Help Me Eat Again

[ny96]

When I’m dealing with grief or a lot of anxiety, my body’s reaction is to stop eating and sleeping. Last week starting Tuesday I wasn’t able to eat and went without eating for about 24 hours, but have been slowly eating bit by bit,
Even though I am still sick to my stomach most of the time and not interested in food. Does anyone else have this reaction to stress, and how can I help myself to feel better? I’m trying to go to bed early to combat waking up in the middle of the night or super early, I’m trying to eat healthy and regularly, and stick to my normal routines even though I want to curl up in my bed and not move.

[sakoro]

I find that movement brings my appetite back. Consider taking a walk by a lake or somewhere scenic and focus on what the birds and leaves are doing. Have you ever heard of walking meditation where you just focus on tiny micro movements?
For eating, maybe start with something easy to digest like chicken broth.

[ny96]

Nov 12, 2024 15:46:51 GMT -5 sakoro said:

I find that movement brings my appetite back. Consider taking a walk by a lake or somewhere scenic and focus on what the birds and leaves are doing. Have you ever heard of walking meditation where you just focus on tiny micro movements?
For eating, maybe start with something easy to digest like chicken broth.

Thanks, I’ve been keeping to my daily 2 mile walk. The micro movements sounds like a good idea. I keep telling myself Trump isn’t going to steal my happiness, but I’m just profoundly sad.

[sakoro]

He wants to steal your joy and peace of mind ☹️ so don’t let him. Sorry I know it’s easier said than done.

Walking meditation

[7costanza]

This is how anxiety manifests for me too, and I don’t have any great suggestions. Scheduling times to eat and eating calorie dense foods helps somewhat, and having small snacky things I can eat quickly just because I know I need to (yogurt, string cheese, hard boiled eggs, peanut butter are my go-tos.) I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way, sending lots of good vibes.

[mcsangel2]

This is not exactly what you asked, but I always see recommended (and have successfully tried myself) significantly reducing or stepping away from news and social media for a couple of weeks as a means of reducing anxiety. That combined with calm exercise (quiet walks vs hard gym workouts) may work better than other short term bandaids. If you can reduce your anxiety you may find it easier to eat and sleep.

[ny96]

Nov 12, 2024 16:31:52 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

This is not exactly what you asked, but I always see recommended (and have successfully tried myself) significantly reducing or stepping away from news and social media for a couple of weeks as a means of reducing anxiety. That combined with calm exercise (quiet walks vs hard gym workouts) may work better than other short term bandaids. If you can reduce your anxiety you may find it easier to eat and sleep.

Thanks. I have cut out all news in fear that my anxiety will spiral, and I’m not on social media. I think it helps to name my sadness. My H believes that even saying the name Trump or any of his associates just gives them more power, so it’s been both sad and lonely in my house.

[underwaterrhymes]

I also react this way.

I’ve been eating small meals and only things that sound good to me. The first day I only ate a cutie and a piece of peanut butter toast.

Since then it’s been much less than I typically do, but enough to keep my body going. Do you follow Nutrition Tea on socials? She’s lovely and has been encouraging people to nourish their bodies in ways that feel good to them. (She’s great every day, but she has addressed this specifically on her feed in the past week.)

ETA - I just saw you’re not in social media. Here is the post she made on this. Maybe something like bone broth or a smoothie would be okay for you? 

[1confused1]

I am sorry you are going through this. Have you considered medication to help treat your anxiety?

[ny96]

Nov 12, 2024 16:46:49 GMT -5 1confused1 said:

I am sorry you are going through this. Have you considered medication to help treat your anxiety?

I was on anxiety medication for several years. I don’t have general anxiety so it wasn’t very helpful. I just have these flare ups, so to speak, once or twice a year.

[leahcar]

ny96, I have rescue anxiety medication. And, boy, have I been having to tap that medication across this last week.... I think that's worth bringing up. This is exactly the sort of thing where you can use it.

After a lifetime of eating my feelings, my stress response switched a few years ago. I force myself to eat protein when I am struggling to eat. Add peanut butter to my toast. A cheese stick with my apple.

[mcsangel2]

Nov 12, 2024 16:40:09 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Nov 12, 2024 16:31:52 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

This is not exactly what you asked, but I always see recommended (and have successfully tried myself) significantly reducing or stepping away from news and social media for a couple of weeks as a means of reducing anxiety. That combined with calm exercise (quiet walks vs hard gym workouts) may work better than other short term bandaids. If you can reduce your anxiety you may find it easier to eat and sleep.

