Anxiety & weight loss

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shelly80

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Hi Gram4,

Thanks for posting, it seems your battle is like mine though I haven't been diagnosed with any Thyroid issues (it was something I thought of). To answer your question, I am taking the generic for Remeron but my Dr. says it shouldn't make a difference. I will say, I immediately felt relief from the nausea that my anxiety was causing. It didn't make me "gain" weight, but enabled me to eat normally again. I've been on it now for a little over 2 months. I think it has been helping with the anxiety, I still have some panic attacks, but not like before. At my lowest I was 131, I'm now up to 140 which is actually a pretty nice weight for me. If you do try the Remeron, let me know how it goes for you!!!

Shelly
 
Hi all,

Been a bit since I've posted. My anxiety is definitely much better than before, its been very bumpy but it hasn't gotten back to the point that I was at 2 months ago thank goodness.

Just wondering what others thoughts are about this. I lost about 10-15 pounRAB when I was going through my worst panic attacks. I didn't have an appetite and I was having stomach problems constantly. I started on my antidepressant and things have started to get better, I can eat plenty again and enjoy my food and for the most part it stays in (meaning my tummy is better 90% of the time). But I haven't been gaining weight back. This fear might just be a part of my health anxiety problems. I figure something must be wrong with me or I would be gaining weight. I recently had my physical and everything seemed fine. I'm waiting on the blood work still.

Has anyone else had trouble gaining weight back even though things seem more stable and under control and you can eat again?? Just wondering.

Shelly

Megan, if you are reading, hope things are well. I miss talking with you!! I know you and I shared a similar anxiety/weight loss story and I was wondering how you are faring in that regard.
 
Thanks for the welcome, VRL. :D

I just started drinking Ensure, but I will also look into Boost. Thanks for the tip. I just really don't have an appetite. I did have my thyroid checked and it's all functioning normally, thank goodness. I'm sorry you have that to deal with.

For me, the constant "have you lost weight?" questions drive me crazy. I almost avoid eating situations with people because I don't want to hear the comments when they see how little I eat. Blah!
 
Thanks Shelly, glad to hear you're doing better. Wanted to ask (since I go to Dr Monday)
how many mg you take of the remeron? Also I want it to get to sleep heard it works good, do you ever take it for that or during the day? Thanks alot for info
 
I hear you! I went thru it all too & now almost 2yrs later someone finRAB I have thyroid problem! Good luck.
 
Hi there,

I am on 15 mg and I take it before bed. When I first started it, I noticed it made me sleepy but that has worn off a bit (or I just don't notice anymore) At the lower dose, it is supposed to have a sedative effect so maybe that would benefit you. I know these types of drugs all work differently for everyone, but my experience so far has been positive and I'm glad its working for me. Let us know what you decide to do and how it all works out for you :-)

Shelly
 
Hi Shelly,

I know what you mean about not being able to gain the weight back very easily. When I'm going through bouts of anxiety or high stress times I lose my appetite and lose weight. When things do get better I feel like I have to eat a lot over at least a few weeks to see any kind of weight gain. Are you on the slim side? I am and I try very hard to gain or at least maintain my weight. I bought an off brand of Ensure Plus to help me keep my weight up. My problem right now is that I got a job promotion and have so much work to do that I really don't make the time to eat enough during the day. You are not alone having trouble putting the weight back on.
 
The Buspar has not put any pounRAB back on : ( but at least I am eating again. I can't miss a single dose or my stomach has a fit. Still checking the thyroid connection. Had my ultra sound last week. I'll stay on the buspar till next check-up. Just wish I would put on a few pounRAB but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
 
I eat pretty healthy for the most part, but I too turn to the junk food to help me gain weight when I'm going through bad times of anxiety. I also try to exercise regularly and feel great when I do, but I stop when I start losing weight because I'm afraid of losing too much. I'm around 5'4 and my weight is usually around 120 which is on the low end of normal for me. So anytime I go below that I get concerned. I don't like to hear people with the same problems, but I must admit it is a relief for us to know we're not alone;)
 
- the Boost high protien is lactost and wheat free.
Do you think the anxiety is making you loose weight, or is it mainly just a loss of appetite?

Can I ask what your age range is? I am 50 and I have struggled with this all my life I was a size 1 in high school and I am about that now. Who would have ever thought I'd be a size 1 at 50!!!

Till you can get this worked out make sure you at least keep your fluiRAB going.
Vin
 
Thanks for responding! Yes, I am on the "slim" side. My normal weight range is about 140-145 (I'm 5ft8). My lowest was 131 a month ago and I can't quite seem to get it back up again! I go between 134-136 these days but I am eating quite normally and have had my appetite back since I started Remeron nearly 2 months ago.

I thought about starting a supplament shake like ensure to maybe boost my calories. I don't know what else to do! I just know I never could have imagined that anxiety could do this to my body. That is why I immediately figure its something more serious going with me medically.

Shelly
 
My anxiety cost me 38 pounRAB. I went down to 108 before anti anti-anxiety meRAB were offered to me. It's been one month and I am holding at 108. I was hoping to gain some but I guess I have to be thankful I'm not loosing more. I was totally out of control a month ago.
 
Hi! When I have horrible panic attacks and anxiety, my appetite goes poof! I too gained weight on Lexapro and that's why I stopped taking it recently. Now I am finding my anxiety back and needing something again. I thinking of trying Buspar again. I tried it 11 years ago and it used to make me feel lethargic and like I had the flu when it would kick in. Eh. I was taking other things too and I am thinking the dr. had me on too high a dose. Now I am wiser and maybe it will help with my anxiety, as I don't want to take another SSRI right now.

