Avoiding admission

[Balloonsandroses]

Currently being treated for severe depression (though feels very much as though I’m making it all up) and seeing the crisis team every day. Today they’ve mentioned admission again if “things get riskier or eating and drinking less”.

I’m really struggling to eat and drink. It just feels like such an effort to do it even when someone else makes me a drink and food. Has anyone else ever had this and found something that helped?

I’m so desperate to avoid admission especially just before Christmas.

Do you have an eating disorder OP or is this linked to depression for you? When I was very depressed all food tasted like sawdust and I couldn't be bothered to drink. I knew I needed to tho so I just took in what I could, gradually I regained balance and could tolerate more. I found I let go of a lot of food rules I had had and just ate anything I fancied

This is all linked to depression. Normally I eat plenty but I’ve lost 6kg in the last month because I just can’t be bothered to eat - which is ridiculous isn’t it. Lovely DH has just been out and bought a supply of my favourite chocolate bar so I’ve had one of those.

No, it's not ridiculous at all, I get it. I used to feel flat whenever food was around and just couldn't be bothered either. I felt like that about a lot of things though. Just try and eat as much of anything as you can, I used to remind myself that food was just fuel at that point, but it in my mouth, chew and swallow and repeat. We do need food, you do know that, so just do what you can. Have you lost a lot of weight? I also had a massive weight loss really fast, I don't think there was enough time for that to be directly related to eating less as it happened so quickly, it was like my entire body was depressed, which writing it down sounds very obvious. Just take care of yourself though, be really, really caring, and maybe try and eat foods that you liked as a child. Take care and this too shall pass.

You don't want to go in there.

Can you concentrate on the drinking rather than the eating? Give yourself a target per hour and try to force yourself to do it. Re food, I totally get it - when I was depressed I had zero appetite.
Could your DH perhaps get you a build up drink like complan or something? I used to love the vanilla one made with hot water.
Hope you manage to avoid admission.

Are you trying to eat normal sized meals?

If so, you'd be better taking a "little and often" snacky/grazing approach spread out across the day.

It will be less daunting and more achievable I'd you're only faced with a few bites not a whole plate, which will then make you feel more able to continue.

I couldn’t eat when I had depression,I bought Complan and bananas,no more than 2 bananas a day.That saw me through several weeks that were awful.

Still really struggling today. Crisis team came back and said they’d do some bloods and that they understood it’s really important for me to be at home for Christmas with the kids but then after that we’ll have to look at options again…. I’m so scared this is going to end up with admission

Op - I’m so sorry you’re going through this, it must be so incredibly tough for you.

I’m glad you’re getting frequent visits from the crisis team. It sounds like they are on the ball and want to get you the best care possible, however if eventually they/you decide an admission is what’s best for you please don’t be scared. The teams on the ward are fantastic, and sometimes although it might not feel like it at the time, it truly can be life changing.

Sending you an un-mumsnetty hug