Too Anxious to Eat

[Worrywort626]

Anyone experience this? You’re hungry but so anxious you can’t sit still. You start to feel nauseous from hunger and the cycle continues. I drank some peppermint tea to soothe my stomach but I still have anxious thoughts. I don’t want to throw up is what it turns into. It just snowballs.

[AnxietyAtAllSeconds]

This happens to me also. I’ve had anxiety for years but recently (due to a lot of huge life changes in a short time period) my anxiety has been causing me have no appetite. I’m hungry. But no appetite so I really can’t seem to get any food down. So I don’t know some days I eat literally nothing and have no energy. I don’t have a solution I just want you to know you’re not alone- I’m experiencing the same thing.

[Worrywort626 in reply to AnxietyAtAllSeconds]

Thank you for responding. Do you find your anxiety increases when you don’t eat? I experience more physical symptoms like light headedness, more nausea, etc. An endless cycle.

[AnxietyAtAllSeconds in reply to Worrywort626]

Yes! And my therapist confirmed this. When you don’t eat, the anxiety increases and also the symptoms- like I am quick to anger, more depressed and more frequent panic attacks which worsen if I don’t eat. It’s awful. She suggested literally forcing the food down. Little meals. Some days it works. Some days not so much. Sometimes I’ll just force down a sandwich like with water and drink an Ensure shake.

[Sadanxiousspirit76]

I felt like that today. I find that breathing helps. Slow, deep breaths. Lavender essential oil helps a lot too. A little goes a long way!

[puglove0093]

Yes, this happens to me, too! I have to make myself eat at least something or else my anxiety gets worse, and I can't think clearly and get too weak.