I’m feeling way less hungry - So much I don’t really eat at all.

[Hemlock]

As of late, I’ve been feeling way less hungry. I don’t eat a lot at every meal, and skip a lot of them.

I looked it up, and the most applicable thing for me is that it’s a side effect of depression, which seems reasonable enough. but for some reason, I think it’s something deeper and/or something else.

When I was younger I was physically abused by my dad, and as I grew up my dad has continued to be emotionally abusive. A part of that abuse was neglecting me, emotionally yes and in other ways, but in this case, more directly related to food.

I was given enough to eat, mostly, but my dad would make fun of me for my eating habits and how I couldn’t (and still can’t) eat a lot of things because I was autistic.

As I started to grow older, and needed more food, my parents would only continue to feed me that amount of food I was allowed as a kid, and would get angry if anyone tried to take any extra food. Because of this, I sort of learned to shut off my hunger, and stockpiled food.

Getting back to the subject at hand, I was wondering if the reason I never eat and never feel any hunger anymore is that as a kid I was denied adequate food and learned to turn my hunger off.

As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned more of the ways my abuse and neglect at the hands of my father has impacted my current state, and I was wondering if this is another side effect.

Or is it just depression?

[Nathalie99 Partner]

Hi Hemlock,

Welcome to the community.

I think depression can cause eating less. I went through a period of not being able to eat for two months and got very underweight.

An experienced therapist or counselor might be able to help regarding the causes of you not feeling hungry and how to ensure that you get enough food.

Depending on which country you are in, there are anonymous hotlines for eating disorders that you can call abd they can help immediately as this is urgent...

It might be very scary to face particularly as this is linked to trauma.

So very sorry you are going through this...

[Nom-D-Ploom]

Eating habits are habits. It may be a learned response. I would see the attending medical professional just to be sure. Maybe do some blood work.

[Hidden]

I think besides depression.. weather.. change of seasons has a lot to do with eating habits. A lot of people tend to eat more in the winter when they are cooped up in the house. I also think there are people that r emotional eaters and some not.I tend to not eat when im depressed,pain is too high or etc. If ur weight is good and or u r comfortable with ur weight than do u boo.