Anxiety - appetite loss?

unbeautified · Posted: 01/06/07 - 02:32 Post subject: Anxiety - appetite loss?

Hi, I'm a 21 year old female with a major anxiety problem which only really became an issue a few months ago when I had my first panic attack. Before this first attack I was constantly tired and felt unwell. All was relatively controlled for a while until 3 weeks ago when I lost my appetite and pretty much started getting attacks almost every night before bed and I just can't get a good nights sleep (my first panic attack happened when I was going to bed). Now that I'm finding it difficult to eat and have burning in my chest and throat after eating I feel even more that there is something wrong with me other than a panic disorder. Has anyone else had a lack of appetite with their anxiety? I LOVE food and it's really getting to me. Sad

Any info would be muchly appreciated.

Nebula · Newbie Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 45 Location: Scotland.

Hi there.

Have you actually lost your will to eat, or do you simply fear it because of the sensation that you get after it?

There are usually psychological implications when it comes to something as distressing as a panic attack, and it would not surprise me in the least if this has triggered physical symptoms.

I do not know everything about your case, and even if I did I am not qualified to give you advice as a Doctor as I am not an M.D.

It could be something as simple as Heart Burn.

Have you spoken to a GP about the physical symptoms?

Hopefully you are seeing a Doctor, and a good one, as general anxiety type disorders when compounded with panic are very unpleasant indeed, and if you can figure out the root cause quickly without letting it drag on, then you have a great chance of recovering.

You say that you were feeling tired before the attacks. This is a significant factor, especially if you are suffering from anxiety that disrupts your life to an extent, and somebody is hopefully weighing all of these things up.

Guest · Guest

Thanks for the reply.

I just don't really feel like eating, and when i do, I can only eat a little bit and feel terrible. I have been seeing doctors.. but they're all very little help and I can never get in to see the same one. I have been recommended to a doctor who is apparently very good and have an appointment with her. I feel like doctors do not take me seriously which makes things worse and makes me feel like an idiot!

TerTiary · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

Hi, I'm a 16 year old male, and i'm pretty much having the exact same problem, about 3-4 weeks ago i had a panic attack and had heart palpitations for about a week shortly after, I visited the doctor as i was worried why my heart beat is pumping so forcefully, and he just said it's anxiety. I felt better for about 2 weeks, but now recently i have quite regular panic attacks over thinking of me having serious illnesses and other things and i've lost my sppetite. Every now and then (mainly when im calm with friends) i re-gain a mass appetite and eat lots, but when i feel worried i completely loss it.

I think we both have Anxiety disorders.. I've read through the symptons and i match each and every one... Hopefully im seeing some profesional help from a psycologist.

I learnt that the best thing to do is just keep calm and do activietys like excerise, reading or games. And i avoic wikipeding diseases, as i tend to get worried i have it.

Reply soon and tell me if you got better! Nik

Guest · Guest

Hi guys,
I have been dealing with anxiety and panic attacs for about 7 years now. I have been on MANY medications to no avail. I take Xanax daily which helps greatly but I also have the problem with no appetite. When I'm around friends or family its no problem but I find when I'm alone I get very depressed and don't have any interest in eating. I am the mother of two great little boys and I know I need to take care of myself so I can be here for them as they grow. I am hoping that one day I will find something that will help rid me of this terrible disorder. In the meantime I will just hang in there and hope for the best. I have noticed in all my research that there are literally millions of pills for weight loss. How about one for weight gain? There are alot more people out in the world than the "experts" realize. Good Luck and Best wishes.

Kristadg · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

Hey!

ugh im in precisely the same boat. it is awful! i've had a lot of stressful things to deal with in my life, and have suffered from depression...but this new anxiety is by far the worst thing i have ever experienced. and it is confusing because i was doing so well...being positive and eating healthy and focusing on being positive. but then about 3 months ago i ending up going to er and they told me it was anxiety..i thought i was better but recently it has been coming back up over and over and over again. i dread nighttime because nausea comes and i get the worst headache. I will make dinner and being physically hungry, but the nausea doesn't allow me to eat much. then i struggle to fall asleep, and when i finally do i am completely out and can't get up in the morning.

And I know what you mean about dr's. They are assumptive and turned off. You are just a way to make money to most of them, and 90% of the time they have no clue and mis-diagnose, or don't listen to you and JUDGE and put you on meds which you get dependent on!!!

So I've been trying herbal remedies, but none of them seem to last for long.

I tried Kava, which worked for anxiety but made me feel awful the next day and is pretty sketchy to take (linked to liver problems)

I am going to now try Valerian Root because i have heard very positive things about that
I also drink peppermint, ginger, and chamomile tea..since they are all soothing and calming to your stomach.

The thing is, i feel so out of control. i tell myself to calm down. i go for a walk on the beach, i try to read or distract myself...but NOTHING works.
and that is very very scary.

I would recommend going to the nearest natural foods store and asking them about anxiety (most likely they will recommend kava but id ask for more options)

Holy Basil is supposed to be good...
and finding someone who will take you seriously and just listen to your thoughts and feelings would be a good idea i think.

doctors can help in some cases, but ive seen friends who now are HOOKED on anti-anxiety drugs, and that is not something i want for the rest of my life.

My best friend was doing okay..she had bouts of depression like me but nothing too crazy...she started going to a dr who immediately put her on prozac, among other drugs, and now-6 years later- if she runs out of prozac she literally becomes a suicidal mess..bc her brain is dependent on it to feel okay..she was NEVER that bad before.

Anyways, best of luck....i know just how you feel. hopefully there is a way to escape it. little steps..baby steps..its the only way we get anywhere!

*HUG*

Guest · Guest

Friends I m former sufferer of anxiety and have gone through a bad phase of depression and panic attacks. First and foremost, I want to state that never look for a cure outside yourself if you have suffered from any of these disorders. I didn't, survived and came out of it and never had even one pill. Remember, you suffer from these disorders because you FEAR - something that doesn't even exist. WORRY for something that will never trouble you. DREAD going to a place you hv always been when you were ok. Say to yourself - I AM NOT FALLING PREY TO THIS FEAR - the next time you feel anxious. IGNORE the sensation and the feeling. BREAK the thought and the fear that is forming in your mind. Occupy your mind in something else. Immediately call up a friend, Solve a Sudoku, Read a book, watch a movie, Write something - within minutes you will realize that your body aborted the panic attack because you moved out of its way. Its simple - you have to be smarter than the fear which forms inside you. The trick is to beat it and get the better of it. IGNORE these feelings which form inside you - IGNORE THEM. This is a proven technique to get a lifetime of happiness and get rid of anxiety disorders. Some people feel they will go crazy or have a serious illness like a heart attack or cancer but believe me the moment you will ignore these feelings and focus on something else you will never go crazy and will never have a heart attack. There is nothing serious about these anxiety disorders and they are not permanent in life, you just need to face them and fight them off. I hv managed to get rid of them and now realize how stupid I was to believe in these fears. It took me 7 months to learn to overcome them but now I have no problem - I know it is useless to worry.

Anxiety - appetite loss?

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