Discussion The vicious spiral

[AnonYmous00]

Hi all,

I'm not new to severe depression and additional mental health challenges. I have been spiraling for a bit and it's the worst I've gone downhill in probably 10+ years I'd say… but it's like a slow torture at this point. Suicidal ideation is present but I'm able to fight through it for the most part.
But the unable to handle daily life, take care of my basic needs etc. is wearing me down. Today is a barely able to get out of bed except to use the bathroom kind of day.

I'm struggling hard to eat let alone cook for myself and I think it's killing any energy I do have to fight this… I got some hummus for takeout last night so I at least ate that which was the closest thing to a meal in several days. I have plenty of food in my house but zero appetite and when I have tried to eat lately I am just turned off when I try a first bite or I cook something and I'm too exhausted to eat it because I didn't really feel like eating in the first place and then wasted energy cooking.

It's a vicious spiral and I'm afraid of not being able to stop it before treatment intervention. The last time I struggled this hard to eat I was laid up in bed for about a week then admitted to inpatient. I really don't want that.

Anyone have tips on eating again or building appetite?

 

[Valky]

For building appetite you could try always setting up specific times where you really try to eat. Like let's say 9am, 1pm and 6pm. Those times you really sit down and try the best you can to have a meal. No need to feel pressured tho, even if it's just a little bite in the beginning, you are doing great. If you keep on doing this your body will eventually start feeling hungry at those times since it knows that it is time for food now. So it's all about structure :)

Maybe try watching those stupid mukbang videos. Maybe watching someone else eat helps you to eat 'with them'?

These are all theories/own experiences so don't worry if something doesn't work for you, we will find something else :)

 

[LittleJem]

weed helps appetite - that is my best tip
More randomly, when I had worsening depression and lower and lower appetite for a year or two and did some Kambo in a group. It's frog poison. Straight after it I could eat. It did help…

 

[AnonYmous00]

weed helps appetite - that is my best tip
More randomly, when I had worsening depression and lower and lower appetite for a year or two and did some Kambo in a group. It's frog poison. Straight after it I could eat. It did help…

Unfortunately weed triggers severe anxiety and psychosis for me I'm glad it works for others like you though!

For building appetite you could try always setting up specific times where you really try to eat. Like let's say 9am, 1pm and 6pm. Those times you really sit down and try the best you can to have a meal. No need to feel pressured tho, even if it's just a little bite in the beginning, you are doing great. If you keep on doing this your body will eventually start feeling hungry at those times since it knows that it is time for food now. So it's all about structure :)

Maybe try watching those stupid mukbang videos. Maybe watching someone else eat helps you to eat 'with them'?

These are all theories/own experiences so don't worry if something doesn't work for you, we will find something else :)

The time this is a good idea. I've been trying to start work by 10AM each day so maybe making 930 a goal time to start. I'm definitely lacking in structure right now with the instability of my mood. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[FadingPossum]

This rings really true for me as well.

I've found that eating whatever doesn't sound gross has been helping me. It means eating a lot of canned soup but hey it's better than nothing.

 

[AnonYmous00]

This rings really true for me as well.

I've found that eating whatever doesn't sound gross has been helping me. It means eating a lot of canned soup but hey it's better than nothing.

I ate hummus and pita for four days straight last week. Then I read it wasn't good to do that so didn't know what to do. Tried to add some gyro meat to the mix but was too overwhelmed. I typically go on fixes with certain foods but right now I just have no appetite. Hummus was easy and not overwhelming to eat. I haven't found what else meets that… I started trying pop tarts but they upset my digestion so that's a no go. I keep wanting to make hello but it just feels like too much and I'm afraid I won't eat it and waste it. My mind is just a terrible and overwhelming place right now but I know I gotta find ways to eat to get through this!

Easter leftovers were definitely helpful for a day after but then became overwhelming again. Just gotta keep trying… my goal is one "meal" a day and a liter of water sometimes that meal is just pita and hummus… sometimes a couple slices of ham, sometimes potato of some form. Ooo I forgot I used to make canned potatoes in the microwave when I was young and not well, I think I could give that a go tomorrow!

Thank you folks for the ideas, compassion and support I greatly appreciate it as so many I come up with to try just fails me right now!