Does anyone feel that when hte anxiety hits they lose their appetite? I lose my appetite and then I get so fixed on losing my appetite that I get worked up. I keep trying to tell myself that if I quit obssesing about it it will eventually go away.
Any advice please?

i have this problem too. when i get anxious, i really don't feel like eating, but that's the worst thing to do, because when you don't eat it messes with your blood sugar levels and can make you feel dizzy or sick also-more triggers to a panic attack. sometimes you just have to make yourself eat and not think about it. it's the thinking that's making you anxious in the first place. try to distract yourself if it gets really bad-talk or move around and then come back to it. good luck!

I have this problem lately, although more related to being depressed. I'm having a real hard time eating. No appetite! Before it was just when i was really anxious, now all the time.

I have this problem too. Cole is right, force yourself to eat. I try and busy myself with something and eat while I'm doing it. This takes the focus off of the eating. Make sense? I hope so. You're not alone in this.

I have the same problem regarding appetite. I too lose my appetite when I'm anxious. It also doesn't help that I'm also on the thin side so I worry about losing too much weight. Try eating small meals throughout the day until you feel like eating larger portions. Also, you may want to try protein shakes to get you by.

I have this problem too. I get to the point of having my gag reflex turn on. It is a horrible feeling. What I've been doing lately is listening to a favorite song, I find the song distracts me from the anxiety and it passes. Also, a spoonful of peanut butter is loaded with protein.

Oh boy i have had that. A few months ago it was really really bad. My husband was convinced i had an eating disorder. I even went to a phyiatrist and asked him but he said no it was just anxiety. And thats all it was. What helped me was first drinking ginger tea (i had nausea too). i think it just helped in the begining sipping on it to get some food in me. another thing was someone on this forum told me to eat just a little bit every hour throughout the day...and that was helpful because at least it helped with the worring. another thing is jello and things like that are easy to eat. Be patient with yourself it will come around.

jugray,
great idea about the peanut butter. and i had the same thing with the gag reflex...i know exactly what you mean. that was tough but it will go away. What helped the most with that for me was just blowing it off and not letting it bother me. i know it sounds hard but it works.

I'm so glad for this post. This is really stressing me right now. I've never had this problem before but now I have lost 10 pounds in 5 weeks. Now I'm underweight. I'm so freaked out about it that thinking about food makes me gag. I struggle with all or nothing thinking so I am scared that I am just going to waste away....

I have the exact same problem. When my anxiety kicks in, even the thought of food makes me sick. I do the distraction thing as well. Try to do something else while I eat, it does help. I have also found that if I eat foods that are wetter i.e. soup, salads, etc. it goes down easier. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a cup of tea works really well also. Comfort food and protein. Hope this helps.

thank god im not the only one with this problem! i lose my appetite too but i still feel like i need food for energy or else ill get weak and shaky. so then i freak out all day about being able to eat each meal. i get the gagging problem too. i thought that was just my own weird thing but im so glad to know its not. and when i gag it scares me too. i just try to eat a little at a time like the others said. i try to eat bland things. like for lunch ive been having cottage cheese and french toast. usually that seems to go down pretty well. im trying all different things. ginger,marshmallow extract, some tea at night. and im also trying these licorice pills that help coat the stomach. but yet it still scares me!

i have lost 15 pounds in a month. my doctor gave me prilosec which now u can get over the counter. It just helps your stomach calm down enough to eat something light with out the gag reflux.

Yes the acid reducers (Prilosec etc.) do help a lot. It may be that the anxiety is causing excess stomach acid, which in me (I have GERD) can cause gagging and nausea- especially in the mornings.

This has always been my main problem as well. When the anxiety hits, I get nausea and can't eat. Then all the acid forms, you get gastritis (even ulcers) which hurts and you still can not eat! This is what usually ends up making me go off the deep end. I lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks, and I'm not big. But then you worry about the wt loss, then worry about no appetitie, etc etc etc. It is a terrible cycle to waste away, and scary. Meds help me get back on track, now trying CBT too. Good luck all.