Anxiety attack and not wanting to eat because of stress

I had the third anxiety attack of my life this morning.  I was just on my way to work and was only about a mile from home when it started, so I turned around and came back home.  Thank God for Ativan.  

My stress level and PTSD have been sky high the past few months, and I have been having more nightmares lately (including last night), and -- for the first time in my entire life -- have had to force myself to eat.  (Talk about weird!  Even after my RNY, although I didn't have much of an appetite during the first month or so, I didn't struggle to eat when it was time.)  Very few healthy foods are appealing (sweets are, however), so I have had to just force myself to get the protein in.  Fortunately, the cherry Greek yogurt and the jalapeno cheese sticks still sound good, as does the giant shredded pork burrito from a local restaurant (I get at least 3 meals from one!), so I have been eating LOTS of those. With knee replacement surgery coming up, I cannot allow my protein levels to drop.  It is just mind twisting that I don't feel like eating.

Lora

I used to have anxiety attacks. I was on Paxil in the mornings and xanax at night. The thing that helped me was the books by Lucinda Basset on anxiety attacks. You can get them at the library. Good luck !

I'd eat a lot of those things that do sound appealing, then.  As long as you're taking your vitamins, I think it's OK if you don't get a lot of variety in your diet for a little while.

If sweets still sound appealing, you can do some sweet protein shakes, or things like cheesecake pudding mix in Greek yogurt (let me guess, you don't like that, though, do you?  because I love it, so you must not like it at all), or even protein ice cream.  And you can do an extra protein hot chocolate each day, if that helps.  Sometimes when I don't feel well, it's easier to drink than to eat.

Yeah, I have been eating lots of the things that DO sound good, and that is working ok as long as I don't start to get sick of them before this passes, and I have started having an extra protein hot chocolate (with milk instead of water) some nights before bed (trying to kill two birds with one stone).

LOL, I think the pudding mix in the yogurt is just ok... 

Lora

I'm surprised you don't hate it.

(HUGS)  I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, Hala.  Hugs, even cyber hugs, are always appreciated.

Lora

I'm so sorry you're having trouble with this!

I have ongoing issues with anxiety/panic and sometimes I'll go through a series of days where I have trouble eating, too. Usually I give myself license to eat whatever foods seem appealing (within reason) and try to commit to at least 3 bites of something before I stop. I do that once or twice an hour and eventually I get in at least the minimum acceptable amount of food for the day. It happened about a week after surgery, actually, and my compromise was that I HAD to have my protein shakes, but that I could order my favorite Thai chicken soup and sip the broth (I wasn't on solid foods at that point). That soup is a comfort food for me and I used it as my reward for getting in the protein shakes.

Do you have other tools you can use when you're feeling like this? I have some grounding exercises I do when the anxiety starts that help and sometimes reaching out to a friend or watching something silly and funny on TV helps, too. In fact, laughter from bad TV after surgery really helped with my anxiety while in the hospital.

Hang in there and PM me any time.

Thanks. I appreciate the support.  Yes, I am trying to use the various stress management techniques I know, and that is helping some.  Just feeling a bit overwhelmed lately.  I know that things (well, some things)  will be better after I get my puppy on he 21st, so hopefully eating will go back to normal then!

Lora

Wow.   Reading your posts and replies to others' posts has been so helpful to me over the past year.  I wish there was something I could say that would help YOU!  Anxiety is tough - and I think it is hard on RNY tummies too.  I hope that it passes soon.