No appetite for a Month

[Joonbug]

Anyone else can’t eat? I don’t have ANY appetite and normally I’m a good eater. How long will this last? This is the first time I’m depressed. How can I get my appetite back? I just don’t get hungry or growling tummy. Please help

[Red731]

Hi. I am experiencing this right now and have for several months. I had a very stressful thing happen a few months which contributed to depression, but since then I have had trouble eating and lost a huge amount of weight unintentionally. It’s a scary thing. I don’t want to eat anything - nothing appeals. It was recommended to me to make sure I drank protein shakes to keep something in my body , but that can be a challenge. Loss of appetite can be a result of depression. I buy many things that can be eaten in small portions, quickly and are varied savory or sweet. On those rare moments I can force it down or maybe get an inkling of appetite I eat as much as I can. It’s a really hard thing. I hope it improves for you because I truly understand how it feels.

[Joonbug in reply to Red731]

Thank you so much for your kind reply. It’s really an awful thing that people can’t understand unless they’ve experienced it. I also have health anxiety (for years) so any body symptom I think the worst. It’s so debilitating. I am taking vitamins and minerals and herbs and some essential oils as I want to give the “natural” route a chance. Every day is a struggle and lack of appetite is awful. I truly wish you all the best

[tamka38 in reply to Joonbug]

What vitamins are u taking? What Essential oils u use?

[Joonbug in reply to tamka38]

I’m taking the following (I saw it on Dr Axe YouTube and will give it a try):

B Complex

Multi vitamin

Magnesium (before bed)

Rhodiola

Ashwaganda

Omega 3 (fish oil)

Essential oils:

I mix Lavender oil into my body lotion and cover my body (I use unscented body lotion for this purpose)

I just got ylang ylang today so I will try that one also.

I also have a essential oil rollerball called “relax” that I put on my pulse points. If nothing else I smell amazing!

[Meowmeows2 in reply to Joonbug]

I feel the same.

[Marc787]

Sorry your going through this. Stress, anxiety and depression does all kinds of things to our brain and body. Even affect our senses, our appetite. When we’re going through these 3 things our digestive system slows down and lose feeling to eat anything. Sometimes I go through times like this. I lose feeling to eat. Maybe you can try do a little exercise, walking or some kind of fitness you like to do to get your indorphines going, even just a little to start. Most times that helps get my appetite back and I sleep better too. Prayers too you. Good luck.

[Joonbug in reply to Marc787]

Thanks Marc I am actually out now for a little walk! All the best

[Tmarchand1977]

This is me! When I’m going through severe anxiety times, I literally force myself to eat three meals a day. I count calories to make sure I’m getting enough. From what I e read, it’s totally normal. Try small meals throughout the day. Feel better!

[Joonbug in reply to Tmarchand1977]

Thank you so much for your kind reply. Any idea on how long the no appetite can last? I’m almost at a month...

[Tmarchand1977 in reply to Joonbug]

It has been that long for me before too. I eat though and you need to as well. Make yourself.

[Joonbug in reply to Tmarchand1977]

I am trying to eat it’s just so hard with the nausea also. I hope I get my appetite back soon as this is scaring me a bit as is so not like me

[Marc787 in reply to Joonbug]

The nausea feeling is normal when we're more stressed out than usual or depressed. Thats our bodies telling us, like a reaction. Until we manage our stress, anxiety,or depression to a low level and managable we can feel normal and do things. Like I said exercise or doing things outside, outdoors, nature, being mindfulness in the present. Forgetting all BS. That's the best thing. 😀

[tamka38 in reply to Marc787]

Guess I want never feel normal

[Joonbug in reply to tamka38]

You will I have faith and hope for all of us. Life is challenging and sometimes it’s 1 step forward 2 steps back. We have good days and bad days and that’s ok. It’s how we get back up again. All the best

[tamka38 in reply to Joonbug]

Thank you

[Joonbug in reply to Marc787]

Thank you that helps me understand this depression a bit more. I am taking daily walks and I do feel better when I’m outside. It’s the forgetting all the BS that’s difficult.

[Meowmeows2]

I've been depressed for 2 months don't have appetite lost 15 lbs. Normally good eater. Have to force myself sometimes don't get 1000 calories.

[Joonbug in reply to Meowmeows2]

I lost weight in the beginning but have been recovering since January. My appetite is back to normal now thankfully and have already put back on the weight I have lost. It’s a horrible feeling to have no appetite I totally get that. It really frightened me as I normally love to eat.

[kittenkisses91]

When I first got depressed I lost my appetite completely. I lost about 15 pounds in 2 weeks. I had to start taking a new antidepressant medicine to get my appetite back. I know you want to go a natural route but medicine is what helped me in the end.

While I had no appetite I found it was easier to drink than chew so I drank smoothies and Ensure shakes. I also ate a lot of almonds because they were protein and small enough to pop in my mouth easily. Ensure shakes are good too because they are given to people who aren’t eating and are supposed to have all the nutrients you need in them. They even have high calorie ones which is what I got.

I hope you feel better soon!

[Joonbug in reply to kittenkisses91]

Thanks I am feeling so much better these days. I did CB therapy (I still go to therapy), daily walking (exercise) and some supplements. I drank a drink similar to ensure called Isagenix. I am happy to say I am feeling much like my old self again. I am feeling really good these days. It’s hard to believe I was in such a miserable and dark place only a few months ago.