Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
My son is 19 years old. He is approx 5 foot 10 and now weighs 8 stone.
He suffers from depression but mainly anxiety. He is awaiting an Autism assessment. He gets very agitated, angry verbally and physically.
His appetite has gradually gotten worse and worse. He does get where he feels hungry but just can't stomach anything. Food makes him feel nauseous , he has no appetite and doesn't 'want' to eat.
He hates his weight loss but just can't eat. He will nibble on things as and when and will occasionally eat 1 small meal a day. He can also go 24 hours without food.
The doctor keeps repeatedly saying that Tom needs to try Talking Therapy but the doctors don't seem to understand that Tom cannot bring himself to talk to someone about his problems. He finds it highly distressing and anxiety levels go through the roof at the thought of it. It makes him physically sick.
He is having Scandishakes as and when he can to try to get some calories in. Is there anything anyone else has tried ?
Tom is asking me to help him but i just don't know what else i can do. I have tried the doctors, i make high calorie snacks, make small portions of food for him, have made a 'snack box' up for him. . . . . . .
Are there any appetite enhancers that he could try ??
. . . . . . not sure how much longer his body can keep going like this ! or his mental health. He already says he doesn't want to live. . .
Any support would be sooooo much appreciated.
Thank you
What does your son do to burn energy or exercise to make himself hungry? If he has no-one to lead him and get his brain working on something else then how will he break the cycle? Does he ever go outside?
Normally a peer group gets picky teenagers to try new stuff - their palette expands dramatically when they see and smell all the different foods - like McD and Nandos
My dietician has got me on Nesquick - I'm told it was developed for kids who has no access or wouldn't eat any veggies.
Hi, thanks for your reply.
Yes he spends a lot of time outside, meeting mates. They walk about, sometimes play football or basketball but he quite often doesn't join in because of not coping with large groups or becoming too hot that he doesn't want to take a jumper off because of how underweight he is. He also gets anxious about not wanting to burn calories off as he feels worried about loosing more calories. I have talked to him about exercise could work towards helping his appetite but all he sees are the calorie loss.
He does have Nesquick in the cupboard as an option .