Anyone Here Mentally Ill?

embersfallen

I have depression.... take fluoxetin...a pretty low dose, but man, if I leave it at work over the weekend... I can SO tell. They started me on it for the week of and before the monthly evil... because I was like that commerical with the lady and shopping cart ( if you've seen it... you will know what i mean...she's a little over the top over nothing. ) ....but then we realized it helped during that time...but the rest of the month i could totally notice the depression so now on it full time.

I can get very lethargic and not want to get out of my bed without it... it seems to keep me on an even keel instead of all over the place emotionally... still have those moments of COURSE... but just not as all over...and I think being on the meds has helped m to stay focused on what matters, getting my body healthy. Before I could never keep any weight off.

Axels91

I'm convinced that Bulemia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa are most often symptoms of BDD, rather than self-manifesting disorders.

It can manifest as an exaggeration. Or an obesession with a certain flaw (real or perceived). Mine is a general loathing of my every physical attribute.

are you sure? i always thought that anorexia could have multiple causes? for some its a desire to have control through food intake, not stemming from a physical flaw, although that could accompany it, definitely. for me, food felt dirty and evil. i do see certain parts of my body that i hate though, which perpetuated it.

im sorry you hate your body. its hard to live with something like that, and the self abuse that goes with it.

Donnacoach

I have suffered with depression for many many years. I never thought I would be one to have that problem. Always the happy go lucky person with a joke for everyone. Boy was I wrong. When it hit me, it hit like a ton of bricks. I couldn't do anything without crying. Even if it was nothing to cry over. At one point I was put on 16 different medications. I was a walking zombi. Found a new therapist and they worked me off so many meds and I started feeling some what human again. Over the years I still have bouts from time to time. Just nothing I can control. I have tried a couple of different times to come of medication but I fall right back into that black hole. So, for the rest of my life I will take Cymbaulta and Zoloft and I am ok with that. They don't make me gain weight and that makes me happy, because Effexor was a terrible weight gainer. I am an emotional eater so I ate and ate and ate when I was depressed. I am trying to learn different ways to deal with anxiety and stress now though and everything I am doing seems to be working. Being depressed does affect whether or no I want to exercise. When I have days where I just want to stay under the covers I have learned to kick myself in the butt and make myself get up and get moving. If you haven't been depressed before you have no way of knowing how it feels.

KateCon912

I have GAD and BDD. Also clinical depression. I used to take medications but felt they made things worse, and made me gain a ton of weight which didn't help the BDD.

Has anyone ever been hospitalized?

Bentley2718

Over the years I've had a lot of diagnoses, usually, atypical depression, dysthymia with recurrent major depressive episodes, or Major Depressive Disorder (recurrent). Diagnostic hair-splitting aside, you get the point. I also have generalized anxiety disorder.

It is really hard to focus on being healthy when you are depressed. I do find that taking care of myself, making sure I get enough rest, eating reasonably well, and exercising does help. Of those, I think exercise makes the biggest difference in my mood. It's hard to make myself do it when I'm really depressed, but if I can, it helps a lot, usually (there are days I end up crying while working out or having a panic attack, never fun).

Over the past 20 years, I've been on various anti-depressants, as well as host of other drugs (lithium, anti-psychotics, etc.) to try to control my depression and anxiety. They can cause serious weight gain, which only makes it more difficult to deal try to stay healthy. I will say, if you're on lithium, talk to your doctor about how much you sweat when you work out. My doctor realized I worked out, but not how much/often, and I ended up feeling completely awful for about a month before I realized the combination of sweating and lithium was leading to a salt imbalance.

NewFitKeri

Congrats on having the courage to come forward, it can be hard. I suffer from bipolar disorder(often rapid cycling), anxiety disorder, PTSD and some other things I'd prefer to keep quiet. Bipolar disorder has destroyed some of the best things in my life and at one point, destroyed me. I became a medicine guinea pig which is how I went up to 230lbs and into toxicity. A handful of hospital stays and now finally into good therapy and medication. You can't control a mental illness completely but it is wonderful that many of us are taking the proper steps to stay on track such as medicine, theapy, nutrition and fitness. Everyday is a struggle but we can get through it!

I wish you all the best and if anyone needs help struggling with their mental illness, I am here for you!

Best of luck to you all:flowerforyou:

plushkitten

Yeah, I'm actually suffering to manage my bipolar now.
I go through bouts of mania and then long periods of depression.
Currently, I'm going through mania where it's hard for me to eat and sleep.
And the paranoia that I suffer through makes me isolate and not want to go outside, therefore I can't exercise.
I'm actually going through a partial hospital program to get me on track with treatment and medications.

When I'm depressed, I eat and sleep waaaay too much.
But it's more tolerable than the mania...I can manage going out to exercise but my head gets very self destructive and critical.

