Weight Loss - Depression - Anxiety
nekosimba
Posts: 239 Member
So I've been off track lately because of my depression and anxiety. I've refused to go to the gym because I just don't want to be around other people. I have 5 or 6 personal training appointments that I have scheduled, and I tried to cancel them, but head office isn't letting me because of my contract. I'm really tempted to just let them lapse.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Should I just go and risk possibly having an anxiety attack...or maybe it will make me feel better....I don't even know anymore.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Should I just go and risk possibly having an anxiety attack...or maybe it will make me feel better....I don't even know anymore.
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Replies
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oh honey.....I am so sorry. Have you seen a medical Dr? I too struggle with depression and had a really rough summer because of it and I very much want to isolate when I feel like that. I increased my antidepressant dosage a couple of weeks ago and I feel like a new woman. Don't suffer needlessly......go see a Dr. HUGSSSS to you and take GENTLE care!0
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Look at your profile picture - you were out being active and you look like you're beaming.
I don't know how anxiety works, but I've been told that you have to "fight" depression - force yourself to do the things that it's telling you not to do. I would give it a go - go to one of your appointments, see what happens. I'm putting my money on you'll feel better that you did.0 -
GO EXERCISE. It's a great distraction, and it will help get your chemical imbalance a bit better adjusted. Give your trainer a heads-up going into the session, and then do the best you can. It will be worth it! (And yes, I've suffered from depression... exercise always, always helped.)0
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I am also struggling with anxiety and depression. I know sometimes what looks simple to other people can just be so hard and scary. What might help is if you eliminate other stressors from your life. Can you reschedule them for a time that is less busy at the gym?
Maybe try creating a mantra to help you through your time with the trainer or focus outside of yourself.
Be strong, you can do it!
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If going to the gym and seeing the personal trainer makes your symptoms worse then maybe you should try exercising on your own for a while? Some walking or other exercise will definitely be beneficial though. Make yourself do something even if you don't feel like it0
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Here, OP...So I've been off track lately because of my depression and anxiety. I've refused to go to the gym because I just don't want to be around other people. I have 5 or 6 personal training appointments that I have scheduled, and I tried to cancel them, but head office isn't letting me because of my contract. I'm really tempted to just let them lapse.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Should I just go and risk possibly having an anxiety attack...or maybe it will make me feel better....I don't even know anymore.
I posted this earlier for a similar thread. Hope this helps.
I remember how strange and disabling the anxiety was.
Tue 08/14/12 10:22 AM
A few years ago I experienced depression for the first time ever.
Took me by surprise!
Now I can empathize with those who experience this.
My experience was to get complete healing from it:
Use exercise as part of your treatment! The healing combo for me was exercise, stress reduction, vitamin d3, fish oil and St John's Wort (herb) extract. ( I took the herb for 6 months, and sometimes take it during the winter months as preventative).
PM me if you want more details.
My suggestion is, if you need to cancel the social things 'cause it's too overwhelming right now, that's fine!
Just start exercising in private.
Maybe a bike...do you have one?
Best wishes and blessings!0 -
Feel better... You should try to get out. It can't be good to isolate yourself. Maybe, you should seek help from a professional. It has got to be hard but hang in there.0
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My friend has anxiety attacks due to work stress. She said when she works out and eats better she doesn't have episodes where she feels like she might faint. Are you taking vitamins?
http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/how-to-take-niacin-vitamin-b3-for-depression-and-anxiety0 -
I am bipolar and suffer from severe anxiety, even when I'm manic. I know very well that there are days where you just don't GIVE A FCK. haha. And depression DOES make you physically tired-- I've slept for 24 hours just from being depressed (NOT on any drug, even prescription) before. Sometimes, you CAN'T just make yourself get up and exercise. But if you ever feel like you can-- even if it's just five minutes of stretching-- sometimes it will help your serotonin levels enough to motivate you to do a little more. It's about tiny, little baby steps.
