starvation mode & anxiety

I'm in recovery from anorexia and I have recently noticed that I get very anxious and nervous when I slip up and don't consume enough calories, or if I go too long between meals.  Is this in my head, or has anyone experienced it besides me?

I think this is pretty common. It certainly happened to me to. In my case and maybe yours, I think it was anxiety that I was going to return to starvation and not allow myself to eat.

Best way to counter that anxiety is of course, to eat something.

planning is key to alleviate these feelings. 

i did the same thing. i'd get really anxious and freak out if i didn't eat when i was recovering so i started to make sure i ALWAYS had some snack with me..usually a 200 calorie protein bar and some crackers or something like that.

Thanks you guys!  Just curious, how long does it take to recover? I have been in recovery over a year, but it took me a really long time to get my calories above 2000.  I struggle everyday, and now I am just hoping to start losing weight and even out sometime.  I am up 30 lbs, and at a mild overweight BMI.

recovery varies based on the individual. you could be done with the process in a matter of months if you committed yourself to it but the problem is that it's often very difficult to get over the mental and emotional barriers to recovery. I think that for most people little signs of the ED might exist forever but you learn to suppress the thoughts and win the battle regardless of how strong that ED voice gets.

Original Post by chrissy1988:
I think that for most people little signs of the ED might exist forever but you learn to suppress the thoughts and win the battle regardless of how strong that ED voice gets.

I disagree. I think full recovery is possible and achievable.

Both chrissy and meryl are right -- and we don't really know why that is.

As there is a neurological genetic element to the development of eating disorders for some people (abnormalities in seratonin, dopamine and norepinephrine) this may have something to do with what kind of recovery each patient experiences.

For those where eating disordered thoughts remain, most recovered patients use the behavioral skills they have learned in therapy to accommodate, recognize but not act on those thoughts.

They have this in common with patients who have successfully overcome a severe phobia or panic attacks -- under stress the anxious thoughts may surface but some combination of techniques such as calming breaths, distractions, affirmations or simply staying in the moment and allowing the feelings to peak and subside are very successful.

And like patients who have overcome a phobia, the eating disordered thoughts will become fewer and farther between, but if they do surface (usually during difficult life events) it is important to maintain self-confidence and get a bit of a boost from a therapist if necessary so that it doesn't snowball.

Even if the thoughts remain for you, it in no way will lessen your chance of long term success than for anyone who no longer has any ED thoughts. So either way, congratulations for being a year in recovery!

I have extreme anxiety this during ed and now at a healthy weight. I have been helped with psychiatric meds but of course it is still a daily battle. Also I have ups and downs mentally with this. Right now I am so anxious. Have you thought of going on meds? I think in recovery anxiety is part of the course. It can come out in different feelings and around different items for people. As for going on a diet I think this is a very dangerous area for someone in recovery. There is too much mentally involved. Can you focus on a healthy adequate meal plan and allow your body to heal so your mind can too?

jnorth: recovery is possible and people have differnt definitions of it. It is in your head, but it's in many ED recoverers' heads...you're not alone in that. like HEDGREN has said though, recovery varies based on the person but everyone has the capacity to fight it and live a normal life. you just have to put things into perspective.

if you don't eat for 4 hours instead of your usual 3, what's the worst that can happen? if you don't like "the worst" outcome then take precautionary measures to prevent it. stop at a grocery store, gas station, or a vending machine...always carry snack with you.

try to circumvent and prevent the scenarios that are likely to cause anxiety.

I did not mean to sugget that RECOVERY ISN'T POSSIBLE but merely that for MANY people who are weight restored they still get anxious and think about food, calories, and weight but it's more manageable and they know when theire thoughts are irrational and simply dont cave into the impulses that ED puts in our heads. I know that some people lose ALL ED THOUGHTS but i personally feel that those individuals are rare. They do exist but it's rare, hence the reason so many people relapse. I don't think relapse is inevitable and i have faith that you can overcome the anxiety and beat this. With support and commitment to getting better anything is possible.

confront the feelings that led you to ED in the first place...be it insecurity, loneliness, sadness, desire for attention, feelings of inadequacy...whatever IT is...just be ready to feel IT. that's how i think one recovers.  but again this is only my view and clearly people will feel differently about this.

Wow Chrissy1988-

Thank you, that was great advise.  I definitely need to address the underlying issue before I will fully recover.  Thanks.

i dont think i can give anymore helpful advice than from the others you really are a grt bunch

i struggle with anxiety to but what i have learned is although hard it may be the better i eat and the more reguarly the easyier i can cope with it . when i go for a long spell without eating this makes my anxiety worse . im not sure if full recovery is possible im hoping it is as im a big believer in if you want something badly enough it is possible . i know people who are weight restored and still struggle but i have 2 friends who are totally recovered married with children . try not to beat yourself up to much just keep taking little steps day by day it will get easier you can do this h x