depression battle

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kt_kat_88
kt_kat_88 Posts: 74 Member
in Motivation and Support
I have been battling depression for about 3 years now. Within the last month or so it has been pretty bad. I feel it mostly on weekends when I'm away from work and at home. I don't have many friends to do anything with. Although my weight is not the cause of my depression, it does make it worse. Normally I spend my time sleeping and not really eating throughout the day. but when I do eat, its just something fast and unhealthy. The only time i ever get any exercise in is during lunch when me and my coworker walk but when i get home i just want to curl up in bed.

if anyone could offer me support or just someone to talk to would be great.
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  • rowanwood
    rowanwood Posts: 510 Member
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    That sounds very painful, and I know that depression is a hard mistress...but honey it sounds like you need some professional help you are not getting. This is interfering with your life and I think medication or a change in medication (if you already take some) is in order. There's no shame in getting the help you need...and you aren't going to get that on a fitness message board.
  • BoondockSaints22
    BoondockSaints22 Posts: 3
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    I've had depression since I was in my teens. I'm happy to be there for you if you need someone to talk to. I will say that I second the opinion that you should seek out help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist. I know it can be difficult and even embarrassing, but you wouldn't feel ashamed about going to the doctor for a virus. Depression can be triggered by life events, but with all the oversleeping (which I have totally done before) it sounds to me like something biological is going on. I resisted taking medicine for many years, until I went through a pretty serious trauma and was desperate for help. I've been on a low dose of anti-depressants for a year now. I feel a lot better and my biggest regret is not having started them sooner.
  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
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    Maybe join a walking group that meets on the weekends (or any course like first aid or toastmasters etc). It seems like you are lonely and do better with social interaction. Doing different things on the weekend is a good way to meet new people and make friends. Laying around on the weekend just breeds boredom and depression.

    Also, you are very pretty and accounting is a great career choice. I think you just need to build up your confidence.
  • kt_kat_88
    kt_kat_88 Posts: 74 Member
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    someone on my facebook just posted about adult kickball starting up so i was thinking of maybe giving it a try. i know a few people on her team are a bit overweight too so i guess it will make me feel less self consious. i feel alot better in social enviroments. i think thats why i went back to school. but now that schools over, i dont really have anything. maybe this kickball will be a blessing. meet new people and maybe get back in the exercise groove
  • dangerousdumpling
    dangerousdumpling Posts: 1,109 Member
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    someone on my facebook just posted about adult kickball starting up so i was thinking of maybe giving it a try. i know a few people on her team are a bit overweight too so i guess it will make me feel less self consious. i feel alot better in social enviroments. i think thats why i went back to school. but now that schools over, i dont really have anything. maybe this kickball will be a blessing. meet new people and maybe get back in the exercise groove

    I think it's great that you want to take steps to make changes! Good for you! It'll be so helpful for you to be around people, make new friends, and get some exercise.
    Have you looked into cognitive therapy? Basically it's retraining your thinking, because our thoughts affect our feelings, which can lead to depression. We have these negative thought patterns that can affect us so much that we want to curl up and sleep all the time. Cognitive therapy can help you learn how to think in a positive and beneficial way. There's a great book you can read called Feeling Good by Dr. David D. Burns. It's been very helpful to so many people. It really works if you apply it and it'll help you gain skills that will benefit you all your life.
  • whimsy38
    whimsy38 Posts: 158 Member
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    I have suffered depression my whole life too, and I really remember the post college, no friends blah. I totally agree that you should seek a medical opinion. It can make a huge difference. To fill your free time consider getting involved in volunteer work of some kind . Hard to feel sorry for yourself when your helping others.
  • whimsy38
    whimsy38 Posts: 158 Member
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    .
  • laurabean1983
    laurabean1983 Posts: 1 Member
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    Depression sucks. No easy way around that. I constantly question myself for getting off my anti-depressant so I could attempt to get pregnant. Some days I can't even stand to be around myself. Certainly getting involved in new activities and meeting new people is a great idea. Checkout Meetup.com its pretty awesome. I found a couple walking/hiking groups for people with dogs. Taking the pooch gives a focus and ice breaker for meeting new people. I love that there are groups for pretty much any interest and that you can create your own group if you dont find something interesting or in your area.
    Med wise, you wouldn't hold yourself back from taking insulin if you were a diabetic, why stop yourself from seeking medical advice on taking an anti-depressant? Something to think about.
  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
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    someone on my facebook just posted about adult kickball starting up so i was thinking of maybe giving it a try. i know a few people on her team are a bit overweight too so i guess it will make me feel less self consious. i feel alot better in social enviroments. i think thats why i went back to school. but now that schools over, i dont really have anything. maybe this kickball will be a blessing. meet new people and maybe get back in the exercise groove

    That sounds awesome.
  • Magdaloonie
    Magdaloonie Posts: 146 Member
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    As a student, do you have access to a student health clinic? You do sound physiologically depressed. I have been twice! The first time went undiagnosed and untreated for many years and I will always have psychological issues from the damage it caused, though you wouldn't know that if I didn't tell you. Forward a couple decades and I am now on antidepressants for a chemical depression that cropped up during peri menopause. I got help and I'll take these pills for the rest of my life if I need to. Brains are delicate things and can so easily go out of whack. I am myself when I take my "crazy pills" but I am angry, tired and constantly on the verge of irrational tears when I'm not. I'm not going back to that!
    So, go see a doctor. It may be a very simple fix that will change your life.
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
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    I went through a horrible depression 2 years ago. I didn't talk to anyone, just went to work, came home and sat on the couch. I started going to the gym 3 days a week, and I worked out hard. Honestly it was the best medicine. I felt SO good to get that anger and sadness out I started going 5 days a week!
  • WhiteGirlWasted13
    WhiteGirlWasted13 Posts: 178 Member
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    ::raises hand::

    Depressed off and on since childhood. I never recognized it for what it was until I was much older though. I've taken Rx medications off and on, too. The only one I found that seemed to help, stopped helping when I took myself off of it because I felt better. I should have known better.

