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AbbiM
07-28-2014, 06:55 AM
Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is being put n the right place or perhaps if I'm even on the right discussion thread, but recently things feel like there getting out of control and I'm not sure what is happening to me.

A few years ago I used to have a problem eating in front of people that were not my immediate family or eating out at a resturant - my throat would close up and I just couldn't swallow. I also used to find that every time we went away on holiday, on the first night I would suffer nausea and tiredness and occasionally vomit, but after that I calmed down and enjoyed the holiday as normal. For the last five years all of this had gone, I could go away without being sick and I could eat in a restaurant perfectly normally.

Back in March we were away and I sat down in a cafe for dinner, and suddenly i felt sweaty and like I wanted to retch, I was unable to eat all my food. I then spent the rest of the afternoon retching. After that I felt better but was still unable to eat for the rest of the holiday as my throat was very tight and I was scared If I ate I would be sick. Once I return home my appetite returns to normal and I am eating normally without retching. The same scenario happened when we went away in June, I hardly ate, and kept having attacks of nausea and retching.

It was earlier this month things seemed to get worse and I felt like I was loosing control. It started on a family day out where we were off early and stopped in a cafe for breakfast I ordered my food feeling fine and hungry and whilst we were waiting for food to be served the usual feeling came across me of the throat tightening so I could not swallowing and the gagging and retching. After this I struggled to eat hardly anything for the rest of the day. The next day me and my husband went on holiday, i was ok until we got there and then i found myself retching and being physically sick again. For the rest of the week we were away I was hardly able to eat anything, my throat would close up and I would panic about that If I ate I would be sick. I find it really frustrating as I don't understand why I am acting like this and I get frustrated that I don't seem to be able to control anything and it is spoiling what should be fun times. We are due to go away again in a couple of months and I'm terrified we are going to waste so much of the holiday with me not feeling great and not being able to eat out.

As soon as I am home and eating at home, my appetite returned to normal, and i stopped retching.

Whats made me sign up to this forum is another situation thats come up today, tongiht I'm going round to my friends house like I always have done, but suddenly I feel nervous, and am retching again. I daren't eat anything in case it makes me sick.

I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone, but if it does I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you.

Joe.
07-28-2014, 04:10 PM
Welcome to the forum!
Not sure if you'd call this an eating disorder? Maybe?
Eating disorders can cause anxiety; anxiety can cause an eating disorder. So from that rule if you control any anxiety you are feeling then you will eat with less bad feelings.....this is easier said than done but It IS in you're reach.
Breathe well - slowly and diagrammatically, also be aware of it. Sleep well. And smile! IS MY ADVISE!
:)

Dahila
07-28-2014, 06:28 PM
Welcome, and yes many people suffering with anxiety can not eat. I am on meds for over a year and I am ok but for years with height 5'4 I was 108 pounds, could not eat at all.

AbbiM
07-29-2014, 06:31 AM
Thank you.
Joe - what you've said has been on my mind. Could i have some sort of eating disorder which is in turn causing some anxiety, or is it the other way round. I feel at times I'm stuck in a circle with it all and I just need to break out!

superchick22684
07-29-2014, 03:19 PM
AbbiM,
Welcome, I've been struggling with the idea of eating in front of others (besides family,close friends and my boyfriend) for several years now. My issues are made worse mostly when I'm eating alone or with others that I don't know very well like for a business related lunch. I'm a little different that you though in terms of how it affects me. I usually just get very uncomfortable and anxious but don't actually feel ill. For the last two years of college I very rarely would eat in the dining halls because of the amount of anxiety/discomfort that I would experience eating in a room full of people. How I've dealt with it is I try to put myself in that situation as sort of an exposure on an occasional basis so that perhaps after awhile it won't bother me anymore. I have seen some improvement but still have not completely gotten over it.
Sorry to spend so much time talking about myself but figured a little background might help you feel less alone. Are you on any medications, seeing a counselor or doing anything relaxation exercises, doing yoga etc. to help with the anxiety?