Food for depression
Discussion
Mods - hope you don’t mind, but I *think* this is more appropriate for the food aspect, but if you feel the need to move to Health, then so be it.
Have a friend who is severely depressed.
She’s getting support from me and others, including her family and NHS, and as far as I can see, the care is good.
However, she isn’t eating. The best she will do is some hot buttered toast before she goes to bed (continual sleeping and hiding from the world is a symptom of her condition).
What can we do to interest her in food? We’ve tried the food replacement stuff (the proper stuff the nhs uses) - she doesn’t like them. Having tried them myself, I understand where she’s coming from in that respect.
Have tried delivering home cooked ‘ready’ meals, including staying with her, heating them up and giving her them on a plate. No joy. She can eat a couple of forkfuls, and that’s it. We are managing to get multivitamins down her (just, she gags at swallowing anything) but due to the lack of any ‘substance’ the vitamins are causing some, shall we say, ‘digestive’ issues.
Psychologically, she doesn’t think she’s ‘fat’, has no issues with people being ‘fat’, there is no history of an eating disorder in her teens (she’s 51), no examples of binge eating/bulimia. She just says every single food she tries ‘tastes of ash’.
Going to try poached eggs on toast next, but any other tips welcome.
And for purely PH purposes to preempt the inevitable, I’m happily married, she’s a good buddy who has stuck with me when I’ve been through hard times.
ETA: I should add we’ve done all the googling, professional advice etc., we’re now down to looking for personal experience - be reassured we are also doing all the ‘proper stuff’.
Have a friend who is severely depressed.
She’s getting support from me and others, including her family and NHS, and as far as I can see, the care is good.
However, she isn’t eating. The best she will do is some hot buttered toast before she goes to bed (continual sleeping and hiding from the world is a symptom of her condition).
What can we do to interest her in food? We’ve tried the food replacement stuff (the proper stuff the nhs uses) - she doesn’t like them. Having tried them myself, I understand where she’s coming from in that respect.
Have tried delivering home cooked ‘ready’ meals, including staying with her, heating them up and giving her them on a plate. No joy. She can eat a couple of forkfuls, and that’s it. We are managing to get multivitamins down her (just, she gags at swallowing anything) but due to the lack of any ‘substance’ the vitamins are causing some, shall we say, ‘digestive’ issues.
Psychologically, she doesn’t think she’s ‘fat’, has no issues with people being ‘fat’, there is no history of an eating disorder in her teens (she’s 51), no examples of binge eating/bulimia. She just says every single food she tries ‘tastes of ash’.
Going to try poached eggs on toast next, but any other tips welcome.
And for purely PH purposes to preempt the inevitable, I’m happily married, she’s a good buddy who has stuck with me when I’ve been through hard times.
ETA: I should add we’ve done all the googling, professional advice etc., we’re now down to looking for personal experience - be reassured we are also doing all the ‘proper stuff’.
Edited by ChevronB19 on Tuesday 23 May 12:08
When I was at my worst point I got up 1 day, went to the shops and bought the ingredients for a cheeseburger. I burnt the onions badly but the simple act of making it gave me a sense of achievement and made me feel better.
Maybe get your friend into cooking, rather than the food itself.
Maybe get your friend into cooking, rather than the food itself.
This is a very good book which breaks down the mineral and nutritional properties of natural foodstuffs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
I disagree with the advice re: 'stodge'.
Scientists are beginning to understand more about the relationship between gut biodiversity and mental health / overall wellbeing, and the advice is - surprise, surprise - more fruits and veggies.
I'd suggest getting in a stock of the ready-made mini salad / fruit pots that all supermarkets sell nowadays. Waitrose and M&S have some good ones.
I get where she's coming from in terms of 'food tastes like ash'. I've had COVID and everything tasted of soap for a while after. I used to quite like bitter flavours, but that's gone completely.
The odd glass of wine might stimulate the appetite.
HTH
Scientists are beginning to understand more about the relationship between gut biodiversity and mental health / overall wellbeing, and the advice is - surprise, surprise - more fruits and veggies.
I'd suggest getting in a stock of the ready-made mini salad / fruit pots that all supermarkets sell nowadays. Waitrose and M&S have some good ones.
I get where she's coming from in terms of 'food tastes like ash'. I've had COVID and everything tasted of soap for a while after. I used to quite like bitter flavours, but that's gone completely.
The odd glass of wine might stimulate the appetite.
HTH
I had the same when my wife (now ex) was going through similar following undiagnosed Post Natal Depression. Sorry to put a downer on it but I found there wasn't much I could do, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. I also know from my own low spells that appetite is one of the first things to go and eating sensibly the second.
All you can do is make sure there is food available and try and make sure it has some nutritional value. If you're able to join her for medical appointments with people prescribing any medication she is on, as a friend and note taker (worth noting that some people really need this) it would be worth tactfully raising this in those sessions.
All you can do is make sure there is food available and try and make sure it has some nutritional value. If you're able to join her for medical appointments with people prescribing any medication she is on, as a friend and note taker (worth noting that some people really need this) it would be worth tactfully raising this in those sessions.
bolidemichael said:
This is a very good book which breaks down the mineral and nutritional properties of natural foodstuffs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
can;t reccomend magnesium enough, if you can get her on some magnesium supplementshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
markiii said:
bolidemichael said:
This is a very good book which breaks down the mineral and nutritional properties of natural foodstuffs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
can;t reccomend magnesium enough, if you can get her on some magnesium supplementshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Neals-Yard-Remedies-Heali...
It also suggest meals for 'a day of positive mood' amongst others. Staying well hydrated with a natural mineral water, particularly rich in magnesium >60mg/L will benefit brain function. Additionally, avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and caffeine may be beneficial to moderation of mood.
On a related note - I was doing sound for a lecture on depression once and the professor said that vitamin D and B12 can help - in his surgery he finds that about 10-20% of people with depression are deficient and over the counter vitamins help. I am a bit hazy because it was some time ago but he might have said omega 3 helps too.
Anyway I tend to feel a bit "flat" over the winter so I took them and I think it helps, so I would suggest going that - basically cant hurt.
Anyway I tend to feel a bit "flat" over the winter so I took them and I think it helps, so I would suggest going that - basically cant hurt.
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