Loss Of Appetite

[usul]

Recently (past few weeks), i have lost my appetite. Some days it comes back. I have been having nightmares related to my ptsd each night. because of these nightmares i have been stressed and nauseous. Im not on any medications currently. Has anyone else had this happen? Any reccomended foods? ways to deal with this without hurting the emotions of housemates who like to eat communaly each night?
edit: i am completely sober and recently had to cut caffeine out. :/ the caffeine caused too many anxiety attacks.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I'm not sure you can do much about the communal eating housemates. You can be polite, turn them down, explain that you've lost your appetite and feel nauseous. If they take offense at that, that's their problem. (In the dieting world, its common for people to have these sorts of issues because its socially impolite to turn down food that someone else has prepared. But, at the end of the day, its your body and your decision what you put into it. You should be polite in your refusal, and stick to the belief that if they are offended, its ALL on them. )

In terms of what to eat, is there any sort of food that is comforting to you? When someone is sick, typically foods like crackers or rice are recommended. Once I lived for a few months on nothing but Cheerios. Another time it was nothing but Oreo Cakesters. (Back in my pre-gluten-free days.) Then again, I'm one of those weird people who will eat one food obsessively for months on end, grow sick of it, and won't touch it again for years.

Its good that you've cut caffeine out. I know it has a bad effect on me, too.

 

[usul]

I'm not sure you can do much about the communal eating housemates. You can be polite, turn them down,...

Thanks for the advice about the housemates. They are usually super sweet, but i think their concern is coming out as aggression. which has definitely dissuaded me from the idea of eating with them as an enjoyable experience.

I think the couple of comfort foods that i crave right now are baked pumpkin and sweet potato. Everything else just makes me feel ill.

it took me a while to realize how negatively caffeine was affecting me. I drink herbal tea now and have cut down anxiety attacks a ton.

 

[hodge]

I have the same problem most days, usul. Nausea after nightmares. I think you should eat whatever sounds good to you. I'm glad the herbal tea has helped. I still drink regular tea some, but I used to drink coffee, which was way worse in terms of caffeine and stomach upset. I hope your housemates become understanding, but you have to do what you have to do. I agree with all itsKismet said as well.

 

[Friday]

We have 2 primary subdivisions of our central nervous system (CNS).

Sympathetic Nervous System - Fight Flight
Parasympathetic Nervous System - Rest & Digest

Those are the cliff notes, each system controls a whole helluva lot more. Point being, though that when our anxiety kicks up? Sympathetic nervous system takes over & shuts off the digestive system. Including both hunger & digestion. Extreme anxiety & we void that system, puking or express route out. :wtf:

 

[usul]

We have 2 primary subdivisions of our central nervous system (CNS).

Sympathetic Nervous System - Fi...

Interesting to know. Thank you for the info.