Anxiety - Lack Of Eating

[ericaboo]

I've never had any kind of eating disorder that I know of, and I do feel hungry, but eating just seems completely gross to me. Also, I feel a choking feeling that makes me stop before I'm full.

Anyone else experience this - what did you do? I've increased my meds, but that's not helping much.

I don't want to reach some kind of critical stage with this - so I'm forcing myself to eat, but it's so unpleasant, and not getting better.

Any suggestions would be thankfully accepted...

 

[bethinhfx]

When I am very anxious I don't eat and eventually I start again....not great advice but if you address what is causing you so much anxiety you may start feeling like eating again!

 

[LiamM]

I do the same as bethinhfx. If I can't eat at the moment, I'll put it off for a while and try again.

I've also found that drinking tea can help, I'm guessing because it's something I find to be relaxing. I usually have a cup of peppermint tea, and it helps me calm down enough to eat something.

However, when I'm anxious most foods make me sick. Sugary foods tend to sit well: kids cereals that have a lot of sugar, candies, etc. It's not very good for me, but at least it's something! And the cereals are fortified, so I guess that counts for something.

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[intothelight]

Hi Ericaboo,

I too loose my appetite when I am anxious. Even when I find it difficult to eat, I do find it easier to drink. If you are able, some smoothies, soup, or even a supplement like Ensure are good alternatives. I also find it easier to eat smaller meals, just more frequently.

Ultimately getting to the root of the anxiety and learning how to manage it are what will be the greatest benefit long term; but for now, try a few different things to see what will help.

Wishing you the best.
Debbie

 

[Nicolette]

Hi Ericaboo

My thoughts are along the same lines as Debbie.

It's not the food which is the issue; it is whatever is causing such anxiety for you. Investing your time into identifying what the problem is should in turn directly have an impact on your ability to eat.

I went through a stage when I would get up dry-retching just from the thought of the day ahead leaving me with no appetite. I had to change my mindset towards what was stressing me in order to fix my problem - I may not have always been able to stop my stress and anxiety but even a reduction in it helped with eating.

Sometimes you may need the assistance of medication depending on the cause.

 

[ericaboo]

Thanks for the responses - all helpful. I didn't think about medication - I'm already on more than I want to be. Still - if it gets too bad, that might be a good thing to discuss with my doctor.

I don't want to make matters worse, because the brain and body need food to function, and I'm demanding a lot out of myself right now.

 

[Anna]

Same as intothelight said above. I also lose weight when I am anxious. I tend to eat 2 small meals and one large meal per day. I just make sure I eat at least something for breakfast and something in the evening for dinner. If I skip lunch I tend to get problems with sugar around 14.00. So keep some sugar with me like bon bons or sweets or whatever. Just make sure you do eat something even when not hungry.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Hi, a red flag for me was mabe you want to go to a regular doc to make sure it isn't anything physical just to be safe and cover all bets.

YOu know it is the anxiety but mabe a family doc can make some suggestions to help.

Can you drink choclate shakes and things like that? Get some ensure or something like that. It would be good to drink instant breakfasts and broth. But you said you had a problem swallowing. I hope you find something that works for you. Take good care of you. If you aren't ok, nothing will be ok.

 

[ericaboo]

Thanks for the concern - sincerely, it means a lot to me. I do drink a protein shake in the morning, and for some reason i can stand pork & beans. Plus I'm trying to stay as hydrated as possible.

I think I'm getting better because I actually ate some normal food at a super yummy mexican restaurant 2 days ago.

I think the meds are starting to help - It took awhile for the severity of my symptoms to subside. Hopefully food will just gradually seem less icky.

I feel like I had chemo or something!!!

 

[ericaboo]

Oh - I forgot to tell you - I quadrupled my meds - so yes - the meds were probably a must in my situation.

I just try to be really cautious due to previous addiction issues, so I was hoping for some magical food item that anxious people can eat - lol :)

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Hi, I'm glad you are feeling better. I wish there was some magical cure for my anxiety. oh well, trudge trudge trudge. :)

 

[violetdream]

I don't know if this is at all relevant to you, but when I was young, my father harassed me so much about eating healthily that I started eating in secret, and since he didn't see me eat he assumed I had an eating disorder when me and my mum knew better. He was humiliated having to pay the doctor to tell him the same thing and lay off, but unfortunately for me I had severe anxiety about eating around people I didn't know very well even up until my second year in college. Could it be situational at all? Just a thought.