To be a bit scared

[Barbiepringle]

I always struggle with eating when I’m anxious and I am very anxious at the moment.
Since Monday I’ve had one plain biscuit and half a slice of toast.
I called the doctor yesterday and they prescribed sertraline but it takes a little while to kick in. i asked them to see me but they said the next appointment was 9th August.
I am now being sick and my stomach is upset. My BMI at the start of the week was around 19 and I think I’ve lost 5lbs since then.

My heart feels too fast.
I am a bit scared.

I am really sorry things are so hard for you. Can you drink some water? It might help you calm a little. And then if you can, run your wrists under some cold water for a few minutes to steady yourself.
Do you have anyone around you can talk to about your anxiety? Have you had some treatment for your eating worries?

Thank you.
I am managing to drink.
The inability to eat is from the anxiety. I’m so anxious I can’t eat. It’s not a deliberate withholding of food. I try and eat but am unable to swallow it because I feel so anxious.

Can you try drinking some calories to get your blood sugar / bp up? A smoothie, milkshake, clear broth? Dry food is terrible to get down if you're feeling anxious.

What about making food into a purée?

Do you have any calming strategies? Such as grounding, or breathing that might help you calm enough to drink some juice or eat something soft? I can suggest some if you don't.

I can't afford to lose weight as I'm quite slender and once I completely lost my appetite and just couldn't eat.

I forced myself to eat a one egg omelette with a little grated cheese and ate one a day for weeks until my appetite gradually came back.

Omelettes are easy to swallow.

I’m a t1 diabetic so sugary drinks etc won’t work for me.
But I will try some food that isn’t dry. Maybe that will help.
It is a vicious circle. My heart rate is too fast.

Look at breathing to reset the vagus nerve, and try to drink some thin soup or yoghurt. You can fortify it with whatever is suitable for your diet - milk powder, whey powder, olive oil.
(Breathe in through your nose, hold it, and breath out through your mouth. Count, and try to gradually increase from a count of 3 to 4, then 5.)

Try Bach Rescue Remedy drops under the tongue for the anxiety.

''When you are stressed, your breathing typically gets small and short, but taking deep breaths signals the body that it is safe to unwind and relax.''

https://www.wimhofmethod.com/vagus-nerve-breathing

the vagal nerve breathing really helps - in through your nose for count of 4, out through your mouth for count of 8. If you are very anxious it's hard at first - try it a few times every 15 minutes or som until you feel less out of control.

I get like that with stress. The less I eat the less I want to eat, so I know I need to, which adds to the stress....
I find something I can nibble on works the best. Pumpkin seeds or nuts with some sort of fizzy drink is probably one of the best for me. I'll nibble while doing something like reading or watching something inane so I don't have to think about eating.

Can you try a protein milkshake?

I drink milkshakes with a straw. It goes down quicker with a straw and you don't realise.

Sorry you are feeling this way OP. As others have said, try drinking smoothies and if you can make yourself, you could try drinking nutrishakes from the pharmacy. Keep on with toast.

What are you feeling anxious about at the moment? Is something stressful coming up? Are there things you can do about that? Maybe sign up for psychology support from your local IAPt/well-being team or ask your doctor for CBT.

I'm surprised the GP prescribed sertraline. It sounds like they are focussing on the anxiety but not the eating. Sometimes sertraline can cause people to feel more hungry, but more commonly it causes.people to lose their appetite. I wonder if you could go back to the GP.and ask what would help increase your appetite?

YANBU to feel scared, with vomiting, tachycardia and eating almost nothing for five days, on top of being diabetic.

Second advice to try to drink soups etc at first. You need to replenish electrolytes so anything is better than nothing. Are you doing BMs?

Kindly, your anxiety won't be helped by organ damage.

It sounds like you need electrolytes OP.

Get yourself some asap and in the meantime have a bit of salt in water and sip.

This is hugely more serious if you are T1 diabetic.

You need some medical help else you’ll do damage.

Have you tried sacking sweets? Having an ice cream?

Do your diabetes care team have an out of hours number?

Second this

Would some snacks whilst doing something else work e.g. yoghurt whilst watching TV (yoghurt as its half way between a drink and something you chew). Or a protein drink in a flavour you like.

What are your readings like ? If you are a T1 , then you need some help sooner rather than later, can you ring 111 ?, do you have anyone with you ?

I have anxiety and ARFID and totally understand the connection between anxiety and lack of appetite but I think because of your diabetes it’s important to seek medical advice. Could you call 111 and ask for their advice?
Because of my ARFID (and I have daily gut issues) I find eating just tiny spoonfuls of foods, especially soft foods like mashed potatoes can sometimes kick start my appetite a little bit.

OP, to me, this sounds like a matter for A&E and the mental health crisis team.