Sometimes I cave and use caffeine as a way to help, and it usually does to an extent. A good option is green tea, because it's full of L-theanine, which has been proven to help help anxiety and depression. You can even get L-theanine pills and take those if you need a larger dose. Do a little research; there are no as-yet-discovered side-effects. Other natural remedies like valerian root or St. John's Wort may also help (but be careful with any of those; St. John's can make birth control pills ineffective, for example).
Aside from natural remedies, therapy and prescriptions CAN be helpful. For me, they have never been the sudden cure that we all want when we force ourselves to pour out our problems to a doctor. But they are definitely worth looking in to. Alternative therapies like acupuncture and massage may help you more than you can imagine, as well.
If making all these appointments/doing research on your own is too overwhelming right now, get someone to help you. I hope things look up soon. I have been there so many times, but it's about the will to improve your life, not the fact that it's not currently like you want it.0 -
Look at your profile picture - you were out being active and you look like you're beaming.
I don't know how anxiety works, but I've been told that you have to "fight" depression - force yourself to do the things that it's telling you not to do. I would give it a go - go to one of your appointments, see what happens. I'm putting my money on you'll feel better that you did.
I'd do this, if all else fails, you can quit early and go home. I know the biggest challenge for me sometimes is just getting out of the house but once I do, I usually start to feel better.0 -
im sorry to hear your struggling, but dont give up as it will make you feel worse!
try and go , set a time limit of say 30 mins for the first visit and if it goes ok increase the next visit by 10 mins until you are happy! a workout will make you feel better and boast your mood .
maybe u could take some calming music to listen to if you start to panic?? remember the first time will be difficult but at the end of it you will be able to say"YES I DID IT!"
hope it goes well , add me if you like??0 -
Thanks everyone for the advice. I am on meds right now...but also my fault for not consistently taking them. I've been under a lot of stress with my job and my boyfriends new job.
I'm going to try and go tonight, I'll just let my trainer know beforehand about whats going on.0 -
I've had panic disorder since i was a kid of 7 or 8 years old. When I was younger the doctors actually didn't even know what was up, as it wasn't as common (or as correctly diagnosed) as it is now.
I've learned a couple things along the way:
- Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Panic attacks tend to get worse the more you cater to them.... when you've skipped something you've scheduled to do, your body says "oh! good thing we didn't go, we prevented a panic attack! we'll have to prevent more by not going in the future!" The absolute worst thing you can do with panic attacks is cancel activities because of them... anything that is scheduled you shouldn't cancel, because it ultimately reinforces panic attacks and agoraphobia (which go hand in hand).
- A doctor told me recently that chemically, exercising for 45 mins is equivalent to taking an antidepressant. While I'm not sure if this is true, I do notice a HUGE difference in the amount of panic attacks I have when I do and do not exercise. Start small, and get the blood flowing... I promise you within a couple weeks you will notice the difference.
- Take comfort in the fact that others are also struggling with anxiety and depression. Panic attacks often make you think that you're the only one experiencing symptoms and that you need to hide them... instead, reach out to those around you (on here is a great way!) and take comfort in knowing that it's something MANY people have experienced and gotten over... there is hope!
- Lastly, if your symptoms are awful, please do consider seeing a therapist and getting on an antidepressant. I know that medication isn't for everyone, but if your panic attacks and depression are getting in the way of you living a happy life (as they were for me), please take the first step to get help.
ANYONE, please friend me if you need someone to support you in struggles with anxiety/working out. This is something I'm passionate about & certainly hits close to home (even now). Best of luck!0 -
I'm so sorry hun
. I have depression and anxiety also and am now medicated so I can sleep. Best thing ever!
Anyway, I agree with everyone who says get the excercise in anyway you can. Just do it a home if the gym seems overhelming and work up to it.
Feel free to friend me if you like. 0 -
Nothing has helped me more with my depression and anxiety than the confidence and feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish a hard workout or when I started running and could actually do it.