However, when I was at my physical best was when I deiced to start running.
I was in a huuuuge depression and then I just started to run.
I ran 5-6 miles everyday with ease and it became a regular routine.
Never in my life did I feel more stable and balanced with my position in life.
I still had ups and downs but I was content with myself.

I want to get back to that place so badly.
That's why I'm on MFP.

Anyways, good luck and much love and support<33

PapaverSomniferum

I'm convinced that Bulemia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa are most often symptoms of BDD, rather than self-manifesting disorders.

It can manifest as an exaggeration. Or an obesession with a certain flaw (real or perceived). Mine is a general loathing of my every physical attribute.

are you sure? i always thought that anorexia could have multiple causes? for some its a desire to have control through food intake, not stemming from a physical flaw, although that could accompany it, definitely. for me, food felt dirty and evil. i do see certain parts of my body that i hate though, which perpetuated it.

im sorry you hate your body. its hard to live with something like that, and the self abuse that goes with it.

Oh, don't get me wrong. Anorexia and Bulemia definitely can be and are disorders on their own. There have even been studies showing that there is a genetic component.

But they most often surface in younger women who feel a need to conform with a certain cultural beauty standard, at least in America. BDD is often the biggest issue with many individuals.

So though Anorexia can happen in someone as a control mechanism, or an aversion to eating. It can also happen as a symptom of a hatred of a person's size or shape.

My BDD once caused an eating disorder. It causes ongoing social anxiety. And the wildest thing about it is that most people see me as completely average, while I see myself as some sort of monster that crawled from a lagoon.

BAMFMeredith

I have GAD and BDD. Also clinical depression. I used to take medications but felt they made things worse, and made me gain a ton of weight which didn't help the BDD.

Has anyone ever been hospitalized?

My best friend was. She is Bipolar and had begun self medicating with drugs and booze instead of taking her meds. Her cousin, who she was very close to committed suicide and about a week later she walked in on her fiance having sex with somebody else. After breaking his apartment door down--literally (mind, this was a girl who weighed maybe 100 lbs bc she'd been doing a lot of cocaine), downing a bottle of Tylenol PM and most of a bottle of Jack Daniels, she was hospitalized. She was transferred from a regular hospital to a mental health facility where she stayed for about a month. That was her last really bad episode, and she got clean after that because she scared herself and her family. I'm so happy to say that today she's happily married with 2 beautiful children

em435

Depression on and off for the past two years.
I'm beginning to realise that my physical and mental health aren't so separate - even on my awful days, it's incredible how even a short run around the block can lift my mood and make life so much less overwhelming.

SnakeDarling

Depression and PTSD.
Zoloft and lots of therapy.

doyledozo

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Same here, Haven't been medicated for years due to lack of insurance. IDK what I'd do without my melatonin at night.

hlshubert

I deal with depression daily. I'm on Effexor XR and Wellbutrin - are they helping, maybe a little. I totally understand where you're coming from with it not helping and making it harder to do anything - let alone anything to get healthy, even light exercise... I've slacked off a lot lately because I've been feeling bad - BUT that being said - I know from personal experience when I was exercising daily and in the morning time - the rest of my day seemed much better and had way more energy - I just have to force myself to get back to it. Trust me - if I can do it - you can do it! Feel free to add me if you like - I will help support you!

Dogwalker1989

Yes.

Although I'm in recovery now and although things aren't "normal" yet, I am atleast functioning.

I've suffered from severe depression in the past, and used to take alot of medication for it who's side effects were weight gain. Those years of my life lead to me reaching my heaviest weight because of both the medication and my mental state.

As the depression eased and I began working on the route of the problems I've been diagnosed with PTSD and social phobia.

I've lost 70lbs from my highest weight, but still face the daily mental battles surrounding weight loss, of convincing myself I deserve to take care of myself. Also simple things like shopping for food or getting to the gym are very difficult when I'm so afraid of people.

Swissmiss

My ex and half of our children are bi-polar. I understand your mood swings. Yes, they also are not healthy physically. I have not figured out how to handle them. Maybe there isn't a way. Frustrating. I go between feeling bad for them when the depression hits and feeling fear as anger goes along with this.

hlshubert

Depression on and off for the past two years.
I'm beginning to realise that my physical and mental health aren't so separate - even on my awful days, it's incredible how even a short run around the block can lift my mood and make life so much less overwhelming.

Most definetly! I've been having some off days lately, but since reading this forum - I feel more motivated to kick myself in the butt and get going again!

Italianyc84

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005, took lithium and later zoloft, now I take nothing except klonopin for anxiety. I have had bouts with depression and hypomania but no full blown mania since 2005.

The anxiety is constant. I no longer have full blown panic attacks, but the anxiety is ever present. It sucks.

alyssaanagram

I have GAD and BDD. Also clinical depression. I used to take medications but felt they made things worse, and made me gain a ton of weight which didn't help the BDD.

Has anyone ever been hospitalized?

