Can water retention be caused by anxiety?

Mental health
1

Hi guys,

I struggle with anxiety all my life and now I’m a little over 30 years old. About 6 months ago I started to have new symptoms, or at least much stronger symptoms than before.

I seem to be unable to lose excess weight (not crazy amount of weight, but still) and I’m pretty sure most of it is water weight. My weight fluctuations are quite severe (can be 6 pounds daily, easily), I also have something that looks like cellulite, especially on my butt and I’m a guy. It changes day after day a lot, one day it’s terrible, another day it’s barely noticeable. I also sweat too much and my newest symptom is sweaty perineum, which causes me trouble, because it gets stinky :frowning:

I also tend to have a puffy face all my life and sometimes it’s gone. Now, I would say 95% of the time my face is swollen. Also, my hands and feet tend to get super dry from time to time and I got quite a belly. I feel sick.

I must admit that my diet is far from perfect, but sugar helps me with anxiety (short-term, obviously). I started to take better care of myself a few weeks ago though, but it didn’t help with my symptoms yet. I didn’t lose any weight, even though I eat much better, go to the gym and walk a lot (I have always walked a lot, like 20k+ steps daily). I feel like drinking more water makes me more swollen, my body just retains that water.

Everybody tells me to change my diet, but I really don’t feel like such severe symptoms can be a result of my diet, which is not that bad. It’s true that in the past I used to eat terribly from time to time, but can that be that disastrous in such a young age? I used to be really skinny most of my life.

My observation is that I notice the biggest improvements on days when I stay calm. I can eat good or bad, but there is an improvement. Junk food causes issues, but they are nowhere proportional to what I experience now. Because of some events in my life now, I am anxious, stressed and angry most of the time.

I had an appointment with an endocrinologist, but all she told me was to eat better and move more. All examination went fine, including cortisol level (from blood). I doubt it that my cortisol is normal throughout the day though, I feel extremely stressed/angry a lot.

Do my symptoms sound any familiar to you guys? I’m not sure what can I do, I hate my body as it is now. Bloated, smelly and ugly.

2

Hi beartown
I haven’t experienced what you are going through but I have heard of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which is to do with anxiety. It’s when someone thinks their appearance is not acceptable to them or others but only they see it, others cannot see it. I don’t know if this is something to do with your issues or not but if this is what you have there are cures such as CBT, medication and support groups. May be worth talking to your doctor again in any case to get to the bottom of it.

3

I would ask to have your thyroid checked for Tsh, T4,T3 and antibodies that check for graves disease if your endo did not check for these!
But yes, you will notice a huge difference if you change your diet.
Try mostly plant based, stick to chicken or fish for most of the protein. Up your water intake and lower any processed food, additives, preservatives and artifical sweeteners. Try a natural sweetener such as stevia, no dairy and possibly even lower gluten (or ask to be tested for celiac)
Do you wee enough during the day, have you had your kidney function tested?

4

I can assure you that I don’t have dysmorphobia. I find that idea offensive, because it assumes that I’m unconscious what is going on with me, it goes like that:

  • Hello, I have symptoms A, B, C, D and E.
  • Nah, maybe you just think you do?

It’s extremely disappointing to get that easy dismissive answer. You’re not first to tell me that and that’s why I started to bring photos of me swollen and “normal” to the doctors, because they tend to give dismissive answers as well when they have no skills to help.

5

I most likely should try a clean diet once again (I tried them in the past), but I really feel like that’s not the problem. What I’m afraid of is that I will go through hell of dieting just to find out that it’s not that. If there’s any additional condition, the diet will bring just slight improvement and that’s what happened in the past. Yes, the symptoms were better, but just slightly.

What is more likely is that something (hormones?) make my body unable to digest properly and that’s why junk food causes more trouble than it normally would. But when I’m stressed, healthy food causes me trouble as well, it’s not processed by my body properly. That’s why I’m not so keen on eating 100% clean (again), because it makes me more stressed. Of course eating healthy is good for you, but it’s not always the answer, especially that my diet is not THAT bad, plus I don’t drink alcohol and have never smoked.

I have had my thyroid tested and all was fine. I don’t pee as much as I should. When I force myself to drink more, I pee just slightly more and I’m bloated all day long. I haven’t had kidneys checked, but 2 years ago I had a kidney stone.

6

I didn’t mean to upset you, I hope you find a cure for your symptoms. Best wishes.

7

Hey there, I want to thank you for sharing your symptoms. I have had the same issue as you from time to time. I feel puffy and my anxiety just gets worse because of these physical symptoms. I also struggle with shortness of breath from time to time. One thing i noticed is when i got a good night sleep every night for a week at least, the puffyness was mostly gone. I also found drinking more water just made it worse but i can tell you its not true, keep drinking water regularly and up your protien intake. I lost 9kg over 3 months, heres the thing though… when you lose weight fast your body remembers (fat memory) and it can come back faster and way easier. if you dont keep a healthy lifestyle. For my its a hard reality heading closer to 30 now, my metabolism isnt the same as it was when i was 18 19 even 20. Also my anxiety is always worse when im a bit overweight… you dont feel good about yourself so naturally your just adding more negative thoughts to the pile, not to mention digestion issues.. keep at it! healthy eating is a lifestyle not a chore

8

HI i have just read your post. have been suffering from this water retention for years. also feel like drinking water is just bloating me. everyone says it cant be and just drink more. but the more i drink the more bloated i get. i also have a lot of anxiety and thinking its an anxiety issue. have you ever gotten rid of it? has anything helped?