Anxiety diminishes when eating... - Anxiety Message Board

Matty · 05-24-2004, 12:18 PM

I'm just wondering if anybody suffering from anxiety notices the same thing...

From a doctor's prespective and my own, I'm confident I have GAD after a bout with drug abuse. I just don't understand why everytime I'm eating, or am in the process of eating (and perhaps for 5 minutes after my meal is done), my anxiety completely lifts. It's like eating fixes my anxiety temporarily... is this common or could there be something else wrong with me, perhaps mal-nourishment somewhere? I mean I feel better when I drink water too (doesn't everybody?) but eating is where it's at for me. I could lose all my anxiety by the end of the month if I constantly had a piece of food in my mouth... but then I'd be a million pounds.

Any insight peoples? Thanks muchly in advance!

quincy · 05-25-2004, 12:54 AM

Ah, yep....that's called emotional eating, and it works, and it's a habit that I have (I'm not overweight, but have definitely put on the pounds)...

The same principle applies for people who smoke, drink, do drugs, exercise, cut, need/have sex....etc.

There's definite gratification.

The other reason could be low blood sugar or dehydration (have you been checked out medically for thyroid, blood..etc?). One reason is that the mind is doing something and using the adrenaline "energy" on something that is fortifying and pleasing to the body ...then in turn, the brain.
Chemicals are released into the bloodstream and satisfying to the brain after eating -- endorphins.

Anyway, that's my take on your question.

quincy

microwave · 05-25-2004, 09:46 AM

That happens with me, too. I always thought it was because I had my mind on something else besides the anxiety.

abbygirl2 · 05-25-2004, 02:03 PM

Oddly I had the opposite reaction. every night while cooking supper or shortly after I began eating I would start to feel sick, weak, lightheaded etc. Often I ended up in bed half way through a meal. I am feeling better now though. Maybe I had some sort of stress reaction to eating...who knows. If I were you I'd be eating 24-7.

Abby

Graciecat · 05-25-2004, 02:48 PM

When I was having panic attacks I was just like you abbygirl2.
My panic would get worse when I was cooking or eating...glad to see I wasn't the only one.