Almost everyone suffers from anxiety every once in a while. Some of us suffer from it much more often as compared to others and then there are those who suffer from chronic anxiety as well. In short, those sudden anxiety attacks and the after effects can lead to a number of symptoms including an effect on your food habits.
Since, all our systems work differently and one person varies from other in terms of a number of factors thus the effects of anxiety also vary from person to person. Some people experience a sudden decrease in appetite while others experience an increase in appetite. The effects also depend on the extent of anxiety and its underlying cause.
Today in this article, we are going to be discussing the effect of anxiety on your food habits. In case, you went through your first anxiety attack or you can’t seem to figure out why there has been a sudden shift in your food habits, continue reading to find out more on the topic.
Anxiety and Loss in Appetite
Anxiety is often linked to loss in appetite. In case of extreme anxiety, you might begin to feel stressed and anxious which leads to the production of stress hormones in the body that activate the sympathetic nervous system and leave your body in that fight or flight condition.
These sudden surcharges of stress hormones in the body along with the change in your body condition, the physical activities carried out in your body are immensely affected. Studies and multiple surveys conducted suggest that individuals with long-term heightened levels of CRF hormones in their system often experience loss of appetite which can last for days in certain instances.
CRF, short for corticotropin-releasing factor, is a type of stress hormone that directly affects your digestive system and your metabolic rate which leads to suppression of appetite. Similarly, cortisol is another stress hormone that promotes the secretion of gastric acid which increases the rate of digestion to get your body into that fight and flight mode. A few other metabolic disorders occurring from the fight or flight condition are;
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Increase in breathing rate
- Increase in heart rate
- Fluctuations in blood pressure
- Shakiness
All these symptoms can lead to loss of appetite. Remember that loss of appetite is only a symptom. You don’t have to treat the symptom but the heightened anxiety levels causing the loss of appetite. Plus, it is not necessary that all individuals going through anxiety would experience loss of appetite so if you don’t then it doesn’t mean that you aren’t experiencing anxiety.
Anxiety and Increase in Appetite
Not everyone responds to stress and anxiety in the same way. Yes, anxiety affects food habits but not in the same way. Some of you might experience a decrease in appetite while others might experience an increase in appetite. So the effect of anxiety on your emotional issues, mental health and food habits vary from person to person.
Research shows that individuals who suffer from anxiety less frequently are more likely to experience an increase in appetite. You might have experienced it yourself as well. In order to cope up with mild stress and anxiety, one tends to seek comfort by overheating or you can say binging, eating snacks and randomly anything that you can find at home.
Remedies and Treatment
In case you are experiencing a lot of anxiety and you can’t seem to cope with the effect on your eating habits, here are a few remedies and treatments that can help you control it.
- Understanding The Reason
The best way to treat anxiety is to find the underlying cause. Sometimes the reason is right in front of you, you just need to understand it. So give yourself some time and focus on the problem first instead of finding the remedies.
- Addressing The Source
Once you are done identifying the cause of anxiety, it is time that you address it and look for a solution. Sometimes the answer is simple but in most cases it is best to talk to a professional to get help with your anxiety triggers.
- Practicing stress management
Sometimes practicing the common stress management techniques can help you cope with your anxiety. Here are a few of them that you can try on your own before you consult a professional.
- progressive muscle relaxation
- meditation
- deep breathing exercises
- guided imagery practice
- mindfulness
- progressive muscle relaxation
Takeaways
Every individual reacts to anxiety differently. Your gender, age, life habits and your surroundings all affect the way your body reacts to anxiety so if you don’t experience the same symptoms as someone else then that doesn’t mean you are not experiencing anxiety.
Similarly, treatments work differently for everyone as well so in case you are opting for CBD make sure to adjust the hemplucid and your cbd oil concentrate based on your anxiety level. Also remember to consult your doctor in case of chronic anxiety of extreme sudden anxiety attacks to avoid any uncalled medical conditions.
