Weight struggles and Mental Health

BoundaryQueen2020
BoundaryQueen2020 Posts: 19 Member
edited July 2020 in Motivation and Support
Hello everyone,

I thought I would start a thread regarding weight struggles for those dealing with a mental health condition. Whether medicated or not, poor mental health can really impact your eating and exercise habits and can wreak havoc on maintaining a stable weight. There is genuine neuroscience regarding this and you're not just "weak" or "making excuses".

My story is that I overeat to calm my internal states (depression and anxiety) and as a way of creating dopamine (the "reward" neurochemical). I have recently started medication that is treating my depression brilliantly - but it's a known appetite stimulant. So now I'm taking another drug to counteract that effect - yay for mental health disorders!

Food is the cheapest and most readily available self-soothing tool we have - making weight management so very challenging for those of us who struggle with emotional dysregulation on a daily basis.

Please feel free to share your story here and know that you are not alone - over 50% of people will experience an episode of mental health ill health in their lifetime x
«1

Replies

  • BoundaryQueen2020
    BoundaryQueen2020 Posts: 19 Member
    Hey thanks for sharing your stories. 10EsseeLove, I also have BED - it suuuuucks. mpluna64, food comforts me and gives me a feeling of wellbeing that drugs and alcohol can't touch. skbrodie, I really hope you've found the right mix - it can be a long and exhausting journey to get the right meds and the right dose.
  • Hawwah493
    Hawwah493 Posts: 12 Member
    misstrakky wrote: »
    Hello everyone,

    I thought I would start a thread regarding weight struggles for those dealing with a mental health condition. Whether medicated or not, poor mental health can really impact your eating and exercise habits and can wreak havoc on maintaining a stable weight. There is genuine neuroscience regarding this and you're not just "weak" or "making excuses".

    My story is that I overeat to calm my internal states (depression and anxiety) and as a way of creating dopamine (the "reward" neurochemical). I have recently started medication that is treating my depression brilliantly - but it's a known appetite stimulant. So now I'm taking another drug to counteract that effect - yay for mental health disorders!

    Food is the cheapest and most readily available self-soothing tool we have - making weight management so very challenging for those of us who struggle with emotional dysregulation on a daily basis.

    Please feel free to share your story here and know that you are not alone - over 50% of people will experience an episode of mental health ill health in their lifetime x
    misstrakky wrote: »
    Hello everyone,

    I thought I would start a thread regarding weight struggles for those dealing with a mental health condition. Whether medicated or not, poor mental health can really impact your eating and exercise habits and can wreak havoc on maintaining a stable weight. There is genuine neuroscience regarding this and you're not just "weak" or "making excuses".

    My story is that I overeat to calm my internal states (depression and anxiety) and as a way of creating dopamine (the "reward" neurochemical). I have recently started medication that is treating my depression brilliantly - but it's a known appetite stimulant. So now I'm taking another drug to counteract that effect - yay for mental health disorders!

    Food is the cheapest and most readily available self-soothing tool we have - making weight management so very challenging for those of us who struggle with emotional dysregulation on a daily basis.

    Please feel free to share your story here and know that you are not alone - over 50% of people will experience an episode of mental health ill health in their lifetime x

  • Geneveremfp
    Geneveremfp Posts: 504 Member
    Yeah it sucks. I think it also sucks that a part of successful weight loss is that self belief... I couldn't successfully lose weight until I had some therapy and started getting into a better head space because the negative thoughts and low self esteem sabotaged me every time I had a week where I didn't lose I started thinking I was crap and not worth it.

    You've all got this and should be so proud of pushing through it. A friend once said that food addiction is the worst thing because you can't just give it up and not have it near you - you have to eat every day.
  • jules81
    jules81 Posts: 83 Member
    I suffer with mh issues and bED I find it so hard xxx
  • Skeebee
    Skeebee Posts: 740 Member
    Terytha wrote: »
    If my anxiety is flaring really bad, exercise makes it worse."

    This actually is what I found out with my genetics on anxiety. Exercise stimulates the release of dopamine and I undermethylate dopamine and overproduce cortisol. I have to do lower activity stuff now when I used to enjoy cardio. :neutral: People always seemed to think I didn't want to do the hard work when I had and it caused me to have increased anxiety. ugh..I feel for you.
  • planktonbye
    planktonbye Posts: 65 Member
    Skeebee wrote: »
    Hi, all. I deal with anxiety, PMDD and bipolar-like depression due to a genetic mutation (COMT+/+).

    Whoa, I'm sorry that you're going through this, but it's great that you have a genetic diagnosis! Now at least you have some idea of what to do to feel better.
  • planktonbye
    planktonbye Posts: 65 Member
    edited July 2020
    brendog79 wrote: »
    I'm one dealing with mental health. I am schizoaffective and have depression. I started back taking bupropion at the same time I started dieting on may 20th and have lost 35 lbs in 6 weeks. I am a very big guy starting at 382 lbs. The first two weeks I lost 26 lbs.

    That's crazy! Some of that has GOT to be drug effect. Hopefully it comes as a nice way to jump-start your progress.

