About four years ago, I panicked one summer and stopped eating for two weeks, unable to hold down many foods - I had no idea what triggered it (until now) but pulled myself out miraculously.

Two years later, it happened again, near the end of summer, and I sought professional help - diagnosed and treated for anxiety.

Nearly two years later (today), I find myself in the same situation. I wake up gagging and spitting up, try to hold down a bite to eat (2 days unsuccessful). All morning, usually until noon, I am dazed and feeling like I am going to pass out (obviously, it is just fatigue from not eating and from panicking). I close my eyes and blank out for minutes. I'm not sure how no one notices - but that's the (dis)advantage of having your own office. I'm a secretary, and anyone can walk in and see me, which terrifies me. But my real concern here is "not eating."

I've already lost 2 lbs in four days = at 97 lbs and not increasing my food intake. Last time (2 years ago), I dropped to 95 lbs!

I'm back on medication, which is taking time to take affect, but I have to wait to see a counselor. I'm trying not to put so much attention and pressure on eating, but it's getting to the terrifying point of me being too afraid to look in the mirror because I will notice the thinning features of my face. The pants around my waist are already loosening.

Will this last for two weeks?! Longer?!

Hi Lena,

I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time right now. I've only had the not eating thing once and it only lasted a few days. I managed to keep down Ensure and yogurt which helped. Can you keep down liquids? I also called my doc and demanded anti-anxiety meds right away and have been on it ever since. You didn't say which medication you're on but sounds like an anti-depressant. You might want to ask about a short dose of an anti-anxiety (which work within 20 mins!) to help you eat until the anti-depressant kicks in.

Most of all though, know that you have been through this before and you can get out of it again. And you will!
Kathy

Gee! I never get the good symptoms. Ha Ha Ha!

Honey I can feel you fear, are you in the program? do you have Lucinda's relaxation tape? use it 3 times a day! You don't have to wate for a counselor, you are your own safe person, and we are here to pray for you. and try to help you with our hard won knowledge. Don't look in a mirror, look in the eyes of God. Read His love letter to you, know that He made you wonderfully in you mothers womb, and watches after you every moment, just wating for you to ask Him to help you. It dosn't take a lot of christianeze to pray, just talk like you would to a good friend.

I hope you like peperment, it is the best thing to settle your tummy, and if you can think of your tummy as the face of a clock, 12 above your navel, gently rub, your tummy in a clockwise motion, moving your had from the 12 to 3, to 6, to 9, in that direction around and around that will relax your stomic, So many of the youg have never even seen a clock face, I wonder if clock wise will be droped from the dictionary in another 5 years. Find something on TV, or a vidio that is funny to you, or read the funny papper if you get that. Find a way to distract your mind, for "The battlefield is the mind" a book by Joyce Meyer. has helped me and is helping me yet today. My holistic Dr. Royal, once told me "When you fight the darkness use the light" meditate on seeing the light in this problem, something has triggered this problem, and it is a lie straight out of hell, know the truth, God loves you just the way you are, "you are no supprise to God", Joyce Meyer, He knows you and he loves you! God Bless your mess,

I, too, lost tons of weight with my anxiety. I was nauseated all the time. The anxiety triggered Irritable Bowel problems and lactose intolerance. I obsessed about my weight and about what I could eat. I got better as I worked the program, listened to the relaxation tape, and listened to a hypnosis CD called "Happy Tummy". I prayed and I got better at managing my stress. I hid the scale so I'd stop obsessing about the weight and I worked at eating whatever calories I could, which sometimes meant nibbling or drinking a high calorie drink throughout the day. I celebrated baby steps. I am in a much better place now and am proud of that. My gut is still a meter for when the anxiety is up, but now I listen to it and take care of myself.
Hang in there, Lena.

Lena
I hope I didn't give you the impression you should not go to your councelor, I only meant between now and when you go to him/her, take good care of you,
Rica516; Great testimoney, this is what I mean, some of us have gone pst wear you are right now, and you can get through it too.
God Bless ya

Lena,

I lost a lot of weight when I was younger and my anxiety hit. My doctor recommended that I drink a milkshake each day and it worked, it had gobs of calories plus it made me hngry. I am now diabetic but I find that drinking Glucerna helps almost as much. I think its drinking something sweet that triggers the hunger.

