Anxiety attacks

adnorri
adnorri Posts: 20
edited October 3 in Motivation and Support
So I have been trying to lose weight for a while now, but every time I start to try to eat better I feel as if I am going to have an anxiety attack. Is there anyone else that this is happening too????

Replies

  • Jessica2Skinny
    Jessica2Skinny Posts: 118 Member
    I get that a lot too. Mainly because I dont prepare my meals so I go downstairs thinking about food.... too lazy to make myself something healthy... and end up jumping in the car and making a taco bell run. You have to stock your house with healthy options and try not to think about the diet. Get your mind off of it... go hang with your friends... BUT NOT TO GO OUT TO EAT. Make plans for fun things like mini-golf, bowling, movies, etc.... GOOD LUCK!
  • catgirl711
    catgirl711 Posts: 59
    I have problems with anxiety attacks but I have never really encountered a problem like that. I've sent myself into a panic when I've realized I've gone over sometimes but never about eating healthy.

    What worries you about eating healthy?
    Does anything in particular, other than "trying to eat better" bring on these feelings?
  • ♚SuperHeather♚
    ♚SuperHeather♚ Posts: 118
    I plan my meals the day before hand, Also My being on Xanax may help that lol!
  • miadvh
    miadvh Posts: 290 Member
    I get that problem when I'm having trouble figuring out what I'm even supposed to eat. :/ of course..I have attacks doing just about anything.
  • Silvercivic
    Silvercivic Posts: 156 Member
    I'm not sure if I have had a full-on anxiety attack, but I have felt overwhelmed. And nervous...and stressed... So when I decided to try to do this again a month and a half ago, I decided to ease myself into it by allowing myself more calories. My goal is to lose .5 pounds a week and I eat back all of my exercise calories. Feeling like I have more calories to eat has significantly helped my anxiety levels about losing weight. I feel like I can stick with this plan whereas before when I only ate 1200 calories a day I was stressed that I wouldn't be able to keep it up. And I haven't completely changed everything I eat. I still like to snack and stuff- I'm just being more mindful about portion sizes and logging.

    Not sure if this helps- I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are feeling anxious I'd recommend making small changes that you can stick with and go from there. Breathe! You can do this! :)
  • sandhillcrane
    sandhillcrane Posts: 301
    You need to have confidence in yourself! Are you afraid of failing? It can be scary to think about the reality of changing your appearance but just take it slowly! You can do it! :bigsmile:
  • JDNOX
    JDNOX Posts: 619
    I have them too but I have never tied them to going over or under my calories. It happens more when I am trying to eat better. No sure why that is but I hate it.
  • BreakinTheChains
    BreakinTheChains Posts: 381 Member
    I too also suffer from anxiety attacks. Since cutting caffeine out of my diet things have been better. I doing find that eating healthier triggers one. I will experience it if I'm nervous about going over in calories or stressed about not knowing what to make.NO CAFFEINE has really helped.
  • CJK1959
    CJK1959 Posts: 279 Member
    Maybe they come on because you're focused on "eating better" and "dieting" and being deprived for the rest of your life. Look at the food log as a kind of "debit card". Everyday you have so many calories to spend, and how you spend them is entirely up to you....you can have whatever you want as long as you stay within those caloric guidelines. Of course it's always better to spend them on healthier choices, but just knowing that I have the power to choose really helps me. Take it slow and learn what works for you...the anxiety should lessen as you develop your own habits and routines.
    Best of luck to you!
  • adnorri
    adnorri Posts: 20
    I have problems with anxiety attacks but I have never really encountered a problem like that. I've sent myself into a panic when I've realized I've gone over sometimes but never about eating healthy.

    What worries you about eating healthy?
    Does anything in particular, other than "trying to eat better" bring on these feelings?

    Well I tend to feel like this when I get overwhelmed, but since I changed jobs most of that has gone away and now its mostly just when I try to start eating better. The thought of having to give up junk food is horrible! I feel like someone is taking away my best friend. Tonight we went to eat and I already knew the healthy option I was going to eat and on the way there I started shaking until we got to the resteraunt and I ordered my usual unhealthy food. Then I was ok, but disappointed in myself though.
  • adnorri
    adnorri Posts: 20
    You need to have confidence in yourself! Are you afraid of failing? It can be scary to think about the reality of changing your appearance but just take it slowly! You can do it! :bigsmile:

    YES! I have been down this road several times and with good results some of them, but I always seem to gain it all back :( I am really tired of the yoyoing and would love to make healthy eating a permenant part of my life but I feel as if I am losing control when I cant have whatever I want and how much ever I want.
  • dreamjo
    dreamjo Posts: 104 Member
    I completely understand. You are making a big change in your life and this can be very stressful. I had the same thing in the beginning. I recently went off meds for panic/anxiety attacks because they are getting better. I started getting them after my sister passed away and have had them for about 2 years. The week I went off these meds is the week I started my diet. When I would think of what I could eat or how I was going to do this I would get very anxious and feel overwhelmed. They weren't necessarily full blown attacks by any means, but it was enough to make me question if I could do this. I can tell you this.. it does get better. Once you get used to making the right choices it will come more natural. Just try not to obsess over food or what you are going to eat. Planning and organizing is okay, but do not let it consume you where it makes you stressed out. It will take a few weeks or so to get used to but stick to it and you can do this!!! Hope this helps.
  • adnorri
    adnorri Posts: 20
    Thanks so much everyone!!!
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