Anxiety - Lack Of Eating

[ericaboo]

Maddog - I think it relates, in that, there's an eating pattern that runs counter to what our bodies actually need to function.

It's a sad state of affairs to have to force oneself to either eat or not eat, instead of being able to simply respond to feelings of hunger or fullness.

I am unsure if that is controlled by an executive function of the brain or a deeper function - probably a combination of both - probably misunderstood by science.

I know I used to eat to get sleepy when anxiety would keep me awake. I believe it was pulling the blood flow away from the brain so it would shut the h*ll up and let me sleep - but that's just my completely unprofessional guess.

 

[Tinyflame]

As a further complicator, extreme anxiety will sometimes make me uncontrollably nauseous/unable to eat, and I have also had an unrelated medical condition in the past that caused me to feel intense pain and nausea for long periods of time after eating, which not surprisingly led to all sorts of negative associations.

I feel as though so much in my world is falling apart...

Dear MD, would it be ok to ask you to PM me with what they determined the medical condition was/ is?

Like you, I can go through PB like crazy- 2 kilos/ week. But the problem is, I can only eat compact foods (small volume), or have intense pain and am nauseous.
I have been trying not to smoke, ate more (yesterday), then ended up with terrible stomach pain. By today at about 4 pm, decided to eat something -maybe the pain is an ulcer/ upset stomach? But since then have awful chest pains (think it's from my stomach). Am desperately wishing they would go.
Also not sure if caused by my overuse of OTC stuff for it. :(

I hope you and ericaboo go easy on yourselves, xox.

 

[maddog]

Thanks for the responses, and the support...

Ericaboo, that's really interesting what you said about eating to try to fall asleep. Actually I think this works in reverse for me, I think I tend to eat as a means of keeping myself alert/grounded and awake when nightmares and other sleep-related issues are at their worst for me. I unfortunately experience very conflicted, very counterproductive push/pull feelings in relation to sleep, given that as much as I crave it for rest and recuperation, I also dread/fear it at times and sometimes find myself actively resisting its pull, which I think is where the eating initially kicked in as a distraction. I guess the concept of ingesting food/digestion being some sort of alternative bodily function to sleep is the same though...

And Junebug, no worries re the unrelated medical condition, it's actually a heart condition which caused my heart to, among other things, slow down dangerously and beat irregularly, therefore interfering with a whole range of other bodily functions including digestion. My body's inability to digest food was the cause of the nausea and cramps and the inability to eat, as my body wasn't able to process what I was eating, let alone accept any more. Unfortunately, the problem with your heart is that it impacts on everything else, and if it's not doing what it's supposed to do, pretty much everything suffers.

Hmmm, have been thinking about eating peanut butter for at least the past 2 hours, so far resisting...

MD

 

[Tinyflame]

Hee, thanks so much MD. Last thing (except for 2 weeks ago) I would of thought of (ever) is my 'ticker'. Would you believe as stupid and bizarre as it sounds I 'heard' that last week (in my 'head'), yep bizarre.

But, am out of pb, lol. Actually MD, think our bodies get cravings to point us in the direction we need, out of the sources we know. I know (though it contains sugar) pb is actually used by those with Diabetes to bring sugar levels down, also because of the high protein. As well as certain cheeses.
xox

 

[maddog]

Yeah, have been wondering if it's a case of low protein for me... would perhaps make sense, as much as anything does.

Really sorry to hear you're dealing with food processing stuff too JB, and so hope it isn't your ticker, as much as it sometimes seemed critical to me to find out what was going on, regardless of what it was.

Hope you get your PB stock sorted out again soon. I did cave in and ate the stuff... too much of it. Maybe I'll do better today...

MD

 

[Deleted member 12723]

(((Maddog))))
I hope you will take this into therapy with you so it could lose its power over you. It is so good to get it out.
I recently quit smoking and am sucking on hard candies and chewing gum. I am snacking to. so my weight is slowly going up.

Not good. If you cannot take this into therapy with you then please keep on talking about it here, at least you will get good help and support.

I am here for support for you. cyber hugs. Please be gentle on yourself. You are processing so much.

Take care.

 

[Tinyflame]

Thank you MD- no it's ok! Explains a lot, right down to my swollen feet and ankles (good news is, my sandals are no longer too big, lol :) )

More denial on my part, after smoking 30 years.

I agree with gizmo, it in fact is really neither unusual nor by any means 'shameful' to talk about, just 'feels' like that (but not so).

I'm amazed at your courage, honesty, and dear self. You're doing great! :tup: :)
((((((Hugs))))), xox

 

[zeb]

I find drinking a glass of milk helps with anxiety and not eating, it seems to calm things down a bit.

 

[Whitneys story]

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.

This may sound really strange but eating crunchy food helps release stress. Crunchy has a lot of options.

Those worried about weight gain, eating celery burns more calories chewing than it holds in calories. That of
course is if you do not add peanut butter or cream cheese!

 

[Whitneys story]

I will find out the name of the condition his doctor indicated as the reason for the appetite/anxiety issue, and let you know. Good luck!

Tifanee, Would you be talking about Gurd? This one is so overlooked and can be helped with medications. However be cautious of them as the resulting side affects can cause more severe problems. There are some natural options to research if this is the case.

 

[Whitneys story]

And after reading these I needed a snack! Some stupid game show so also had to change the channel. It must be mental health and digestive system day on the TV. Howie Mendel was just on about anxiety.

Dr Oz show is talking about Celiac Disease which is also a little known up and coming serious problem.
The main cause is gluten which is in everything. Well worth researching for those who having issues with food. When we eat and it makes us sick or nervous there is something not right! My best to all who are
on the journey of discovery! Hugs Whitney

 

[Arctic]

Hey.

I feel less alone right now and glad for this thread.

I'm doing a bit of everything else. My meds made me sick, then I had no appetite, and now Im self induce vomiting to control life pain and anxiety...