However, if it is that bad, you should definitely see a doctor or counselor to manage the feelings.0 -
GO EXERCISE. It's a great distraction, and it will help get your chemical imbalance a bit better adjusted. Give your trainer a heads-up going into the session, and then do the best you can. It will be worth it! (And yes, I've suffered from depression... exercise always, always helped.)
It depends on how severe the depression is. The only time in my life I was suicidal, I was a runner. Exercise can definitely help......but not always a cure all.0 -
So I've been off track lately because of my depression and anxiety. I've refused to go to the gym because I just don't want to be around other people. I have 5 or 6 personal training appointments that I have scheduled, and I tried to cancel them, but head office isn't letting me because of my contract. I'm really tempted to just let them lapse.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Should I just go and risk possibly having an anxiety attack...or maybe it will make me feel better....I don't even know anymore.
I suffer from an anxiety disorder from PTSD and I am slightly OCD (another anxiety disorder). I have to exercise daily to not have a full blown anxiety attack. I completely understand you though because I went and bought a tread mill and I only to workouts posted on hulu and youtube to avoid people and freaking out. I can't suggest for you to keep the appointments but maybe you can write them and tell them the situation.0 -
Thanks everyone for the advice. I am on meds right now...but also my fault for not consistently taking them. I've been under a lot of stress with my job and my boyfriends new job.
I'm going to try and go tonight, I'll just let my trainer know beforehand about whats going on.
Sounds like a great plan! I am so proud of you for planning to go and yes.....telling your trainer is a very wise idea......and if they are not compassionate and caring.......get another trainer. HUGS and much caring!0 -
I just want to give you a giant hug. I can relate. There are days when my depression/anxiety prevents me from sticking with my exercise but I always feel better when I get out there & do it. Wishing you success!0
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Oh my darling xxx
I have had anxiety and depression and ocd since I was 8 on and off. I honestly find that it has been a slow journey but compared to how I used to feel I feel a million times better. I try and eat quite a bit of fruit and veg and also carbs.
I CANNOT function without carbs, I get depressed and low and very anxious. It isn't about a carb addiction, my body just needs them to keep my "happy bags" on an even keel.
Banana, Brazil nuts, wholemeal bread, rice, dairy... Those are things that help me immensely.
Don't go under your cals, if you don't feel like going to a gym then try a gentle walk.
Please feel free to add me if you need a supportive friend.
Anxiety is a *kitten* and a vile black dog (to use the words of Winston Churchill) but you can and will get through it xxx0 -
I say go ahead and do it..Fight the urge to just BE ALONE...I can say this because I too struggle with depression after the death of my child. it's easier to sit at home and be alone and FACE no one! I encourage you to go ahead with that trainer and work out.. I am 99% positive you will be glad that you did!0
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I've been dealing with anxiety and deppression my whole life but I just got into exercising and taking care of my self about 2 months ago but let me tell you something, I feel better than I ever had in my whole life! Anxiety and deppression is a cycle, you want to isolate yourself because you don't want to be around other people, but the more you just sit around and think about how bad you feel the worse you are going to feel, trust me. I take an anti-deppressant which helps but that paired in with the exercise I feel AMAZING!! Force yourself to go and do it and while your working out, take your life frustrations out on putting your body into shape. It will work!0
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I am so sorry you are going through this. It is really hard to try to get healthy when you are also battling depression and anxiety. My best suggestion is to first, talk to your doctor. Let them know what's going on and that way you have the confidence and drive to get to the gym. Second, make the appointment with the trainer and KEEP IT. I'm so shy, and now I walk around that gym with my head held high...the trainer at my gym gave me the confidence to do the exercises and not feel like everyone is watching me. They showed me every move I wanted, and what all the machines could do. They gym is a very intimidating place. But if you walk in there and act like you know what you're doing, no one will be the wiser.0
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The most important thing I've learned when dealing with depression:
get up.
get dressed.
show up.
You won't regret working out, but staying home gives you even more reason to bemoan how you can't do anything, aren't worth anything, etc...
If you need to pop an anti-anxiety to go to the gym- DO IT! If you can't handle going to the gym, see if your trainer will meet you at home, the park, anywhere else...