Anyway! To your weight loss and anxiety point....I was given Vistaril. It is an antishistamine commonly given for anxiety. I found that with a Xanax, that makes me feel just fine and it also helped me eat. That's why it was given to me.

, I took myself off Lexapro and it wasn't TOO bad. I mean, I had withdrawls and that was more anxiety, a bit headachy, and real irritable at first. But that part went away, pretty much, though I do get irritated faster now when I am anxious and people are being stupid around me or in my face.

Hope this helps.
 
Update- I'm holding at 110. I'm 5'5". Was worried I would drop more weight on Abilify. Still to early to tell. I am on high dose of thyroid meRAB so I think that has something to do with increased anxiety and weight loss.
Started drinking Boost again. Hope this will help. I just want to out in a few pounRAB and feel stronger.
 
I have lost weight in the last couple of weeks (due to anxiety) and feel quite angry and frustrated when people tell me how good I look (because I have felt so terrible). But i'm not desperate to put it on again now that I'm feeling better. Your body will dictate how much weight it wants to put back on. I find that when I've been through a couple of weeks of severe, weight-losing anxiety I am very hungry for the next couple of weeks, as if my body is trying to make up for what it's lost. Don't worry unless you're still losing weight without trying. I don't think it means you've got any horrible diseases! Anxious people have higher metabolisms.
 
It's complicated! (Isn't it always? :D) I've been an anxious worrier for a long time now, and I started drinking beer at night instead of eating supper because I felt more relaxed after a few beers. I kind of trained myself not to eat supper, and I've never been a breakfast eater, so I was pretty much just having lunch. I've accustomed myself to not eating very much. It's all interrelated.

And yes, I don't mind saying I am 35 years old. I've always been a small person, the heaviest ever being a size 5. And I love being small, I just don't love feeling unhealthy because I don't feel like eating. :(
 
I have lost 30 pounRAB (from 182 to 152) since January, which is when I stopped taking Lexapro. I had been on Lexapro for a few years after the birth of my twins.

While I was on Lexapro, I never lost the baby weight, so I had weight to lose. But since April, my anxiety has been back (GAD & health anxiety) and it is in full force. I have no appetite and have to force myself to eat. Still, I am losing weight at the rate of about a pound a week. I am terrified that the weight loss is some hideous, horrible underlying health problem, but the doctors can't find anything. Of course, I worry that they have just missed it, or not looked carefully enough. I never in my life thought I would be praying not to lose weight.

I am so tired of this excessive, constant, obsessive worry. I am nearly paralyzed in terror and can barely function. It's starting to really scare me, so I went back on the Lexapro 4 days ago. No change yet.

Thanks to all of you who have posted with your stories of anxiety and weight loss. It has been a great comfort to me to read your stories and realize that what I am experiencing is not unusual.

Angela
 
Hi Shelly - yes! I had/have the same problem. I am 5'9" and normally weigh around 150-151 - I lost about 8 lbs especially when they put me on Lexapro 4 weeks ago - I lost my appetite. I have always been a very healthy eater but when I lost that weight, I started eating junk food to try to gain it back! Milkshakes, french fries, soda,chips, just tried to find high fat fooRAB, but it still seems I haven't gained it all back yet and it worries me too, especially when people tell me "you're so thin!" During that weight loss - I quit going to the gym - #1 because I had no energy to go and #2 - I didn't want to burn calories! Oh this anxiety thing - it's a vicious cycle and hard to break and like you, I worry too that something else MUST be going on or else I would be feeling better and be back at my normal weight. Hang in there - it's frustrating I know.

Diane
 
Hi!
I agree with all the previous posts.
I have been losing weight when I am going through a bad patch, but fortunately I usually put it back on in a few months! Also I do not stop exercising because this CONTROLS my anxiety and keeps me from losing muscle.
Sometimes, I too think that I may never be able to eat well again, and I start getting anxious, but this is such an unfounded fear!! As soon as I feel a little better and my stomach settles down and keeps the food down, I start gaining. So do not worry, just enjoy the happy times and the way you look, and ride over the bad patches. We are all int he same boat..
Good luck!
 
This is my first post in this site. I've been here today doing some research to help me understand what is going on with my body in regarRAB to the new diagnosis of anxiety. I've always been a worrier and a high-strung, highly motivated person, but this past week I have begun having panic attacks and muscle spasms and twitching. I really think it is caused by stress and worry.

Regarding the topic of weight loss, it just really hits home with me right now. I've always been a 'thin' or 'skinny' person. I'm 5'3" and just weighed 101 pounRAB at the doctor's office on Monday. I've steadily lost weight this year and I am down from 112 pounRAB at the beginning of the year. I literally have no appetite. For the last few weeks I have eaten maybe 1-1/2 meals a day. I also would skip dinner and instead have a few beers. I realized this week that the reason I was doing that was because the beers would relax me. In talking to my doctor, she said that I have anxiety and she prescribed Xanax and Zoloft.

I am still waiting for the Zoloft to kick in - evidently it takes a few weeks. Also I have found that taking only 1/4 of a 0.25mg Xanax will take the edge off.

I still don't have an appetite and am struggling with eating. Yesterday was Thanksgiving and the family's attention to how little I ate caused me more anxiety than you can imagine! I had to lie and tell them I was sick just so they would stop. :( It was very hard to have such a fantastic 'foody' holiday spent picking at my food.

Interestingly, our society is typically overweight and the struggle of having no appetite and not being able to gain weight is usually met unsympathetically. So, I understand where yall are coming from and hope that we all can get ourselves together soon. ;)
 
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