Why does anxiety cause loss of appetite & how to get it back?

[Chicken_Wings]

Every time I get bad anxiety I completely lose my appetite.
Just the smell or thought of food makes me feel sick. But after a while, my body starts to tell me it wants food, even though I can't bring myself to eat it.

The hunger pangs begin to feel a lot like the anxiety itself, so I find it makes me worse.

Does this happen to everyone? And if so why and what can you do to get food inside you?!

[Neil_1]

Hi there CW

Hey, that’s great news about your sense of smell for food – a very good positive.  Also that you did enjoy your food the other day.

The drinking of water and ramping up those levels is a great thing also.

For me, it’s now a lifestyle thing for me – where I eat pretty much every 3 hours.  The meals aren’t particularly huge;  and by doing this, it keeps the bodies metabolism functioning on a high level.  It knows it’s going to be fed regularly and so it processes the food as it should.  Where I feel people can go wrong is the instances where meals are skipped – and what that does for the body and the metabolism is, the body then doesn’t know when the next meal will be coming;  so instead of burning it all up, it stores it away to use a bit later.  These stores then become that dreaded three letter word, ‘fat’.

So it’s not really a matter of pushing myself to eat – it’s now what I’m accustomed to.  And this is where protein shakes can come into play, as one of those for me consists of a meal;   also a piece of fruit and some almonds can be another.

I know this wouldn’t suit everyone, as we’re all different, but it’s just something I enjoy talking about.

I guess my bottom line is:  we hopefully shouldn’t be scared of, or fear food.

Ps:  I saw on another thread about Up ‘n Go’s – and yes, they’re good.  ALSO, if you’ve got a blender, then bung a whole stack of things in that and mix it up – any kinds of fruits, veges, nuts, oats – mix up different combo’s.  All terribly healthy for you.

Kind regards

Neil

[Chicken_Wings]

Thanks Neil,

That makes perfect sense. When I can eat I tend to be more of a grazer anyway. I just wish I was grazing now!
I've brought an apple to work today and I plan to finish it before I go home. It sounds easy, hopefully it is.

[Guest_1055]

Hi chicken wings

Are you talking about the plastic tubes you pour liquid into and freeze. If that is the case, they sound great, since now it is getting hotter.  Would that work for you then?

Your dog..... part monkey, is that because he clings to you, or cuddles?  That is pretty cute!

xxx

[Chicken_Wings]

Hey Shelley,

Sort of. They are basically frozen icy poles. Yum.
I ate an apple at work today and right now I have hot chips in the oven, because I feel like hot chips!

He is part monkey because he is very cute but cheeky and also he makes funny noises. He does love a good cuddle too though. He's everybody's friend.

[Vegangirl91]

Hi Chicken wings!

 YES I lose my appetite terribly when I get anxiety. It is one of my hates physical symptoms. The others being "fog brain", heart rate, and nausea. One of life's best moments it eating an awesome meal! And I usually load up on carbs all day as a vegan. But when I get anxiety I cant bring myself to eat and even feel sick. And then youre right, you get those hunger pangs and the lethargy sits in. 

Youre not alone. I would try for smoothes. And maybe nut mixes or I found I could often stomach one banana because it wasn't too many mouthfulls but would fill me up.

Goodluck to us all!

[Chicken_Wings]

Hey Vegangirl,

It's so frustrating isn't it! How I would love to be able to get stuck into a big bowl of pasta.
I've found apples have become my best friend. I cut one up and just have it on a plate next to me whilst I'm working. I don't even realise that I'm picking away at it.
Carrots are another good one. 

[Mummybee]

That's a good idea, smaller bits more often rather than facing a huge meal. 😷

See, CW, you're taking control one piece of Apple at a time. 

Mummybee 

[Wendy26]

Hi there, I noticed you posted your question 2yrs ago. I was wondering if you were successful in getting answers and you have overcome the issue with not being able to eat.

I have been suffering from Adjustment Disorder with server anxiety, I was going really well with my recovery, however a huge stressor has set me back.

I have not been able to eat for nearly 4 weeks now, I want to eat and I’m hungry. I have a plate of food in front of me, I take a small mouth full and end up chewing it for a few minutes and struggle to swallow it, I get 2-3 mouth fulls down, which takes me nearly 10 minutes and I just can’t force down anymore.

I saw my psychologist 4 days ago and she suggested having Sustagen (liquid food) 3 times a day as my body will get the nutrients it needs.

Unfortunately I have lost 7kgs in 4 weeks and I’m down to 49kgs, which I couldn’t even afford to lose that. I am still struggling to eat solid food and would love to know if you had any success.

Reading some of the comments with saying try eating this or that, I don’t think people understand, we love all food, we want to eat, but our mind is blocking us to swallow the foods (I know people are trying to help and mean well)

I have stopped going out in public, If one more person says to me “OMG You need to eat, look how skinny you are” I’m going to lose it and respond back “OMG look how fat you are, you need to stop eating” I know that sounds harsh, however when people say it to me, I feel the same way they would feel if someone told them they are to fat.

[Ben1993]

Hey Wendy,

I've been going through a similar experience with varying degree of success.
I'm also quite skinny and feel that I 'can't afford' to lose anymore weight. Comments on my physique also seem to bother me and further fuel the anxiety around food by enforcing my lack of ability to eat in volume.

When it comes to eating while I'm already feeling particularly anxious I know that I'm going to have a bad time getting it down and this thought process seems to make it even more difficult.

I've found that it's the anxiety around the horrible feeling of not being able to swallow that has also hindered my efforts. The best results that I have had is reducing my overall anxiety levels to increase my appetite before eating. Rather than stressing myself about eating and forcing as much food down as possible (which I imagine just makes the anxiety worsen in future) I have found that exercising or meditating before eating has helped from meal to meal.

Exercising seems to work really well for me but is not always possible - so at work etc I will head off on my lunch break and meditate for 10 minutes or so before eating.

I'll never take thoroughly enjoying a meal for granted ever again.

Let me know if you have any luck with this!

[Chicken_Wings]

Hi Wendy,

I didn’t exactly find a cure, but I found what I could bring myself to eat. Mainly things without a setting smell.

I also have small portions. After a while as my anxiety subsided my appetite returns. The main thing now is that I know what is happening. I eat when I can and I don’t get too hung up if I can’t.