Diet changes due to depression

[LT1927]

Around 5 years ago I was diagnosed with depression (aged 18) when I started university. My appetite was extremely affected and I struggled trying to make myself eat - I wasn't anorexic just loss of appetite but to an extreme degree. I used to eat maybe a few forkfuls of food a day, for around 2 and a half months. I was slim already and lost drastic amounts of weight.

I started getting better after around three months and eating more. However, since this episode I feel like my stomach has shrunk - I cannot eat nearly as much as I used to and get full very easily.

I suffer from anxiety and when I am particularly stressed I lose my appetite and can't eat very much for days, then binge on unhealthy comfort foods.

I just need some advice getting out of this cycle, and also advice on how to stop becoming so full after eating less than half a portion. Also, if someone else has suffered something similar it would be a comfort to know!

Thanks

Anyone? Would appreciate some advice!

Hi! It's lonely out here in the MH threads, isn't it?!

All I can say is appetite changes are par for the course with an illness such as depression. I have been where you are and lost an incredible amount of weight. I just wasn't hungry. I forgot to eat and my body got used to it.

Now, I'm the opposite. I eat even when I'm not hungry. Not for comfort because I feel terrible about it afterwards (and during eating!) but I do it anyway. It's another symptom of the way I feel just now.

I don't know if this is going to be of any use to you, but you could try taking baby steps and building yourself up to a 'normal' eating pattern.

For example, for breakfast you could have half a slice of toast and cup of tea/coffee, then make a point of having mid morning snack - even just a small banana or an apple. For lunch you could have soup or even a protein bar and try to eat something light for dinner (or even a quarter portion of whatever is being eaten by others at home?) and have half a slice of toast and tea before bed. It's not a lot of food, but if you do little but often consistently you will retrain your body to deal with food and kick start your 'food for survival' brain.

Take care of yourself x

Thank you for your response! That's exactly right, I sometimes 'forget' to eat when I am anxious or depressed.

It's good to know that this is not just me as I haven't come across anyone in my personal life which such extreme eating changes. I am definitely trying to have a more structured eating plan - my flatmate reminds me to eat etc. but if she isn't around I end up fibbing that I've eaten already.

I think writing down an eating plan may help me stick to a structure!

Thank you for your advice x