Too depressed to care anymore?

Depression is the very reason I said "screw it" to everything and gained 17 lb. over the course of this year. All I wanted to do was NOT move. I'd eat whatever, however much of whatever I wanted, make sure my daughter was taken care of, and lay in bed and watch TV. Every morning I'd set my alarm for 5:30am with the promise that I was going to workout that next day, and each day I'd hit snooze until 7am and "promise" myself I'd start "tomorrow." And with every milkshake I pushed into my mouth and every bad food decision I made I'd go back to that "tomorrow" promise of starting.

Even when my jeans were getting ridiculously, can't even ignore it anymore tight, I still didn't care enough.

Until one day I just DID. Of the other things in my life that stress me out (personal, financial), I had to compartmentalize and separate my weight from the other issues, and focus on attacking this one issue. My own domino effect. I can't take on changing EVERYTHING at one time so take on what I want to change the most - getting back into shape - into even better shape than I was a year ago.

And I've noticed that by breaking the cycle and focusing on this, my mood has improved. I realize that the other issues that stress me out/depress me still exist, my mood toward everything is more even, less depressed. Because I plucked out ONE issue and am tacking it HEAD ON.

And like a juggler, once I feel secure with jugging this, I'll add the next thing I want to change into the mix, juggle that with diet/exercise, and add in another, and another, until I've got everything where I want it to be.

But it's just one step at a time. Pick what you want to change - just ONE thing - and focus on that first and foremost!

That is tough to overcome. At least you are aware of what is going on in the moment and how you are feeling. Some people aren't even able to do that.
I haven't suffered with this in many decades, however what usually works for me is to try different approaches such as:

- allowing myself to feel grumpy and acknowledging that it is coming from within, rather than any outside influences.
- meditation
- mixiing things up! ie. volunteering, trying a new hobby, going for a run, signing up for a class, watching comedy on t.v. etc.
- this year I had chronic pain for about 6 or 7 months and I sat beside a light box every single day in the gloomy winter. I think it made a difference in my mood.
- talking to someone.
- good friendships. These need cultivation and commitment and they are so worth it
- I can not emphasize the importance of good women friendships. They are like medicine!!
- walking, running or deadlifting
- if I gain 2 pounds or 10 pounds, just taking it off again. Everything will be alright. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

I'm glad you made this thread.

Exercise is a great anti-depressant.

What a football coach would tell you: Quit feeling sorry for yourself and win this thing!
What a yoga teacher would tell you: Just close your eyes and feel the life-giving oxygen flow in and out of you until you find peace.
What Chuck Norris would tell you: Just give me an address and a name; it will be fixed in ten minutes.
What Darth Vader would tell you: Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate you.
What my pastor would tell you: Be still and know that he is God. This is temporary and you will come out of this stronger.
What Beaker from The Muppets would tell you: Me me me me me meeeee me meeeemeememe me me!

Hope that helps!

That was awesome!!

Everyone has issues, adding your weight to yours is only going to make your life worse and make an excuse to indulge on junk..sorry but that's just how I had to sum up my own life. Without going into my sad details too much..after my father died in 09 I was left with little to no family and support system and 4yrs later ..you know I have to really just cry it out and do what needs to be done..I understand depression and there is a time when medicine is needed however if your making a decision to just give up then I will then say sometimes..things are not cured by meds but by straight talk....get it together girl....you can do it because you need to get yourself healthy because you have one life..please realize many people have it way worse of than you or me...read the news....that's what I do when I think my life is at its worse...then I suck it up and put my game face on and say "my life is cake and I need to pray for someone and it isn't myself".

I too battle depression. Some days are worse than others. But you have to battle through each day. My mother used to say "Fake it till you make it". In other words, smile til you feel like smiling!