Trouble Eating When Depressed

**Posts:** 101 · by **SaintAnger** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:21 pm

I've always had issues with eating whenever I get sad/depressed. It's like I could be starving before, but if something happens to make me depressed, it's like my appetite just disappears in an instant. I can try to make myself eat, but it's pretty much forced and I don't enjoy it at all.

Normally, I don't struggle with depression. I have my ups and I have my downs. Anxiety sometimes make me depressed for no reason, but for the most part, it's not much of a problem for me. I've been depressed a lot recently, though, because I was just recently broken up with by my boyfriend of almost 1 year. Yes, we still talk. Yes, we still plan on being best friends. Talking to him has actually been helping me with the pain for some reason.

It's been almost 5 days since he said he couldn't continue the relationship. I wish I could say that the depression is gone now and that I'm no longer crying, but unfortunately it's not. I cry every day (though now I mostly seem to cry at night after I finish talking to him). Last night when I cried, I had been planning on eating this microwaveable pizza for a dinner. Right when it finished cooking, he decided to shower and go to bed. I instantly became depressed (because I wanted to keep talking) and lost my appetite. I tried eating the pizza anyway, but I couldn't, and ended up throwing most of it away (waste of over $3!)

Most people I know either eat a lot when they're depressed, or they sleep a lot. I do neither. I sleep normally and go to bed when I'm tired. I'm not an insomniac by any means. Depression has no effect on my sleep schedule. It does affect my eating, though, by diminishing my appetite. I'm at the point now where I don't want to eat a big meal for fear that I'll waste a large portion of it. So far today the only thing I've "eaten" is a coffee milk drink (which fills me up pretty well).

Does anyone else have the same trouble eating when depressed? If so, what are some ways you can get around that and still maintain regular meals and be healthy?

**Posts:** 9885 · by **Candid** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 5:40 pm

It's perfectly okay to go off your food when you're upset. It happens to me too, and I do better to go along with it. If I force myself to eat I feel much worse. You are grieving and that means your body can't take in nutrients the same way it would normally.

The danger is if you continue normal or increased consumption of toxics such as coffee, alcohol and cigarettes. Best to have a supply of fresh fruit and just eat that when you feel like it.

You say your sleep patterns aren't affected. That is a blessing indeed, and I'm sure you won't starve.

**Posts:** 101 · by **SaintAnger** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:53 pm

Well, I don't smoke (I think cigs are disgusting), and I rarely drink alcohol. When I do drink, it's just enough to get a good buzz, kinda like what an antihistamine does to me. As for coffee, I do drink that, but usually just once a day at most. I rarely ever drink it more than twice in a day. One time I drank it 3 times in a day, but that was it.

I think I've also been having a hard time eating because I'm pretty sure my stomach shrank a little after I threw up a few days ago. Ever since then I can't seem to eat a whole lot without feeling stuffed fast. I'm getting hungry right now, so I might as well eat something small while I'm not feeling down.

**Posts:** 8 · by **thepowerinyounow** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:59 pm

Have you tried teleconference calls while dealing with depression?

OA has teleconference calls 24-7

Google me @ thepowerinyounow OA and new thought patterns said me for the chains of Bulimia.

Never Never Ever, Ever give up hope

**Posts:** 22 · by **neukoln** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:43 am

My understanding is that serotonin affects appetite. And when you are depressed you produce/absorb (not sure which) less serotonin. Hence you may feel hungry but you have no appetite. Alternatively other people may not feel hungry but have an insatiable appetite when they are depressed... and eat bucket loads of simple carbs (sugars and chocolate) to stimulate serotonin.

I am sorry, but the detail of the above may not be accurate - but the general message is that serotonin impacts appetite, and serotonin production is greatly reduced when you are depressed. Hence when you are depressed your appetite may be greatly increased, or greatly decreased. I suspect that your unique physiological status will determine which of these camps you fall into.

N x

**Posts:** 4 · by **Stephen Flemming** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:55 am

It happens that we don't want to eat when we are upset. Food is god for health and need of our body so we don't skip any meal. We should reduce our stress because it effects our daily life and eating habit.

**Posts:** 6 · by **overnetle** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:40 am

Im wondering how many of us here have had issues with eating. It seems like it might be a common problem among OCDers. When I was in high school I went through a phase of limiting my calories, I lost 40lbs, which was a good thing, but I was walking the line a bit with having an eating disorder. The good thing was that Im a very cautious person, so when I started to feel weak, I thought this is just crazy LOL.. I went back to a more normal diet and started to exercise a more.

For me it was sort of a control issue, things were crazy around our house, my brother kept getting into trouble and there were tons of arguements between my parents and him. Every morning I woke up to my mom yelling at my brother to get out of bed. He hated going to school, so the morning horrible in our house My high school years were terrible, because of his problems, plus I never felt like I could fit in. I went to a very large high school, and felt lost and alone. I had a hard time making friends, I didnt know how to be a high school student, I just didnt get the all the goofy teens stuff. My aunt said she viewed me as a 40 year old person when I was younger Also, my roomate in college told me that I acted a lot older LOL.. Well, now Im that 40 year old person Hum...Maybe, I should act like Im 18 again Anyway, I was very responsible teenager, I had a checking account when I was 16. I worked and made car payments, on time every month. Plus, I took care of washing my clothes and other things around the house. I could have helped my mom more, but I think I did more than most teenagers. LOL.. Gee After writing that I think I should get an award for being a good daughter. Well, I think I failed my mon in the end, so I dont deserve the award.... I should have reached out to her and hugged her when she needed it. She was so depressed and I think it she needed that from me. But, my fear of being close to anyone stopped me.

Over the years I have had the hug fear and saying I love you fear. I used to get anxious in situations when I knew a hug from someone was coming At times Ive ducked out quick before they can get me or I turn away to send the message that I dont want to be hugged. I have gotten better over the years, but I still feel like I have to feel things in my heart before I can hug anyone. It has to feel right LOL.. Hum.. That screams OCD

Mia

**Posts:** 2 · by **serexiaK** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:43 am

Stephen Flemming wrote:It happens that we don't want to eat when we are upset. Food is god for health and need of our body so we don't skip any meal. We should reduce our stress because it effects our daily life and eating habit.

I agree...

**Posts:** 14140 · by **jurplesman** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:29 am

Loss of appetite is a common symptom of depression. Please read:

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder for a differnet view

**Posts:** 196 · by **super.47** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:19 pm

jurplesman wrote:Loss of appetite is a common symptom of depression. Please read:

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder for a differnet view

The OP clearly said she's feeling depressed because 5 days ago her boyfriend broke up with her. How can you just continue to copy and paste the same things over and over without even READING the problem???? Would someone without a "nutritional disorder" be jumping for joy 5 days after a relationship ending?

**Posts:** 30 · by **mapanoy** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:48 am

When I feel sad, it's hard for me to eat anything. I am also totally don't like to eat when I have trouble

**Posts:** 14140 · by **jurplesman** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:31 am

super.47 wrote:The OP clearly said she's feeling depressed because 5 days ago her boyfriend broke up with her. How can you just continue to copy and paste the same things over and over without even READING the problem???? Would someone without a "nutritional disorder" be jumping for joy 5 days after a relationship ending?

Learn to appreciate a variety of opinions.

**Posts:** 37 · by **Self Exploration** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:58 am

How much of a problem is it in that is it effecting you?

Is it causing a major loss of weight for instance?

**Posts:** 17 · by **OccupiedLife** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:42 pm

I have the opposite problem. When I am depressed I want to eat and then I get more depressed because of what I ate.

Trouble Eating When Depressed

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