Do You Have Food Problems?

[ghotiff]

Let me know if you find one, and I'll let you know if I find one, okay?

Absolutely ! :hug:

 

[Deleted member 27340]

I definitely have a messed up relationship to food. Note that I get physically ill from eating and experience symptoms like pain in my stomach, joints (joints tend to "burn"), muscles and head along with bloating up like a balloon and getting constipated. I got sick about three years ago, that's when all of this started. I also struggle with fatigue and chronic nausea. All these symptoms are relative too my food habits; when I've gone more than 18 hours without food they start to disappear, but I get a new pack of symptoms after passing 24 hours without food for obvious reasons.

This obviously has a lot to do with how I am with food (messed up, lol), but I know I eat to comfort myself and calm anxiety. I also starve to feel in control and punish myself. What I do varies a lot, and I'm sure you can imagine my weight is all over the place.
I think reasons for changes in your food habits after trauma vary, but that common ones are to feel a sense of control, soothe anxiety or depression, a side effect of anxiety or depression or a result of being close to constantly in fight/flight/freeze-emergency mode.

 

[Cool Cat]

Yeah, theres probably some element of self-destruction too, when you eat foods you know are bad for you.

 

[SeaQuel]

I crave simple carbs (junk food) when I am symptomatic. If I'm having trouble breathing, it can do what breathing exercises can't do for me. Granted, it's a short lived solution, but one nonetheless. My therapist spoke to a nutritionist who said the foods high in tryptophan (i.e. nuts, seeds, tofu, cheese, red meat, chicken, turkey, fish, oats, beans, lentils, and eggs) are what I really need.