Loss of appitite

[Tywin]

I'm living in pure hell right now. I can't even type about how tragic my life has been the last several months. I'm afraid if i actually type it and read it all, that will be the breaking point that will push me over the edge. Anyways, I have completely lost my appitite and have not eaten a meal in 5 days. I've only ate a few hand fulls of food just to keep the cramps and dry heaves to a minimum. Is this common with anxiety/depression? I've been suffering from severe panic attacks and moderate to severe depression for many years now, but have never went this long without an appitite.

[mantooth]

I lost 20 pounds in a month from anxiety/panic. I was a skinny dude to begin with but I was really wasting away. I've plateaued i think, hanging around 170. I know how hard it is to eat, but you really have to, it's a good start on the road to feeling better.

[dlwood62]

I've always said it is a good thing my husband gets hungry and can cook because if not there would have been times I would have starved to death. Years ago when my problems 1st started I lost almost 40 pounds in less than a month -- that was not a good feeling at all!! Then when I got it together I put that plus more on -- I feel better at a heavier weight and have just decided that where ever my weight is and I feel good that is where I will stay.
For now get food that is quick and easy -- maybe favorite fruits and veggies, soups, things that go down easy.
I found that not eating is not an option for me!!
Good luck!!!

[Shallovercome]

I know the feeling of a lost appetite when anxious and losing lots of weight way too fast.  With each pregnancy I had, I got all panicked in the last trimester and had severe panic attacks.  This was not the time to have food absolutely freak me out-but it did.  It is so hard to explain to someone unless they have been through it.  Not eating only made my anxiety worse as I did not have the nutrients to even cope with my physical needs-let alone my mental needs.

So-I had to keep packing on calories and I drank LOTS of Slim Fast (there is actually a Slim Fast that is meant to help older people maintain their weight-it has extra protein and such in it-it is NOT a diet SLim Fast).  It did the trick and I kept my weight on.  I could slam one down in 3 seconds and do it again a few minutes later and another after that and have taken in the calories I needed for half the day.  I would repeat it again a few hours later.  I did this for at least six weeks each time.  I know it wasn't the best nutrition I could be taking in-but, as I said, I COULD NOT eat.  I had to get my nutrients somehowand drinking them didn't freak me out like food did.

I finally confessed this to my Dr. about a month before my baby was due and she WROTE A PRESCRIPTION for a similar product as she knew I had been struggling to even eat.  Saved me oodles of money and saw me through each pregnancies last few weeks.

So-there you go.

[bluqanary]

I am currently feeling this way as well, even on a medication that is supposed to make me pig out (although I admit I'm happy that I'm not pigging out). However, not eating can mess with your blood sugar levels, which can make things worse anxiety-wise. At the very least, try eating something small every few hours or so to keep your blood sugar at more of a stable place.

I have an eating disorder, which I feel might have contributed to my anxiety, simply because my levels are so wonked out right now. Forcing myself to eat better (again, small snacks) has actually helped out a little because my brain is able to work better. Which in turn has been giving me a (slightly) better appetite. I say slightly only because it's been a few days, but I have no doubt that the more I do this, the more my appetite will come back and the better my anxiety will be.