Thanks. I have cut out all news in fear that my anxiety will spiral, and I’m not on social media. I think it helps to name my sadness. My H believes that even saying the name Trump or any of his associates just gives them more power, so it’s been both sad and lonely in my house.

GBCN is social media as well. I think you ought to consider unplugging completely for a week or so, couldn't hurt?

[circa1978]

I also default to this in times of extreme stress or even when I'm just anxious or uncomfortable in a situation. I've had a really hard time this week as well. I try to focus on hydration. That's what's really important. You are actually medically fine to not eat for 24 hours (eta unless you have medical reasons where that's a problem), people fast all the time, so try not to get even more anxious about not being hungry.

For whatever reason, cold foods have always been easier for me, so smoothies, Popsicles,a sandwich, cold veggies. Meals don't have to be big or even meals. Eating a few bites of something is fine.

[Nonny]

I reacted that way last week too, and even though I spent basically all day Thursday in the kitchen, I barely ate any of it. (I made a full meal including making and churning ice cream.)

What finally helped a lot was getting together with friends on Saturday. We were all horribly depressed and angry about the results, and needed some in-person friend time, and time away from the internet.

We all got takeout, ate together (I only had 1/3 of my food) and the election came up a tiny bit, but mostly we just talked about work or random stories about when we were teenagers. Funny, mundane things. Then we watched a light hearted movie and ate Halloween candy. Everyone stayed off their phones during the movie, and we just tuned out the world for couple of hours).

That was the most I'd eaten since Tuesday, and on Sunday my body was finally starting to snap out of it and wanting food again.

[redhead610]

I've had this before and it is rough, so my sympathies to you. I found myself eating small bits of something comforting - like a pancake, at dinner time, would help. Chocolate or ice cream - obviously not nutritionally beneficial, but for a short period of time it's ok.

I also found silly comedy helpful to just unwind - we'd often watch old reruns of Whose Line is it Anyway.

I'll also second seeking professional help if needed - meds have been essential for me.

[wildrice]

I am sorry you are struggling so hard. What about protein shakes or something like Ensure? They may not be super appetizing but if you could sip them they may not upset your stomach and will get some calories into you.

[macmars45]

huge (hugs) ny96

PDQ
I'm going through this with my H right now. I bought a bunch of easy things for him to snack on and easy meals to make quickly for dinner. Lots of protein rich foods so even if he doesn't eat very much he's still getting some good nutrients.

I also insisted he see the dr (I took him there myself) to get on medication and increase his therapy to 2x/week for at least a few weeks, but hopefully a month. My H he was spiraling into despair and having anxiety & panic attacks.

PDQ

FWIW, my anxiety spiraled back in 2020 and 2021. Therapy helped some, but meds made me feel like myself again. I <3 my lexapro.

[loira]

This is also my body's response to stress/grief. I don't have any good suggestions but wanted to commiserate.

[sonrisa]

((hugs))

I generally react the other way, but sometimes I'm the same. I try to stock things that pack a punch for those times. For some reason drinking is easier for me than eating at those times so I try to shift some nutrients and calories to liquids. A green juice (that is truly greens) and take shots occasionally. whole milk. premade smoothies.

Sunsets and sunrises help me. So I try to observe those, sometimes from someplace scenic (a waterfront, a hill, a taller building).

[livinitup]

When this happens to me, the lack of sleep causes exhaustion which feels like depression. Which worries me that I am depressed and spikes my anxiety.

For a short intervention, a 1/2 Xanax is very helpful. My regular doctor/provider was so helpful. Can you get an appointment?

[mrsukyankee]

What I give to my clients (you can use it for nausea as well as pain): Breathing Away Tighteness or Pain
Find somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed and either sit or lie down comfortably. Slow down your breathing, focusing on your breath out. Now imagine your pain/tightness as having a size, shape, colour and texture. Where is it in your body? As you breathe out, imagine pulling strands of this object out of your body and tossing it away. Imagine it floating away, taking the pain or tightness with it. As you continue, imagine it getting smaller and smaller until it becomes very manageable. Take one final deep breath and feel how much better things are!