Rubbish diet when very stressed - no appetite yet hungry? Anyone else?

[Absentmindedwoman]

My appetite shrinks dramatically when coping with major stress, and then even when I get hungry it's like a lot of foods repulse me. Weird as fuck because normally I enjoy all food types, and am definitely not a fussy eater.

Capacity to meal plan also completely disappears, even thinking of the meals is overwhelming and again a bit nauseating.

It's very frustrating. Like now, I can't explain it properly but I have no appetite, zero will to eat anything here but at the same time actually have physical hunger - as in, feel very empty from not eating, and instinctively feel I need energy from food.

How can I be both hungry and have no appetite? It doesn't make sense

Can anyone relate to this? What is it?

Off to eat a slice of toast.

Yes and no.
Some stress I comfort eat. So rubbish stuff. Don't fancy meals, but will constantly graze on crisps etc.
if I really get very stressed then I lose my appetite entirely, and eat almost nothing.

Yes, I have this. Starving hungry but can't eat. I've actually thrown up before after making myself eat.

I try and drink milk, as it has fat and protein and try for salads.

You have my sympathy!

Yes. And I understand the lack of ability to meal plan or even make decisions so difficult.

I don’t have a solution I’m afraid

Yep and no solution either. I cook for the family and by that point have spent so long thinking about it I can't be arsed to eat it.

I eat Greek yoghurt and ice lollies when I feel like that.

I get this. Sometimes a ready meal hits the spot. Would that work for you?

Yes! I get this. Apparently it’s a physiological reaction to stress when your body kind of shuts bits down.

i really hate wet food when I feel like this. I just try to eat whatever I fancy and have the same thing on repeat.

Are you me? I had a very stressful situation at work arise last week and since then have largely existed on boiled eggs, weetabix and tea. I nearly threw up a piece of toast yesterday. No solution but sending support and solidarity.

Completely understand, my stomach is rumbling, I feel hungry, but I'm so anxious I can't physically eat. No advice, but it's horrible.

I understand too. Suffering very badly with stress at the moment and that sick with worry feeling. I can’t see it getting better any time soon.

I don’t want to eat, have no appetite or desire to eat but get the physical hunger symptoms where my stomach demands food.

I thought this was just me & while I’m not pleased that other people are going through this I am reassured it’s not just me. My stomach is currently ravenous but the last thing I want to do is eat.

Would it help people to share? I’m so consumed with worry that I can’t talk to anyone in real life. This is a first for me as normally I love sharing my worries but not now.

That’s a horrible feeling @Belovedgi 💐

i guess the only positive would be if I could lose a few pounds but never do as end up eating chocolate as a quick, shut up the hunger pangs, type solution!

I get this when I'm anxious. The only things that help me are homemade smoothies (shop bought make me throw up) and plain biscuits or crisps.

The worst thing is having to plan and cook a week's family meals when feeling like this.

I understand this. I lose my appetite & survive on tea & chocolate. I find the hunger pangs kind of help with the anxiety which isn't great.
I cook for my DC - proper meals - but can't face eating. Hate that as it's not good for them.

Same here.

Completely agree I can be really hungry but do not want to eat. Makes no sence at all

It’s like the food is dust when it happens to me.

I have this and like PP can be physically sick if I force myself to eat.

Aside from trying to keep stress to a minimum two things help;

Eating small - even one bite - and trying again later with another bite.

Eating with others, and weirdly, I discovered that even watching a video of cooking/eating helps when I’m on my own (Tasting History & Sorted Food for me)

I can’t say if this works for everyone but an older friend who lives alone has agreed on the eating with others.

We now try to have lunch together once a week to support each other in this.

I did ask my GP about supplement shakes when I was losing a lot of weight but he, ultimately rightly imo, told me this might be counter-productive aka make me reliant on them rather than finding a way back to ‘normal’ eating.

I do wish everyone suffering this well because it is beyond frustrating to be so physically hungry yet unable to eat - like one of those Greek myths about being starving but surrounded by food that you can’t eat!

I also get this. I don’t feel any hunger although feel fatigued by lack of food intake.
Severe stress will make me unable to eat for days and days. Things that have helped are: lucozade - I can usually tolerate this and it often lifts me out of a particularly bad patch. Eating whatever I feel I could manage- often a ready meal as someone else said. May not eat much but sometimes it means I don’t need to “think” and thus is less overwhelming. Even a few bites really makes a difference to my energy.

Something that has helped me is to eat early in the day, when I don't have an appetite but it hasn't gone too long. Something small but nutritious like brown bread & banana, soup etc.

If I go a certain number of hours without eating, my stomach can't seem to handle it at all.

I completely get this
I’m going through one of the most stressful periods of my life at the moment and it’s obliterated my appetite. I feel empty and weak, but can’t bear the thought of food

I’m just nibbling stuff…anything