks Sue – very exciting to be a part of it. I just did a talk today and one of my exercise slides mentions a study by the very same researcher (Jasper Smits) I heard speak at the conference – I also met him one-on-one briefly. We all have so much to learn in the field and I’m having a blast doing so.
Trudy
So great to see how enthused you are! : ) Katherine.
What a great event Trudy! I’m sure you were awesome with your poster! Sounds like a wonderful conference with so much food for thought…..pardon the pun!! Can’t wait for the next edition of your book!
Oh yes Sheila – much “food for thought” and hopefully even more next year. The conference will actually be in Southern CA next year and I’m already looking forward to attending and inviting other nutritionists to join me
Trudy
Trudy, congratulations on being chosen to present! I’m so glad you’re out there hearing about this wonderful research, and then, the best part, sharing it with us!
Thanks Kamran! it sure is exciting!
Trudy,
Working with many therapists, depression is the #1 diagnosis they treat and this information would be so helpful to them. I will share it. Thank you.
Kiyla Fenell
Kiyla – thank you so much! I present the food-mood solution to many therapists and they totally get it and find it provides so much more for their patients
Trudy
Trudy,
Great to see you taking a leadership position in your field!
Mitch
Thanks Mitch – it’s really great to be in a position to do so and I’m loving it!
Trudy,
So many people can benefit from this – great post!
Dr. Robert Fenell
Founder & CEO, Chiropractic Hand & Foot Clinics Of America
Trudy,
Once again, thank you for your knowledge and congrats on all you’re doing with your business.
It’s fun to watch.
Write on!~
Lisa
Thanks Lisa – I appreciate your support
Trudy – WooHoo! Congratulations on so many firsts! It’s so awesome to see you really stepping into the spotlight and sharing your expertise and knowledge with so many who can benefit!
Thanks Jennifer – it’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m loving it!