Is it common for food to taste "off" when depressed?

[FirstLight]

I swear, I can barely eat these days. Mom died (kinda suddenly, but 84yo) in May and I am not doing well. Apparently being the "sensitive" child of the family has come back to bite me in the ass.

Dad is is rapid decline mentally etc, he's wth sister for now but she cant handle it and we're looking for memory care. She told me she still hasn't cried, neither has dad...

But here I am blubbering plenty. And I hate that I have no appetite...or when I want something, two or three bites and it tastes like crap. I have been eating saltines just ti keep my stomach from imploding. That and late night munchies are the olny thing keeping me alive... ugh

I'm seeing the grief counselor at hospice thursday for intake. Hope I can get some relief... grief sucks.

Edit to add...both appetite and sleep patterns are all over the map. Just sent a message to my doc.

[XanaDUer2]

1. I'm so sorry

[elleng]

2. Food has been 'off' for me for well over a year;

don't think its 'depression,' but checked with doctor and dentist, and no satisfaction; haven't enjoyed a cuppa.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Try a restaurant with a buffet. take a little of each.

Casinos? Go with a couple of friends.

Some food will be better than others.

[FirstLight]

4. interesting idea, but expensive...

[3catwoman3]

5. Is your sense of smell OK? Any chance you may...

…have had a mild case of COVID and not known it because of everything else you’ve had going on?

[FirstLight]

6. oh no...I can smell everything....

my roommate cooking almost make me puke for no reason. this has been going on since she died... two months

[cilla4progress]

7. Oh, dear...

I'm so sorry - what a challenging time for you!

Food tastes like cardboard to me when I'm really stressed. I tend more toward anxiety than depression.

I hope things improve, and you are happy to find gratitude in the good things in life.

[FirstLight]

9. it's a process, for sure.

This is my first real loss since my grandma when I was 13...and mom was my rock

I'm trying to find little moments of light... sticking my feet in a stream. I painted a little yesterday... im trying

[cilla4progress]

12. Sounds like you are heading in the right

direction!

Thank you for being a role model!!

[Murphyb849]

8. I am so sorry. The greater was the love the greater the grief,

And grief is just love with no where to go. It does become easier to handle, you will get through it but not over it. It is part of you now and changes the way you see life and others. You can have less appetite when grieving. Less ability to sleep. Not enjoying things you used to is common when grieving.
But keep in mind many have had COVID and did not know it, as a nurse I had patients test positive and had no symptoms. But then developed a change in their ability to taste and smell. I have long COVID now and only a few things taste the same. So you and many others could have this as a result of COVID.
Big hugs for you and you will get through this. You are not alone.

[FirstLight]

10. definitely greater love...

She was my champion for everything

[BlackSkimmer]

11. I couldn't eat for almost a month after my mother died. I lost a lot of weight.

My stomach would just clench up if I tried.

I also availed myself of the hospice grief counseling. They're very good. Grief does suck, but don't fight it. The worst will pass in time. But it's only time that works, just time.

One of my favorite quotes is from Queen Elizabeth, "Grief is the price we pay for love." Thinking of it that way somehow comforts me.

My saving grace is always exercise. I just upped my running and began rowing as well. Spent more time working out. It helped, but even now the pain is there.

She died in 2017 at 90. Still breaks my heart to remember her face the day after the election, and it bothers me to think that was the last big event before her death. She was so disappointed.

Hang in there.

[Tetrachloride]

13. I have a favorite pair of Middle Eastern cooks.

Homemade guava milk

Shish Tawook (chicken)

These woke me up.

I get out for walks 1-3x a day.

[SheltieLover]

14. Is there anything you have a taste for?

Pls call a hospice & get some free bereavement therapy. They likely have online services since covid.

[Skittles]

15. hey

you're still grieving and you are under tremendous stress - don't worry about your appetite for now, get some meal replacement drinks, they may help for now.....and keep talking to that counselor

[TigressDem]

16. It happens.

Loss of parents is HUGE on the grief scale, so even as a situational depression, it can put out chemicals that affect your senses.

https://www.blurtitout.org/2019/04/11/depression-senses/

Taste

Our taste can be dampened by depression. We often don’t taste food as well as those who don’t have depression, which is thought to be caused by the reduction in certain chemicals, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, in our brain.

Because our sense of taste can be blunted, we might want to add a little extra seasoning to our food or choose to eat spicier foods. This can make eating more enjoyable. Sometimes, having a consistent taste can help us to manage our anxiety, so using chewing gum or boiled sweets might help us to feel calmer, particularly in busy or noisy environments.


SINCE you still have a sense of smell, maybe aromatherapy can help you get into a calmer state and mute the distress you feel at food smells.

[LoisB]

17. I am so sorry about your parents.

[Beastly Boy]

18. It is common to lose interest in food for far lesser reasons than what you are going through.

But not eating is not an option. You will literally have to force yourself: tiny portions, high in calories, frequently. Whatever food you can tolerate best, it doesn't matter what it is at this point. Food sustains you both physically and mentally. And you will need both to take care of your father.

Getting weaker is not going to do anyone any good, so you have to take care of yourself first. Only then will you be able to take care of others.

[FirstLight]

19. ya, and I'm recovering from shoulder surgery on top of it all , mom's stroke was 2 das after my surg

so I'm dealing with healing on many levels


been doing gatorade and saltines, with a midnight binge here & there...but then I wake up with indegestion cuz my stomoach is not ok eithr...

Gonna try and shift back to smoothies. soymilk and hemp powder for anti-inflammation...tons of fruit. Just gotta get up before noon for a change too :/

[Beastly Boy]

22. You need protein and fat, especially if you are recovering from surgery.

If you are not a vegetarian, I would go with animal products. Eggs, fish, whole milk, ice cream, whatever your stomach can handle safely. Tiny portions, but lots of them. Smoothies sounds good.

[3Hotdogs]

20. Side topic, if your dad was a veteran, see if he qualifies for a bed in a V.A. facility.

My mom was in three memory facilities before setting set in a V.A. It was the best of the four. Even if it doesn't apply to your dad, I hope someone else will benefit from knowing these facilities exist and that they are not "warehouses."

[MFM008]

21. Yes

Depression and anxiety can do so much to you its shocking. Plus some of the medications prescribed for depression and anxiety side effects can be that they can affect your taste and even smell.
So yes you can get it from both sides...

[lark]

23. Stress, anxiety and extreme sadness can definitely affect your taste.

My adult son has mental issues and struggles mightily with it and refuses to get help, putting him in dangerous and bad situations. I got extremely anxious and stressed, couldn't sleep or eat, helping him didn't work he just gets worse. I was losing so much weight, started eating sweets because they were the only thing that didn't gag me or make my stomach hurt. Diabetes runs in my family, so I knew this was bad and consulted my dr. and a therapist. I'm now taking Cymbalta and a thc/cbd pill at night and have gained back the weight I lost and sleeping is ok. He's now unemployed and living at a flop house so my anxiety is even higher. I'm hoping I can get by without having to increase my meds!

Hope your doc helps you!!!

[FirstLight]

24. Got an appt with my reg dr Monday

so hopefully we can talk about things too.

Just trying to hang in there day by day, hour by hour.