    I just turned down an invite to join the "wellness" committee at work. They need to have some events/supports directed specifically at mental illness, but they don't want to! I am sure they do great work, but from a time management perspective, I don't want to get involved if they're not specifically targeting psych difficulties.
  • brendog79
    brendog79 Posts: 60 Member
    My weight dropped so fast because I stopped eating garbage and sugary drinks. I stopped eating pizza every day at work. I work at a pizza place. I did almost no exercise. I did cut my calories way too low the first week averaging around 1400 cal. I'm supposed to be eating 2470 for my weight loss of 2 lbs per week. The bupropion is also used to help people quit smoking and one of the side effects is weight loss. I've gained 40 lbs in 4 or 5 months in the past on other meds like risperdal and invega. I'm averaging 2200 cal a day now.I have just really started going for longer walks and stopped eating frozen meals. I have picked up my weight loss again after it had about plateaued after one month. I have lost 7 lbs this week. I'm also able to get a good night's sleep. I used to wake up every 1hr 1.5 hrs to either go to the bathroom or eat something.
  • silverpl2525
    silverpl2525 Posts: 138 Member
    New to MFP... after a 25 pound weight gain due to the stress of lockdown and covid I finally realized I was eating when I was sad or anxious. Eating at night when nobody could see me. Lots of ice cream. On an anxiety med that causes weight gain and makes it really hard to lose weight. Looking for support and to give support to those with meds and mental health symptoms that make maintaining a healthy weight difficult. I have a 30lb weight loss goal, and I'm going to start with drinking more water. If I can do it, I will cut down on the ice cream. That is my weakness! Doesn't help that growing up, if I cried a lot my parents would get me ice cream. So I need to stop using it as a way to feel good...the hard part is finding things to keep my mind and body occupied in a healthy way. Just wanted to say hi to the group and thanks for sharing your stories.
  • Catlessi41
    Catlessi41 Posts: 39 Member
    Anxiety disorders, depression and trichlotillmania along with other diseases. Working out has helped me a lot to focus on something else other than what is going on mentally. I
  • BoundaryQueen2020
    BoundaryQueen2020 Posts: 19 Member
    How's everybody doing? x
  • planktonbye
    planktonbye Posts: 65 Member
    Hanging in there, thanks for asking! I need to call my psychiatrist already to get some refills and a new appointment. I hope everyone is doing as well as possible. Feel free to friend me if you like!
  • silverpl2525
    silverpl2525 Posts: 138 Member
    So I ate some ice cream over the weekend- totally stress eating. The sugar tasted so good. I had done a good job of cutting down on sugary things by not buying them for a few weeks, but I went out to Coldstone Creamery and got something good. Lesson... keep SOMETHING sweet around to help prevent a full-blown ice cream half-pint!
  • planktonbye
    planktonbye Posts: 65 Member
    So I ate some ice cream over the weekend- totally stress eating. The sugar tasted so good. I had done a good job of cutting down on sugary things by not buying them for a few weeks, but I went out to Coldstone Creamery and got something good. Lesson... keep SOMETHING sweet around to help prevent a full-blown ice cream half-pint!

    Yes indeed. The only way to do ice cream is in a retail establishment. I can shut down a pint of ice cream at home without even blinking, so I just don't buy it at the store, no can do. But a single serving of ice cream, even a big one, is by no means a disaster.

    I let my main medication run out and I have to bother my psychiatrist over the weekend to call in a refill. I'll plan better next time.
  • tnh2o
    tnh2o Posts: 161 Member
    I gained 60 pounds 18 years ago when I started taking antidepressants At that time I was told the meds do not cause weight gain. Ha! Even though I have been off the meds for over 10 years my weight has bounced around and I'm still struggling. One of the many problems is that it's hard to be mentally well when your physically unwell. I want to get back to when I was eating healthy, feeling good, and not even having to think about food. I know the first step would be to log ALL my food and cut out so many of the carbs.
  • silverpl2525
    silverpl2525 Posts: 138 Member
    Once thing I've noticed about some psych meds is that not only do they directly cause weight gain, but they seem to turn off the switch in my brain that says I'm full. So I can keep eating and never feel full...or until my tummy gets upset! So....ya.....sometimes I need to just tell myself to STOP and digest a meal.
    Yes indeed. The only way to do ice cream is in a retail establishment. I can shut down a pint of ice cream at home without even blinking, so I just don't buy it at the store, no can do. But a single serving of ice cream, even a big one, is by no means a disaster.

    As for ice cream, I agree, if I buy a pint to have at home, I tell myself at the store that it will be a few servings. When I actually have some, I eat the pint every time. So now I've stopped buying pints like you.

  • JayRaeUK
    JayRaeUK Posts: 11 Member
    I know that where truama is present there is always addiction. I eat to fill the space where my brain like to tell me that I am 2 steps away from having nothing, a full tummy, a full fridge (for me a seeing a full fruit bowl is very satisfying), means security to me. I understand it's not real security but it's just a lie I tell myself to help me feel safe in a body that is constantly worried and anxious about my lovely life falling apart...
  • sclady21
    sclady21 Posts: 37 Member
    brendog79 wrote: »
    I'm one dealing with mental health. I am schizoaffective and have depression. I started back taking bupropion at the same time I started dieting on may 20th and have lost 35 lbs in 6 weeks. I am a very big guy starting at 382 lbs. The first two weeks I lost 26 lbs.

    Do you have any side effect from the bupropion ?