    So, now my doctor has me taking Holy Basil. It seems to just take the edge off. I guess for me, being able to recognize when I'm having an "emotionally" bad day is key. I know to scale back my interactions with family, not make major decisions, etc.

    Feel free to add me, especially if you just want someone to talk to on your bad days (or good ones!). I won't judge you, but I will give you healthy doses of reality when it seems you need them. And I'd definitely want you to do the same for me!
  • Sarah_L_S
    Sarah_L_S Posts: 121
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    Maybe join some groups, or a gym? I have met lots of people in my new-ish area through gym classes, and we have started to socialise out of the gym too. Anything you like, perhaps a language class, walking group, volunteering (give you a sense of giving back and self-worth too!) would be great.

    I have been depressed on and off my whole adult life, and the things I found that help most are:
    - Keep busy, have things to look forward to
    - Get out of the house, even if it is just walking to the shop to buy a paper / groceries
    - Don't eat junk food - it makes you feel 10x worse
    - Don't drink alcohol when feeling down - it makes it worse
    - Keep regular hours, and get up and go to bed at sensible times

    Best of luck,
    Sarah
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
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    I've read that low fat diets can exacerbate and even cause depression because the brain needs fat to function properly.

    My guess is that this was noticed during a study of something else since it would probably be unethical to to directly study this. Inducing depression would be as unethical as deliberately exposing people to diesel exhaust without telling them. Oh wait, the EPA actually did that.
  • TdaniT
    TdaniT Posts: 331 Member
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    Depression is a serious issue and I am so glad that you have reached out. It doesn't matter who you reach out to, just that you do. You do seem very aware of your depression and the need to do something about it. Kudos to you! Several people on here have given you some very good advice. And I like that you are looking at doing the kickball. Keep reaching out for help and I know it will get you through it. It really cannot hurt to seek professional advice as well. I have seen a therapist off and on for years. I go when I need to. I go when I know I can't get myself out of the pit that I am in. Same with medication. I go on it when I know that I can't pull myself out. It does not hurt or make you a lesser person to use these to help you. You know you and you know how your depression is. Do what you need to do to keep going. :)
  • mbs439
    mbs439 Posts: 17
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    I've been suffering from depression for almost 10 years, so I can definitely sympathize with you. I have been on and off antidepressants, and the most recent time I went off medication really triggered my binge eating and dramatic weight gain, making a bad situation much worse. I'm new to this site, but I'm here for support if you ever want to talk about it. We can help each other out.:smile:
  • kt_kat_88
    kt_kat_88 Posts: 74 Member
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    thanks everyone for their input. glad to see i'm not alone in this. joining kickball really seemed to help. we have our second game tonight. hope we dont get smothered like last week (13-0). Ive also been walking about 1 - 1 1/2 miles 3 times a week. and what was really weird was last night i got the modivation to workout in my room. and normally when its hot i hate working out but being already sweaty made me feel like i had already worked up a sweat so i went ahead and did some free weight arm exercises and sit ups on my body ball (though i think i need a new ball, its looking kinda deflated). the 5 lb weight loss was a big motivation too.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
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    I've read that low fat diets can exacerbate and even cause depression because the brain needs fat to function properly.

    My guess is that this was noticed during a study of something else since it would probably be unethical to to directly study this. Inducing depression would be as unethical as deliberately exposing people to diesel exhaust without telling them. Oh wait, the EPA actually did that.

    Low fat diets do not cause depression.
  • littlebrownbat3
    littlebrownbat3 Posts: 54 Member
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    Hi,
    Just saying I'm with you. I've been battling depression a long time, some from trauma, some probably genetic predispostion, and I just want to say exercise helps. It's the best thing for me, I can feel it if I go more than a day without a heavy workout. I'm glad kickball is working for you. Just remember baby steps still get the job done.
    And also, because not all doctors mention this, a lot of medications can trigger depression, oral contraceptives is famous for it. I'm not saying the Pill is a bad thing (far from it) but I have to be on it or I get tumors on my ovaries. Downside is depression. A lot of this is caused by how the chemicals effect uptake of certain vitamins, like B6 and B12, some affect vitamin D, and magnesium uptake. You might want to supplement your diet with these vitamins.
    And finally, go see a therapist, it's hard, and it sucks, but it helps.
  • littlebrownbat3
    littlebrownbat3 Posts: 54 Member
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    I've read that low fat diets can exacerbate and even cause depression because the brain needs fat to function properly.

    My guess is that this was noticed during a study of something else since it would probably be unethical to to directly study this. Inducing depression would be as unethical as deliberately exposing people to diesel exhaust without telling them. Oh wait, the EPA actually did that.

    Low fat diets do not cause depression.

    They can, if an individual is sensitive to it. Low fat diets can prevent the formation of estrogens, which are critical for mood stabilization in men and women. This isn't an attack of a kind of diet, but making healthy choices requires that people are aware of all possibilities, and how those choices can affect them.

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