Sick of feeling sick :(

I'm a rather skinny 18 year old girl, and I've never had a huge appetite. But lately, in the past year or so, I have been occasionally feeling nauseous when I eat even small amounts of perfectly normal food. Recently it has gotten so bad that I sometimes take one bite of food, and have to push the plate away because if another crumb of food passes between my lips I know I will throw up. This has only happened a few times, and I've never actually thrown up, just felt extreme nausea. Most of the times it has happened, has been in public and often with my boyfriend of 6 months. I've almost ruined a couple of dates because of this, such as tonight when I had a barbecue with his family. I took one bite of a delicious burger ( I was hungry and hadn't eaten much the whole day), and had to push the plate away. I felt really rude, but I just couldn't eat it, and felt nausea for the rest of the night. It's sort of worn down by now. I'm thinking I might have a sort of nervous or eating disorder, and I'm hoping to get help now before it gets worse. My mum told me she used to feel sick when she went out to eat, and sometimes did throw up, and she was maybe even skinnier than me. Please share any advice or thoughts you have on my problem, I would very much appreciate it.

[Klcoug88]

Have you spoken to a doctor to rule out any GI issues? That may be the best place to begin.  

[HanzBanz]

Thanks, I'll look into it. :)

[bb108]

Hi HanzBanz
I am a 13 femaleI I have the same problem that you have, it has been really badly since June last year it gets really bad when I am at school but I just want it to go away

[HanzBanz]

Hey, sorry to hear that, it's pretty horrible isn't it :(. Have you talked to a doctor or something? Because that's a long time to be having trouble eating. Do you have any ideas on what might be causing it for you? Is there anything that seems to make it worse/better? I find it helps to just go to a bathroom or something and calm down for a minute or two in private, and take really (really) little bites. Drinking some water sometimes helps too :)

[bb108]

Hi thats ok, it is horrible, i haved talked to a doctor but it has been a long time with not having eating trouble, I dont really know what is causeing it it just happens when i eat any food, nothing really help it, ill try some of that but it is hard to eat in private when i am at school cause i sit in a group but non of them really know

bb108

[HanzBanz]

Ok, well I hope you find a way to get better soon, it sounds like you have it worse than I do :/. I didn't mean eat in private, just that if I start feeling nauseous it helps to find a quiet place to escape to for a minute or so, to calm down without feeling under pressure to act normally :)

[bb108]

Hi hanzbanz
Thanks ok I will try and escape from my group and for a minute or so
Thank you
Bb108

[bb108]

Hi thank you

Bb108

[HanzBanz]

Thanks :)

[vsmith313]

omgosh! i am sixteen and have the sameproblem. my mom aleays get so mad at me and i feel bad but i dont know hat to do.  do u have a suggestions or comments fo me?  

[HanzBanz]

Hey, sorry to hear that :/ . My problem has actually gotten better since I posted this, I can actually eat in front of my bf/public now :D . What seemed to help was talking to him, and explaining the problem. This meant that I didn't have to worry about what he thought about me not eating, because I knew he understood. This lessened the stress and pressure I was feeling, meaning I was able to start eating more. If your problem really is the same as mine, it might be related to stress you are feeling, such as your mum putting pressure on you to eat.
My advice is to talk to her, and try to explain that this pressure and the guilt you are feeling is making the problem worse, and causing a downward spiral. Do whatever you can to calm yourself down at mealtimes, take really small bites (at least at first), and just eat SOMETHING. Gradually, you will be able to eat more and more, and the pressure from others and yourself will lessen as you see yourself improving. Basically, the trick is to turn the cycle on its head. Feel pride in any small improvements, and know that your success will increase exponentially.
This advice has all come from my own experience, but I hope it fits your situation as well :) . I feel so much better now, and I hope you will too sometime soon. Keep me posted! :)

[ejensen1324]

I have the same problem. Usually drinking fluids with my meals helps, and then afterwards I always have a stick of mint gum. That helps with my nausea.