I don't eat enough..

Izlude · Dec 1, 2002, 11:23 PM

Yeah.. Just as the thread title says.

Lately (within the past four months or so) I've noticed that I've gradually started to eat less. I probably eat one meal every two days, which I know isn't enough to eat in two days. The meal that I eat isn't very big either... I don't know why, I just don't feel like eating anymore. I always feel hungry, but I just can't get myself to get something to eat, no matter how hungry I am.

I know I'm just hurting myself by doing this. Problem is, I never want to eat anything. I'm not really sure why I don't want to. Maybe I just don't want to... I'm probably making myself sick too. Rarely eating does that kind of stuff, I guess...

Anyone know what I should do, or what could be wrong with me?

Eowyn · Dec 2, 2002, 12:52 AM

Hmm...when you do eat, is it a well-balanced diet? I don't know for sure (I'm no doctar), but you might be missing some vitamin. I'd suggest telling your parents or making an appointment with a doctar, the sooner the better.

Izlude · Dec 2, 2002, 01:21 AM

It's not really balanced... Just whatever I find in the house, which is usually nothing good..

I'd rather not have my mom or any doctors involved in this either...

ArrowCat · Dec 2, 2002, 02:37 AM

If you are always hungry, then what is it that makes you not want to eat? Is it because you are worried about your weight, or just about eating a lot?

I'll make a confession: I hate to be sick. Just hate it. So when I feel sick I have a tendency to fast for days, even if I do feel hungry. I'll tell you this: it hurts more than it helps, often makes me feel sicker. So fasting just isn't the way to go.

I know what you mean about not wanting to involve parents, but if you get really sick from not eating, they WILL get involved. So if you want to keep them out of it, you have to force yourself to eat, to solve the problem by yourself.

The fact that you realise that this is a problem is a good thing, and means that you probably will be able to fix the problem without your parents breathing over your shoulder. Just remember every time you want to avoid food, that if it gets serious, undesirable events may result.

I think I know what you are feeling, and if you want to PM me I'll be happy to use my knowledge of the situation to try to help you.

Good luck!!

Zidane363 · Dec 2, 2002, 07:53 PM

A word the the wise don't kill yourself by "NOT EATING" a lot. that's a very bad thing to do and could be what your eating that's causing this kind of problem. As Eowyn said....please see a Doctor and ask for help cause it's the one thing you must do.

Also try eating cereal,sandwhichs,apples,oranges,lettece and other healthy meals

it's very healthy and it'll help fix your eating problems.

Hope you feel a lot better.

and Good Luck

***Beatrix the Goddess*** · Dec 2, 2002, 09:09 PM

Poor Izlude...it's so unfair you have to go through this

Well to me, that says clinical depression. Seeing ordinary everyday things through a haze of disinterest and lack of energy. It can happen with schoolwork, friendships, hygiene, or in your case- eating. And you know, clinical depression can be spawned by severe grief..and if you've got to the point that you say you're at, then I think it's definitely more than simply not being hungry.

Even though you say you don't want doctors involved in this, but I'm still going to strongly reccommend it. This is a medical thing Izlude, we're no doctors. We can logically suggest and apply any meagre knowledge we have, but none of us can offer what your GP (doctor) can. You may have to be put on a course of drugs, and he/she will be able to help you understand this better, so you're more able to combat it. I can't emphasize enough how much beter it will be for you if you seek medical help. Your parents don't have to know, you can make and attend an appointment without their knowledge. Patient confidentiality is something that's taken very seriously. you needn't worry about that. I know a lot of people have an (sometimes unexplainable) reservedness about doctors, but I promise you it'll work to your benefit if you do go and see one.

If you really really won't...then as Beatrix said- make sure that what you do eat is as balanced as possible. Carbohydrates (potatoes, bread, pasta, cereal), proteins (meat, fish, eggs, nuts, soya based products), fats/sugars (butter, oils, cream, puddings, crisps, deep-fried food), fruit/veg (Apples, Kiwi fruits, bananas, carrots, celery) and dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese).

All that seems a bit bewildering, but I've listed common examples, so if you just try & have something from each section each day then it should help keep you going.

Then there's the root of the problem...the fact you don't actually want to eat. I can identify with this, since my disease does that to me too. Eating little and often is generally easier than trying to have three fair-sized main meals a day. It's not the best way to upkeep your body, but at least it might help get some more food inside you- a raw carrot stick here, a cheese sandwich there, or maybe keeping a bowl of grapes in your room. I know food can just choke you when you're not interested in it, so treat yourself to some favourites that you don't have often, as a way of tempting your appetite. But I'm afraid it comes down more to forcing yourself to eat regularly, even if it isn't much. Try and stick to a routine of something to at, for example 9am, 1pm and 5pm, even if it's not huge portions, just try and have some sort of routine that you stick to, with snacks in between if your appetite calls for some. Try not to eat things like cheese, or drink any caffeine-based drinks during the evening, since it'll probably give you sleep trouble, which will deteriorate your body even more.

Don't settle for "whatever's in the fridge". If you're not eating like a normal person would then it's really important that you think about quality instead of quantity (see the five food groups). Go out and buy the basic things (maybe offer to do the shopping for your family), and anything you want to treat yourself to, whilst bearing in mind the five groups. In fact the exercise itself might spur you to eat a little more, since you'll be using up more energy.

