[FrayedEnds]

I have stomache issues so a rarely eat anything spicy. I've had a head cold for a few days and I tried eating a few jalapenos with lunch. It worked and my sinuses were clearer. then the anxiety flared up...racing heart, butterfly stomach, can't get enough breath - the usual.
so I blamed it on the cold meds I'd taken.
the next day I was still stuffed up and didn't want to have panic, so I skipped the cold meds and had peppers again. same thing happened. again.

Am I just totally weird or has anyone else gotten all hopped up on jalapenos?

[Blueskyfree]

My anxiety flares up whenever I feel overheated for any reason. During the summer if the temp goes above 90-95, even just the thought of it being hot gets me anxious. In the past year or so, I've also noticed that if I attempt to eat anything spicy, I feel a rush of warmth and anxiety along with it which never used to happen. From what I've read, the capsaicin in jalapeno causes the adrenal glands to produce epinephrine(adrenaline) which is the same thing the body produces when one is having an anxiety/panic attack. Eating a pepper would cause the same reactions(eg. increased heart rate, sweating, lightheadedness) that an anxiety attack would because adrenaline is released into the body. So, no it would be perfectly logical that your body is reacting this way. I now know that I can eat foods with minimal spiciness and the anxiety doesn't happen anymore.

[moralfe]

I have not eaten jalapeños but I do have issues with my stomach and if I get bloated or I have bad acid reflux my anxiety level goes through the roof but I do not let it take over. I will take something to settle my stomach and all is fine.hope you feel better.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Hot peppers cause your brain to release the feel good endorphins. Similar to the runners high that some runners experience.

[wiretwister]

hot peppers cause dopamine to be released this could be your issue...

[IndieVisible]

I love hot peppers, the hotter the better! I have GAD and SAD. No effect. Thank God!

[FrayedEnds]

thanks everyone
I was getting confused because when I googled it, some links were saying it's beneficial to anxiety.
I guess no more dopamine for me

The ensuing panic attack was different than my usual in that I didn't have the obsessive thoughts and worries - just the purely physical symptoms.

Blueskyfree - I have the exact same problem with getting overheated too. thanks!