No, this post is not about Bingo. There is another blog I am certain I will have to write at some point in my life called Gambler's Anonomyous, in which I will detail my torrid love affair with betting anything on everything. So far, I still have my jewelry, dogs, and a roof over my head, so we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
What this post is about, however, is B-12, the vitamin. Since going veggie, I have been having a lot of issues, emotionally. At first, I couldn't nail it down to going veggie, because I also went off birth control after being on it for 15 years. I also am getting older. I wasn't sure which one was the cause of my suddenly worrisome feelings, anxiety, and behaviors.
I have always struggled with moderate ups and downs, some mild depression and anxiety, but in the past 2 months, it has become increasingly worse, to the point of panic attacks and feelings of ambivalence about everything. I have always enjoyed a good cocktail, and sometimes I get the shame-over (a hangover of shame), but never to the extent that I am now. I can have one drink, and feel like the world is falling down on me. Other symptoms include, being tired a lot and having a weird tingling feeling in my hands (which I thought maybe the onset of too much angry birding and typing) like they are falling asleep all the time, and general depression.
I was trying to do some research online, because to me, it seems rather fishy that this would all of a sudden start up around the same time as these other changes. I don't like to self-diagnose, and will probably end up visiting the good old doctor, regardless, but I did find out that B-12 deficiency causes all of these symptoms. I also found out that people with thyroid issues (like I have had in the past), vegetarians (especially vegans), and drinkers all sometimes face low B-12. B-12 is found in meat and dairy products, so clearly this did not suprise me.
I've started taking a multi-vitamin, and I am hoping this will help me get back on track, but who knows. I'll let you know if I notice a difference. I hope I do though, because I am seriously not enjoying feeling this way. You are supposed to feel better when you're eating better!
*Oh, and as an aside, take a vitamin on a full belly, people. I felt like I wanted to throw up for 30 minutes after taking one on an empty one. I know, I know. Lesson learned.