It might also be worth paying a visit to your local pharmacy, and see if there are any combined vitamin tablets (ie ones that contain all the important vitamins in a single tablet), that you could take every day, to supplement what you're likely to be missing.

But I still really, really urge you to go to your doctor, to get this sorted properly.

Good luck

Izlude · Dec 2, 2002, 11:06 PM

No, I'm not trying to kill myself, Zidane363. Even if I was then I'd do it much more quickly. Starving yourself would take too long and be more painful. I'd rather get it done as quickly as possible, to avoid any extra suffering. But anyway...

I'm not involving any doctors, like I already said. I don't care if it can be done without my mom knowing, I'm not seeing any doctors about this. Maybe if it got a little more serious then I might consider it...

I would eat more, but... I can't get myself to sometimes and the rest of the time I just don't want to. Usually when I do try to eat something I throw it in the garbage after I take a few tiny bites of whatever I have. After that I just don't want to eat anymore...

I try to eat balanced foods like you have listed there sometimes. I don't really want to though. It's like my mind just tells me to stop and I listen, of course. Same thing with the not-so balanced foods. If there were better foods in my house it probably won't make much of a difference either. Most of the stuff in my house is crap though.

Seems like the only time I really can eat is when I'm at the point where my stomach hurts a lot and I feel kind of weak and tired. I feel like that more frequent now. Not just every couple of days, but almost everyday now.

I don't know... It's kind of hard to say what's going through my mind about this.

Dagger aka Garnet · Dec 2, 2002, 11:15 PM

I know exactly what you mean. Im a vegetarian so I dont eat meat and not long ago I stopped eating alot. My mum was worried about me and was going to take me to the doctor. Its like when you look at food and think about eating it even if your hungry it makes you feel sick to think about eating it right?. Well my mum bought me some vitamins to make me start taking them and not long after I started taking them...I started feeling better and started eating more...So maybe you should just ask your mum to get you some vitamins so like you can take one a day after you eat a lil and maybe you will start eating more

Izlude · Dec 2, 2002, 11:33 PM

Something like that... I think there's a little more to it though.

Not involving my mom either. That's just as bad as doctors, so I'd prefer is she didn't know anything.

Teef · Dec 3, 2002, 01:04 AM

Iz...haven't talked to you for a while.

But then...I find this.

How long has this been going on exactly?
Does it have to do with inconsistencies or stress in your life? I know you have quite a bit to deal with.
There was a point in time where I ate the same way. I guess it was depression.
I realized that this whole not eating until whenever thing was really bad, and I finally had a few people make me promise I would eat more.
I haven't been gorging...but I have started increasing my food intake little by little. It's really gradual, and at first, you have to utterly force yourself.
Well, I hope you know I'm always available if you want further Teef insight or something. Heh.
Please, take care.

Izlude · Dec 3, 2002, 01:08 AM

Probably for a few months. I've only just noticed with the last month or so. Seems like it gets worse as the days go by...

Due to depression? Maybe... It would make sense, I guess.

And I have a hard time forcing myself to do anything, let alone eating something.

Teef · Dec 3, 2002, 01:18 AM

A few months...well, do you think it has to do with you worrying over your friend with that problem? (the one we discuss privately in our PMs sometimes?)
Maybe you're worrying so much about her, your health is deteriorating. I sometimes do that when it's something huge like that.
Maybe you're not getting enough sleep, or thinking excessively..
You have to considder everything.

Izlude · Dec 3, 2002, 01:26 AM

Maybe.. Although the situation with my friend went from good, to bad the next day. Which is now something new for me to worry about. I'll tell you later sometime, if you want.

True that I don't sleep enough and I think too much. Would that really be cause for it though? I can understanding the thinking too much part, but not really the sleeping part.

Not really sure..

Kuro · Dec 3, 2002, 02:12 AM

I'd think that insomnia (lack of sleep), and a lack of apetite are all signs that you're stressed out about your friend, Iz. And possibly more than just your friend.

I'm definitely worried that this is depression. My friend went through something very similar, and she waited until there was no choice but to get doctors involved. I hope you don't wait that long before you get some outside help. And I do hope you try to get help outside of this message board.

For your sake, and for the sake of the people who care about you...

We're not doctors, and I think this really could be something that could turn into something serious enough for doctors or someone you can turn to in person to get involved. I know you said you don't want them involved, but more and more this is sounding like something you just can't figure out by yourself.

Please take care of yourself, and try to let go of some of what's holding you back from going to see a doctor for help. Don't wait until you HAVE to go there.

Take care, okay?

Teef · Dec 3, 2002, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Izlude
Maybe.. Although the situation with my friend went from good, to bad the next day. Which is now something new for me to worry about. I'll tell you later sometime, if you want.

Yes, please, PM me about it. You and I can speak of that matter more privately that way.

Quote:

Originally posted by Izlude
True that I don't sleep enough and I think too much. Would that really be cause for it though? I can understanding the thinking too much part, but not really the sleeping part. Not really sure..

Thinking, especially deep thinking, or at night, causes me not to be able to sleep. You might want to look into the fact you may have insomnia. I hope not, though.