I was hospitalized once. I have PTSD and it was about 8 months after the trauma occured. Over the months I fell deeper and deeper into depression, I developed insolmnia, and I wasn't leaving my room. After a month of not attending any of my classes, the insomnia got a lot worse. I hadn't slept for 5 straight days and I started to hallucinate. When my sorority sisters came to check on my I actually attacked them (though I don't remember). They called the police and I ended up spending two weeks in a hospital.

Looking back on it now, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I was severly severly depressed. Since then I've still struggled but I have gotten my life back on track. I have bad days but I'm always functioning now. .

jes1975

Depression. 1st time I stared taking antidepressants I lost weight, 2nd time I gained weight, still on them still trying to lose weight

shiseido_faerie

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Me too. My anxiety is often all-consuming. People tend to think I'm 'just a worrier' or tell me to 'think positive!'. I wish it was that simple and easy.

Me as well, for about 15 years now. It really is all-consuming, and even when you think you're doing really good, maybe venturing out of your 'comfort zone' a little bit, I find it just sucks you back in out of nowhere. I wish there was an easy way to explain it so people in our lives could understand.

skylark94

I've been diagnosed with Borderline Personality and Schizophrenic traits. It causes problems with my emotions, empathy, and interpersonal relationships. Self injury is also a problem for me. I cut. I cycle from perfectly "normal" to absolute self loathing about every 2 months. The lows cycle takes about 3 weeks to run it's course and can get rough, but I always make it through. I've become very good at hiding my moods.

I don't do meds. I've tried a couple different ones in the past and they made me much worse. Instead of my thoughts coming from me, they seemed to be coming from someone else. It scared me. I can talk myself out of just about anything, but I had a harder time telling the "other chick" to back off.

As for staying healthy....I've never been an emotional eater, so food is not an issue really. I eat right and exercise because no matter how today is, I know tomorrow is always coming and I want to be ready for it.

SnakeDarling

I have GAD and BDD. Also clinical depression. I used to take medications but felt they made things worse, and made me gain a ton of weight which didn't help the BDD.

Has anyone ever been hospitalized?

Yes. A few times actually.

capriciousmoon

Social Anxiety, but officially diagnosed with "Generalized Anxiety".

I probably also have depression and would be diagnosed EDNOS, but I keep that to myself.

LeggyKettleBabe

The tests say im bipolar, im totally unmedicated. I approach it as depression and the other things that go with it are in your mind. I control my mind. I find positive things to focus on. I was on all the typical meds, they didnt work b/c I really dont think I am I think im ADD whick is very similar

BTW, depression is normal human function I think drs are diagnosing bipolar way too much these days. Its all bout pushing pills. True bipolar disorder is rare and very dangerous.

If you read a post I did earlier my dr said im MANIC on exercise. Hell i replace sex addiction with exercise and your *****ing at me. The main thing is to control behaviors be it eating or exercising and learning to slow down, which is hard for us people that have racing minds and cant sleep longer than 4 hours unmedicated.

Good luck to you all.

miniberger

Me either.

LOL!

Chelle_Davis

I was hospitalized in outpatient therapy for a month. LOTS and lots of therapy.

I'm currently on Geodon, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Buspar. I was never so glad to be diagnosed. For the longest I just thought coming out of your skin and being suicidal was normal. I've never been happier since I got on the right meds!!!

HardcorePork

Same here, Haven't been medicated for years due to lack of insurance. IDK what I'd do without my melatonin at night.

generic celexa at Target is $4 per month without insurance

sjmgde

Depresson since 1991 and was diagnose with bipolar the summer of 2011. When i hit the depression it is hard to work ut and there fore i get more depressed and than i want to eat. When am having a biploar momenthave not had an episode since last summer i lost 15lbs ina week. So needless to sayit does affect me. But with the righ tmeds and me forcingmyself to workout it does get easier. Way to come out :0 Feel free t add me

dirty_diana

Borderline Personality Disorder.

I had a near total break down a few years ago, it was awful. Exercise helps a lot, but sometimes it still gets me. Like a sucker punch to the kidneys.

OlibecaMom

I'm so proud of you for starting the thread. Mental illness is real... and still a very hush-hush topic for so many. My husband has struggled for years and years with severe depression and PTSD and has attempted suicide twice (once before we met). The attempt 4 years ago was a huge wake up call and he has worked hard with his doctor and therapist to get his meds worked out. It's a struggle for me to understand as I have not suffered with that myself. I appreciate being able to read through this thread and realize my hubby isn't alone. We lost some good friends over his attempt (the wife can't get over being mad at him because she thinks he made a rational decision to chose an easy way out) and even though we have a great network of friends and family - I still get hurt when I think about that time and her reaction. I've encouraged my husband to eat healthier and to join me at the gym but he is resistant. I mention it now and again - mostly in passing- I don't want to be a nag, but I also think he could have some relief from some side effects of his meds if he'd change his diet and exercise just a little.