I haven’t been able get myself to eat today due to amorous causes. I even made myself a lunch because, hungry or not, i figured it would make me feel better. Ate a few bites, then pushed it away.
Physiologically, what’s going on? Stress in general can cause this. But do we understand how emotions cause an effect like this?
Doesn’t make sense. I want to eat, as a matter of choice/will. It is my body which seems to be revolting at the idea.
Are you sad-lovesick, or happy-lovesick?
Depression in general is a well-known appetite inhibitor, so that would explain not feeling hungry if you’re miserable over a breakup or unrequited love.
The physiological/neurological effects of euphoric infatuation or falling in love, on the other hand, are discussed here; and yes, they include loss of appetite. Basically, it seems to be about overactive dopamine.
I gotta say, I have direct experience of this. Maybe it would be to my benefit to get dumped more often.
Sad lovesick.
So how does depression cause loss of appetite? I guess, I’m getting ahead of myself. I’d have to understand appetite and hunger first.
I am feeling hungry, in a sense. At least, I am conscious that my stomach is uncomfortably empty. It’s the act of eating which is unappealing. Chewing and swallowing.
Very bizarre.
Depression causes you to find previously enjoyable acts unenjoyable. Or at least you anticipate you will. That’s why one of the therapies used is to make you go ahead and do what you previously liked.
Just be glad you’re not me. I eat when I’m depressed and I eat when I’m happy. I eat when I’m sick and when I’m well. I eat when I’m hungry and when I’m not hungry. So be glad you have discovered a mental state that turns off your appetite.
When I got together with my beloved nearly five years ago we were together for a week then separated for what seemed like the longest fortnight of my life. I was* pining *for him with terrible trouble eating (and sleeping). I eat when I’m depressed, it was most unusual for me.
I had actual depression (in the psychiatric sense) some years ago, and it didn’t cause me to eat. But I do normally eat when upset or feeling emotional pain. During the act of eating, i can temporarily focus on the sensations of eating and it draws my attention away from whatever is troubling me and gives a brief relief. Just long enough to eat the meal though. The pain returns as soon as I am finished. Which is why then shortly thereafter I might eat again even though I am not really hungry.
This is entirely different.
I’m thinking that it is probably an evolutionary result. During times when one is either acquiring a mate or facing the potential loss of a mate, the eating drive is shut off so that one focus on taking the necessary actions to improve chances of reproducing. One can go a while without food. Notice that thirst is unaffected by lovesickness.
I’ll take a stab at it: The ex-lover notices that you’ve been unable to eat your leg of antelope, realizes you are providing new source of nourishment, comes over, eats your dinner and suddenly you’re attractive to him again. Something like that? Of course you could also attract a new mate in this way.
lol
Gorillas just take the pussy, man. True monogamy is a human concept.
I am experiencing the same thing right now. My theory is that I am so heavily anticipating hearing good news from the object of my affection that my stomach/intestines are clenched up in anticipation. (I have no rational reason to believe that good news is coming).
It’s funny, because I’ve always said that nothing puts me off my food. Turns out that something does.
No, no. I mean, your gal ran off and you go after her instead of spending three hours hunting to fill your belly.
I don’t know about gorillas but there are a lot of species in which the male especially has to put forth a lot of effort to get laid. Picturing rams butting heads. What about the loser? He goes off and butts head against another ram. If he doesn’t, he’s an evolutionary loser. And if he says, “To hell with this, I’m getting hungry,” he doesn’t pass on his genes.
I’ve always given it two explanations.
The first is that when you are sad, it can seem counter-productive to feed your own vitality. It can feel a little hypocritical to feed your body when really you are so sad that you don’t want to be in it or feeling anything. Even if you are not actively suicidal, there is often the feeling that you don’t want to be existing at that moment- which would explain why depressed people sleep a lot. In the same way, eating is a way to feed and nourish your existence, which may seem unappealing when you are feeling so bad.
The second is control. When you feel like something important is out of your control, you may feel like focusing on things you can control- such as food intake. Indeed, skipping meals is a very passive way of asserting control, so it is appealing to a depressive state.