Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety and Loss of Appetite

tiredgirl25
tiredgirl25

Hi everyone, my first time posting in this group, but Im no stranger to anxiety. Ive been an anxious person since I was young, and I know how my body typically reacts (insomnia, rapid heart rate, nauseau, overthinking) but this past week Ive felt some other symptoms that have me a little worried. I was having a bad week due to work and some personal issues, feeling overall just run down and in a bad mental state. I then had a loss of appetite and when I did eat, I became full very quickly. At first I thought maybe I was getting sick but no cold/flu symptoms developed. Normally Im the type of person that can always eat, loves food, etc. Im very in tune with my body and its physical reactions to my anxiety, so the fact that Im not eating and dont have the desire to really eat is strange and a little worrisome to me. When I think about it, of course the anxiety starts and I begin to feel nauseaus, and definitely dont want to eat. Its only been about a week, so Im hoping to come out of this strange phase. Anyone else struggle with anxiety-appetite related cycle? Any tips on how to get my appetite back?

stillstanding
stillstanding
This has been happening to me for years now. I thought it was temporary. I'm not even alarmed anymore about my lack of appetite. I just try to find ways to make sure I get the correct nourishment in my body 1x a day. Randomly I'll pig out but thats randomly. My short-term "fixes" are:

Drink water, tea (caffeine free) all day long. (this is forced since drinking fills me up too) I have cups of tea, coffee and water bottles all over my house and car
Yoga in the mornings (Chakra healing specifically and a stress session)
Smoke weed in the evenings after I make some food so I can eat and sleep off the high

It is not the "correct" way to do things but that's how I do them to get by in life! I hope you find a healthier way to cope with this issue.
arfie
arfie
That has been a life long cycle for me. The fact that I have never *wanted* to lose weight a day in my life makes me hesitant to call ^it^ anorexia, but involuntary weight loss is one of my dominant physical problems. Yes, dear, I wish you could have my problem, too. . . I'd give ^it^ to you, if I could.

In my own case, I get violently ill if I force myself to eat while anxious/stressed out. Commode hugging ill.

My remedy is to ply anxiety/stress management tools from my psychotherapy toolbox when my appetite declines. That is a big drawer in my toolbox and far more than I care to type randomly. I'm willing to share, if you care to get more specific on what might work for you.
shakyinside
shakyinside
Probably not your problem but I had this in the past too and lost a lot of weight. I thought it was the stress I was under but blood tests revealed haemochromatosis, a common iron overload disease. I hope you have been tested. Ginger is very good for nausea, hope you feel better soon.
AnxiousInTX
AnxiousInTX
It can definitely happen. Before I was diagnosed and began therapy, I lost about 15 pounds and had no interest in doing anything. Near agoraphobic in a college dorm. Came to find out it was a combination of anxiety and depression. Now. 10 years or so later, I've gained back (and then some to be honest). The key is to absolutely interrupt and break the cycle! You dont feel good, so you dont eat. You dont eat, so you dont feel good and may not exercise or take care of yourself. This causes you to feel bad and not eat. You have to take the steps, even baby steps, to halt it. Going for a walk, drinking water all day, do a few easy chores. Meditation and mindfulness practices. It is important to do these things because you are CHOOSING to and WANT to. Dont worry about whether or not they are helping the anxiety, because these are just better habits to build and not band aids
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