Scared of eating because i am not enjoying food anymore. HELP

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the difficulties you're experiencing. Things like fear of vomiting / eating as a result of acid reflux are more common than people might think, so I'd definitely recommend speaking to your GP to chat this through with them. It would be also worth exploring with your GP why you are experiencing acid reflux in the first place as there are plenty of things they can recommend.

If as a result of this you are eating less, then you will lose weight as you have a calorie deficit, so it's worth exploring with your GP how you can manage this better i.e. if this has made you underweight, how to go about gaining it back. They might recommend a dietitian to help with this.

Whilst I'm not a qualified health professional, it does sound like this is more of a psychological issue than a physiological one. A type of therapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) would help a lot with what you're experiencing as this helps provide you with the tools to change unhelpful behaviours - it sounds like you have become fearful about the impact of acid reflux and that by not eating much you don't have to deal with the issue of acid reflux. Many places now allow for self-referral to their wellbeing services, so have a search for your local NHS mental health trust and visit their website to see if self-referral is an option. If not, your GP will be able to make a referral for you.

It's important to seek support for this as soon as possible as it is a lot easier to correct unhelpful behaviours in their early stages before they become ingrained. That said, it is still possible to alter things like this even if they have been going on a while, you'll just have to work harder!

It sounds like there are a few things to explore with your GP, so I would recommend asking for a double appointment to ensure you are able to cover everything you need. Before you attend your appointment, make a list of the issues you want to cover, and what you want to gain from your appointment.

I hope this is helpful - unfortunately this website isn't managed by health professionals so any advice from here is based on personal opinions and isn't a substitute for getting professional help.

Hi Jade,

You have just described me. I used to love food but now, whether due to anxiety, being sick phobia or acid reflux, I worry about food and am losing weight unintentionally. I would love to happily enjoy food like I used to and the idea that I'll always fear it terrifies me.

I wish I could help. I just make sure I eat slowly, even when I don't feel like it and plan my meals so I feel a bit reassured that I know I'm eating and doing good for myself. I don't think these worries will be fixed overnight so try to be kind to yourself and patient.

Hello,<br />

     I have experienced this phase once and it was really hard. I don't know the reason of yours but i was going through hell when i got this feelings,then someone suggested me to follow <a href="https://getlinkedup.blogspot.com/2019/06/10-healthy-juices.html?m=1">healthy juices </a>to stay healthy. so i tried that and felt somehow good. you should take healthy juices and stay bless.