Join a Community That Understands You

Get answers from those who share your health journey

All Posts

Carson's Post

Carson

Updated 11mo ago

Does Depression Make You Crave Spicy Food?

ok this is a really weird question but i was talking to my therapist about this today and it really got me thinking. so, does anyone else with any sort of depression really, *really* like spicy food? i know this may seem random but hear me out. i always find myself craving spicy foods whenever im in a depressive episode and i was telling my therapist about this during our session and she said a lot of her other clients do as well. again this may just be a coincidence but i found it really interesting and wanted to get other peoples' input.

Can you help? Connect today

InnocentRobot

I love spicy food with a burning passion.

Bun

i don’t but that might just be because i’m super white lollll

uriboo

spicy food triggers pain receptors on the tongue so its a sensation we can have without actually doing sh and it feeds us so win-win

noelieg

bruh all i do is eat spicy food... hmm lmao🤔🤔

Carolshine

Yeah but I think correlation doesn’t equal causation lolol

UnluckyUnicorn

I mean I’m Hispanic so I always crave spicy food since that’s really just my family’s home cooking. I always thought I craved it because I lacked the energy to cook while in my depressed episodes. I keep a jar of my mums jalapeños in the fridge so when I lack the energy to cook, I can just snack on them

jelly

i am not a fan of super spicy food and thought it was weird/interesting that some people crave spicy food during a depressive episode and i literally had severe anxiety earlier today and was craving chips and salsa soooo maybe?? but correlation doesn’t mean causation; that’d be an interesting research study

mew

yeah! i always love spicy food. i got the tip from a therapist once to eat something really spicy when i felt like self harming since the pain could sometimes be enough to distract myself

Lis

I honestly have never noticed it until you said it. But yes I do get random cravings for spicy foods while I’m in a depression state

Twitch

Loveee spicy foods!

Susanne

Yes, my guess is that we get a dopamine hit from it.

nikocada

I freaking LOVE spicy food. I mean, I’m Hispanic. But interesting

Alois

I like spicy food! My favorite is using chili garlic paste when I make soba noodles

monstermash

i dont like spicy food, is that like a symptom of depression or a symptom of being white

Byron

I wouldn’t say I really *really* like it, but I enjoy eating spicy foods!

Edens48

No I don't like hot things on my tongue.

kendra

capsaicin has been found to stimulate dopamine release in the brain! i found that when i noticed it myself & wondered if it was physiological lol

Shimari

I mean I crave it because it takes the attention away from my emotional pain that I cannot stop

Disorganic

For me, food I normally like often tastes way more bland when my depression gets bad. Adding a lot of spices to it helps it taste more interesting and less dull, so maybe that's part of it?

padparad5cha

same here. i theorize that, for me, it could be about the pain factor?? i eat a lot of spicy food that i cant handle but i still love the taste lol

Elisa

Oh yeah I love spicy food. I crave it when I'm down. Probably because it causes a spike in serotonin levels.

Toko

100% but I think its just because I grew up with it, not related to depression lol. Only of my only points of confidence is how I can handle super spice stuff haha

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Free unlimited access

to all community content

Find others who are

medically similar to you

Pose questions and join

meaningful discussions

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

About Alike Wisdom Blog FAQ Editorial Team All Conditions All Posts All Communities Support

Your Privacy Stories Community Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Helplines Contact Us Group Chats Guidelines Moderation Process

Sign In

Join a Community That Understands You

Get answers from those who share your health journey

Does Depression Make You Crave Spicy Food?