Lena,
Everyone is giving great advice. I hope it helps until you can see your counselor. I struggle with the opposite, when I'm anxious, I binge. Years back, I was bulimic and thank God I haven't resorted back to that at this time, but I don't like the loss of control and guilt I feel after I binge. For me, when I'm overwhelmed and the panic starts to rise, food distracts it and gives me very temporary relief. I too have to wait quite awhile to get in to see someone for help. I have an appointment with a psych doctor October 19....it seems so far away. I am praying for you and agree that using the Relaxation tape is a great idea in the meantime. I'm going to try to do the same. God bless you Lena.

Thank you for all your caring advice and support.

I am now on day two back on the road to recovery and increasing my food intake, as well as, drinking Ensure to maintain a nutritional balance.

It was a scary five days.

I am back on Paxil CR 25mg and setting up appointments with new councelors. I want to get back on the AAD Program, but my tapes, books, and audios are back at my sister's apartment. (AND I COULDN'T BARE TO VISIT THERE FEELING LIKE I WAS - my family being so insensitive to the issues) Maybe I'll make a commitment to swing by there later this week.

Thank you!

I wish my fat ass would quit eating for one week i`d be happy lol. There are worse things.
Drink ensure and milkshakes till your stomach feels better. I will pray for you.
Take care

I have problems eating when I have panic too. I had a doctor ask if I'm Anorexic. The thing is I am very thin but I don't have a problem thinking I'm fat or anything, I just have a hard time making myself eat when my stomach feels like that.

People that have a problem with their weight may think this is good but not for someone who is too thin.

I start to panic worse when I get below a certain weight because I know the thinner I get the more my anxiety is because I'm not healthy. Plus it's well known that low blood sugar makes anxiety worse.

I have tried the Ensure sometimes if it's really bad. I can force a can down really quick then lay down for a bit until I know I'm not going to be sick

Hang in there! I hope your meds help.

Alright,
Those of you who can't eat take a multivitamin and mineral tablet such as Twinlab twice a day. It will give your body some of the needs it takes to get through the day. If possible eat 6 small meals a day. Even if its fruit or vegetables. You also need proteins. Give yourself the acknowledgement that it is ok to eat these things. You need them to survive. Know also that God gave us the foods on this earth to maintain our life. We are most of us anyway trying to be like the models that are so unrealistic. What we don't always realize that most of those models are still in their teens or very early 20's. God expects for us to use food to keep us healty. Those of you that overeat and undereat it is because you lack the love and self esteem you need to work through the problems you face in your life. Know that you are your own safe place and safe person. Know that you can depend on yourself to give you the right direction. Be proud of who you are no matter what. You are all special. God made each of us this way. Bless all or you who read this message and believe that all will work out as God's plan.

quote:

Originally posted by Deb Huddleston:
Alright,
Those of you who can't eat take a multivitamin and mineral tablet such as Twinlab twice a day. It will give your body some of the needs it takes to get through the day. If possible eat 6 small meals a day. Even if its fruit or vegetables. You also need proteins. Give yourself the acknowledgement that it is ok to eat these things. You need them to survive. Know also that God gave us the foods on this earth to maintain our life. We are most of us anyway trying to be like the models that are so unrealistic. What we don't always realize that most of those models are still in their teens or very early 20's. God expects for us to use food to keep us healty. Those of you that overeat and undereat it is because you lack the love and self esteem you need to work through the problems you face in your life. Know that you are your own safe place and safe person. Know that you can depend on yourself to give you the right direction. Be proud of who you are no matter what. You are all special. God made each of us this way. Bless all or you who read this message and believe that all will work out as God's plan.

Thanks but when I'm stressed I'm not intentionally not eating. . .there's a difference between anorexia and anorexia nervosa.

I don't think I'm fat and don't want to lose weight, but when I'm anxious my stomach ties in knots and I feel like I'm going to throw up if I eat. I do force a little when I can.

Thankfully I don't have this problem very often any more but it is frustrating to know you need to eat but be unable to.

I can't speak for the others but this is my experience.

I got the same way. I lost 40 lbs, went to MANY doctors and had MANY tests. I finally had the very last "specialist" tell me I was anorexic. HA HA HA HA HA!!!! NO WAY! Not me. I LOVE FOOD!
After that I knew it was psychological.

I saw a PhD, had my PCP prescribe meds and I was fine.

Yes, it is hard to eat when your stomach is doing flip flops and filled with this sour type feeling. And then I was afraid to eat cause I did not want to throw up. But, I slowly started to eat very bland foods, small meals throughout the day and got back on track with eating properly. As the anxiety and depression lifted, it was easier to eat.