How do your problems manifest in relation to your nutrition/

jayb0ne

Question is in the subject line...

For me, when I'm in a wave of my depression I completely lose my appetite. I can go for days without eating a thing and actually putting food in my mouth disgusts me. I think it's a manifestation of the low self esteem which comes with these episodes - ie. the old "I'm not worth feeding" vibe.

What symptoms do you suffer in relation to food if any? What strategies do you employ to get around it?

Jay

Thomasm198

For me; when I was going through PTSD, it was a mix.

There was days that I just couldn't stop eating. No matter how much I had to eat, it didn't feel enough.

But then there was the days when I would get so nauseous that I couldn't even stand the smell of food. If I tried to force myself to eat during those days, I used to end up getting sick as soon as I would take one bite of food.

So I was over-eating 3 or 4 days in a row and then not eating for a day or two.

ravenclawseekergirl

I have a lot of issues with food. There are a lot of rules and habits that i have about this area of my life.

I can't eat foods like hummous (sp?) and rice pudding because the texture is just painful and overstimulating. I cant eat if i'm with people that i dont know, i didnt eat lunch at secondary school or sixth form because i just feel like everyone is watching me. Then i get so anxious my appetite just leaves me. Certain foods have to be eaten in certain ways or i get anxious, like eating the crusts off toast before eating the rest of it. Therefore if i'm trying to introduce something into my routine, remove or change the way i do something i have to do it very slowly so that i can get used to the idea.
When stressed or upset i comfort eat, a lot. To try and combat this (if i try to go cold turkey as it were i end up self harming instead) i try to binge on more healthy foods like raw carrots.
i'm sorry if i haven't made much sense, i'm not very well at the moment.

bett_boop

it makes perfect sense- you have explained it very well, i hope things improve for you soon. x

ilookthetype

My PTSD and anorexia are very closely linked. When my PTSD is "acting up" (aka I'm getting triggered regularly, having nightmares, am highly anxious) my anorexia is out of control. I will not eat at all unless someone else is reminding me to/forcing me to eat.

RAFValentina

For me; when I was going through PTSD, it was a mix.

There was days that I just couldn't stop eating. No matter how much I had to eat, it didn't feel enough.

But then there was the days when I would get so nauseous that I couldn't even stand the smell of food. If I tried to force myself to eat during those days, I used to end up getting sick as soon as I would take one bite of food.

So I was over-eating 3 or 4 days in a row and then not eating for a day or two.

Interestingly, when I was suffering with stress and insomnia and bereavement, my habits were the same as above... never consistent... And I'd get more worked up about it. As soon as I changed eating habits based on psychiatrists recommendations, such as carbs an hour or so before bed, things improved as was getting correct nutrition for right time of day in the right quantities as nature intended and fed my brain.