I'm new to this... How do you all feel on food and anxiety of being ill because of it? Anyway way to calm the anxiety? Thnx

[Bambam23]

[Hidden]

Hi welcome Bambam

Is your question asking if food or certain foods make our anxiety worse ?

There are all different ways we try & deal with our anxiety

Some people find listening to music helps , talking it through with others , taking a walk , relaxing bath

Keep talking on here , the more we get to no you & how your anxiety affects you , people will relate & you will get lots of support

Love

whywhy

xxx

[Bigguy]

There are foods and drinks that I avoid caffine does not help I've cut it out so no chocolate tea coffee coke I've stopped drinking alcohol as well

Relaxation and look up about deep breathing

When your feeling anxiety use distraction and it may just go away hope that helps

[Hidden]

It's easier said than done but I think maybe either try not to eat when you feel anxious or try to eat slowly and try to eat as healthy as possible. I hope that helps!

[Bambam23]

Hi all thanks for those! I probably didn't word it right though... I worry that food will make me ill/sick - undercooked etc - I don't know if its another fun development of the anxiety/OCD but its something I actually worry about. I have gone to see someone on the OCD side of things but my sessions have come to an end and now I am waiting for cbt. I thought I had this grasped but it seems to still be a worry on the list... Is there another way to overcome this gradually before therapy starts? Cheers

[Hidden in reply to Bambam23]

Hi Bambam

Thank you for clarifying your question I understand more what you are asking

I personally dont suffer with this but have read posts from other members that have the fear of been sick , which fear causes anxiety

I have OCD but in other forms , but I do like to no who has cooked my food which is usually me & I wont eat anything unless the sell by date is good

I think at Christmas we can feel its all about eating sometimes , but it isnt , we can still eat portions we usually eat & dont have to go over board

With my fears I also ask myself what is the worse that could happen , so been sick is not very nice but as you explain its a form of OCD I no in treatment they get us to slowly face the fear , I am not saying be sick , but maybe try eating small amounts & if your OCD is asking all these questions as you are eating ask yourself if you are sick whats the worse that will happen & I doubt anything will & the more you can face your fear you will slowly start to feel more confident , I do no this is easier said than done though it takes practice

I hope people will read your question & they give you some better advise

Keep talking on here

xxx

[Bambam23 in reply to Hidden]

Hi whywhy, thanks for this. It is about facing up to it. Sometimes I don't struggle with this fear sometimes I do, I think it stems from wanting to control things in order to avoid missing out or being out of control. Cheers for the advice and I'll keep talking on here

[thomson1898 in reply to Bambam23]

Hi Bambam, my daughter has emetophobia (fear of vomiting) & is very wary of food making her ill. She had started cbt but unfortunately her therapist was ill, then left, so we're waiting for it to start again.

I know how difficult it can be, dd asks me even to check a slice of bread before she will eat it.

As far as I understand it the advice she was given was to push her boundaries ie try something you normally wouldn't, then when you're ok afterwards it lessens the fear a little.

If you're worried about not eating enough my suggestion would be to concentrate on high calorie foods in the short term.

Please let us know how you're doing, I'd be interested to hear

Take care

x

[Bambam23 in reply to thomson1898]

Hi! Thank you for this reply, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Although it's not so much "throwing up" it's the fear of being ill itself and missing out on things I look forward to... Which is odd. Whenever I have something good lined up my anxiety heightens massively! I think about things over and over, they never seem to leave it's really intrusive at times. But yes your daughters therapist is right, also another thing my mum told me was to thing realistically - face this fear with realism. What is the likelihood of being ill? If she over thinks like me this could be a good thing to focus on? X