Anxiety and Stress Forum - Depression, Anxiety, And Vomiting

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Q: Depression, Anxiety, And Vomiting

asked by: Archimedes on April 11th, 2007

New User

Hello. I was wondering if anyone out there has been experiencing anything similar to what I have been going through. I have had problems with depression and anxiety since I was 14. In the past four years of my life I have been battling episodes of choking, retching, and vomiting. I have since withdrew from college (I hope to go back soon). The stress of school seemed to be escalating the vomiting problem. I go through episodes of vomiting that are triggered by stressful situations such as labs, group meetings, speeches, projects, social situations, or large amounts of intellectual work. The more I force myself to perform in school the worse it gets. If I push myself very hard while exercising (such as lifting weights or running) I may also vomit.
During an episode I feel a tensing up on the right side of my brain. I get a lump in my throat and I find it difficult ot breathe. My abdomen, arms, and legs begin to tense up and I begin to swallow saliva. I must sit still and take deep breaths. At this point any type of stimulation (movement, being spoken to, or other activity around me) can trigger the retching and vomiting. I usually throw up a few mouthfuls and go back to feeling very tense and anxious. Sometimes I clear out my entire stomach. If there isn't anything in my stomach I dry heave for a while. Before and after the episodes I am usually in a state of anxiety.
Is there anyone out there that has experienced this? I want to conquer it so I can get back to school and go on with life. I have taken anti-depressants and they have helped with depression, but the vomiting problem remained. It has subsided since I have withdrew from school. I need a source of decent income though and think school is the way to go for that. Any responses are very very very much appreciated!

Replies(9)

NEXUS31

replied on April 16th, 2007

New User

could it be that vomiting is your form of a panic attack? Because all pre-signs are the same as mine with the exception of vomiting, in place of vomiting I go into a panic attack.

- good luck.

Archimedes

replied on April 16th, 2007

New User

Thanks for the reply NEXUS. I think you are right. I have always addressed it that way when talking with doctors. I just continued to question it because none of the medications have helped to stop it. I recently had some blood work done so maybe something will show up there. Otherwise I'll just keep hoping that I find the right med.

zz86is

replied on April 18th, 2007

New User

hi, sorry to hear about your problem, but u are not alone in all this, i suffer from the same thing, its been going on for 5 years, ever since i finished hightschool, im 20 now, the problem doesnt seem to be getting worse rapidly, but i am getting more nervous about more and more things. all this is making me more frustrated at small things and loose it sometimes. i just wanna vomit everytime something is gonna happen thats not ordinary. any advice anyone?

Archimedes

replied on April 19th, 2007

New User

I feel for you! What I have been going through has not been easy. Are you in college? I have found it difficult to deal with school and panic attacks/vomiting because the stress of school makes it so much worse. In the past I have relied so heavily on medication, but I am going to see a therapist regularly to see if that will help matters. I know I wasn't born like this, and the anxiety/panic had to come from somewhere. I'll let you know if I find anything that helps.

zz86is

replied on April 19th, 2007

New User

its good being able to share it with someone who truely understands, i have been talking to family about it, but they dont really know what its like so cant do much sympathy but tell me to get brave it and not be worried about things that make it happen. but sadly it isnt as simple as that is it? i will also let u know if something i find that works, i havent tried any medications, and dont intend to unless it gets out of control. i think one of the best ways is to stop doing the things that would make it happen, e.g if its a presentation at work, look for a job where there isnt any presentations involved. i know that isnt really a cure, but it will stop it destroying our lives for the time being.

NEXUS31

replied on April 22nd, 2007

New User

sometime its good to talk to strangers about your problems. I know it sometime hard to talk to friends and family about some of the things you are going thru.

But it is always suggested that you should vent out this issues with someone so that they can give you feedback and kind of reassure you that its normal or that you will be ok.

Chemical imbalances or not eating right could be the cause of many anxiety problems in today’s world. But if you really become scared of your situation, it may be time to speak to a PRO.

Most cases they will give you some type of drug, sometime they will try to pick you brain to find the source; such in you history. The subconscious mind is always at work running thoughts that you might not be aware of.

I wish you the best in your problem and hope that someday the sky’s will clear and you will find yourself back in happiness with out the stress or anxiety.

Cheers,

I am not a MD, nor do I have a PHD but I have talked to many people in my life and I have learned that talking is the best to resolve.

Archimedes

replied on May 17th, 2007

New User

I don't know if you are keeping an eye on this forum zz86is, but I have been taking baby steps to solving my panic attack problem. I have not vomited since the middle of March. I have been talking to a friend of mine to try to get some of my past off of my mind and am going to seek professional counseling as soon as possible. I know that I am the only one that can solve the problem, although the counselor will help me determine exactly what the problem is. I faced my fear of going back to school. I am currently enrolled in a Maymester course. Every time I leave the classroom I feel like I have gained more strength. I hope you have are getting help and beginning to solve your problem. I will continue to update this post.

God bless,
Archimedes

Matty7

replied on June 8th, 2009

New User

Sharing about anxiety experience

I feel for you folks as I went through the extreme anxiety and vomiting in elementary school and high school. I am 53 now and there was absolutely no help for me. I just thought I was nuts because anxiety wasn't known about in my childhood.
Anyhow I got passed that stage as I adjusted to young adulthood. I still struggle with anxiety some but I have accepted it and have been through much counseling and an anxiety workshop, that last for a long stretch,that taught me how to cope better. I learned not to feed off my anxiety and blow it out of proportion. Instead I tell myself that it will pass, it is only temporary and realize whatever I am going through is just a small grain of sand on a beach on our single planet in this huge universe and not important.

I personally continute to try to find an underlying medical problem for the anxiety. I am checking out hypoparathyroidism right now.

Matty

herworriedbf

replied on November 12th, 2009

New User

My girlfriend gets this, and I have spent ages trying to find out what it is. Whenever she gets extremely upset or depressed about something, she usually vomits - but never when I'm around (she says she doesn't want to vomit in front of me, despite me telling her that it is perfectly okay, and because of this she forces it back down - which I tell her isn't good for her).

She does have a problem with food, and recently has been feeling sick after every meal that she eats (the vomiting due to depression has been there ever since I met her - 2 years ago). She doesn't eat an awful lot, and consistently worries about her weight when she is not overweight at all (if anything, nearly in the underweight category of the BMI scale).

I've read out about 'psychogenic vomiting', which seems one of the closest medical explanations I have been able to find, and - because the distress is mostly caused by a loss or separation of a loved one, mild 'separation anxiety disorder' could be a factor in it.

Hope this will help other people and hopefully eventually help towards defining and lessening the depression/anxiety-linked vomiting in my girlfriend's case.

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