Don't give up on yourself- that's letting the disease win.0 -
I don't know if you are a believer or not but depression is the work of the enemy. I too have and sometimes still suffer from depression. My doctor prescribed anti-depressants for me and they just made me feel worse. I prayed to GOD for strength and that's what got me through. Depression is a place where we put ourseleves in because we try so hard to live up to worldly standards. Like, someone said before, fight the depression don't let it fight you. You have lost 44lbs which is a huge accomplishment and people love you. Don't let life beat you because depression doesn't solve any problems it just allows life to pass you by.0
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I am so pleased that has worked for you, that is such an inspirational story xI don't know if you are a believer or not but depression is the work of the enemy. I too have and sometimes still suffer from depression. My doctor prescribed anti-depressants for me and they just made me feel worse. I prayed to GOD for strength and that's what got me through. Depression is a place where we put ourseleves in because we try so hard to live up to worldly standards. Like, someone said before, fight the depression don't let it fight you. You have lost 44lbs which is a huge accomplishment and people love you. Don't let life beat you because depression doesn't solve any problems it just allows life to pass you by.
However, a HUGE amount of depression is caused by a chemical imbalance of seratonin in the brain. I am a believer and do pray but I also need my medication.0 -
First, take your meds. Make that a priority. They cant work if you don't take them and take them every day. I have survived with depression and anxiety my entire life. Until recently I simply survived with it, now I'm learning to live with it. It's a daily struggle. I have to find something every single day to motivate me. I have to find the reason that works for me today to get up and move. Some days I simply can't find that reason.
Remind yourself of what you know. You know that you will feel better if you get up and move. You know that the more you get up and move the easier it will be. You should also know that one of the best treatments for depression and anxiety is a good hard sweat. Of course, knowing and doing aren't necessarily one and the same, this I know.
If your boyfriend is supportive and aware of what you are dealing with ask him to help motivate you. Know that there are many people on here, myself included, that deal with the same issues daily and we do understand.
If nothing else, just get up and move. Walk to the end of the driveway if you have one, or around the block if you can. Walk around your house if nothing else. What ever you can do to just get things moving. That often helps me feel better. It's hard todo at times. Even frequently feels impossible. But I force myself. And when I do, I feel better. You can too.0 -
Hey hun,
I've had depression and anxiety since I was 14. After being on Lexapro for 2-3 years, I wanted off! And I'm telling you from my personal experience, exercise and taking care of yourself WILL make you feel better.
Almost every day, I have to push myself to get up, go out, exercise and be social. I don't want to, but I know it's good for me and I always am glad I did.
As someone said before, you really do need to push your boundaries of what makes you comfortable. You have to fight it, or it'll pull you under.0 -
I have lived with anxiety/panic my entire life, or as long as i can remember anyway... I can remember my mom mixing up a medicine called paragoric when I was a small child and giving it to me before preschool so that she could go to work and the school wouldn't be calling for her to come get me. (That wasn't what the medicine was for, but it made me sleepy enough not to think about being scared)
The biggest thing I have found is that you shouldn't let anxiety stop you from doing any activity, do the best you can, but don't walk away without trying.
It's just anxiety... your gonna feel like crap, like running, like hiding, like everyone is watching you, and that you are certainly going to die from a heart attack... but really it's just your brain playing tricks on you, if you can just get past the "HIT" of the anxiety without reacting, you have it made. Try to remember it's just an uncomfortable feeling, nothing more. Be determined to keep on doing what your doing, force yourself to think about something you enjoy, breath as normally as possible until it passes, you will feel awesome when you overcome and see that you haven't expired because of it.
You can learn to cope without medication, exercise and eating right has worked out best for me because I didn't want to be medication dependent... I have taken no medication for anything (not even a headache) for 16 years.
I am at the point now, where I am looking back and wondering how I missed 30 years of my life because of anxiety, I would not want anyone to have to feel this way, so please don't start avoiding things because of it !!!0
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