Depression and coming undone

MFP has a Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

Eating right & exercising is an important part of self-care. Start here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Also in that book, there are quick questionnaires to find out where you are mentally and what you may need for each stage. For me it was the chapter "Blasting the Blahs" that helped me the most. Good luck and read the reviews on Amazon before you dismiss this book!

I truly am sorry that I have no words that will help...I wish I did.

Many of us have had periods in our life of depression due to one thing or another. Some have fought their way out of with medication...others through just pure determination...some a combination of both.

Whether you realize it or not...you have already taken the first step of regaining your life...you have faced your problems and acknowledge them. In one sense...that might be the hardest step to take.

As far as binging...IMO...at least when I look back on my own relationship with food...we hide behind it...use it to distract...to fill a need. It wasn't until I defined what I was hiding from and what I needed was I able to get my eating under control. I had to come to terms with my fears...take down the walls that I was hiding behind...a take a step forward.

We all have to learn to love ourselves...love ourselves enough to live the lives that not only we want...but deserve.

I wish you luck...I wish you peace...

Id trying taking some vitamins and see if that improves your mood at all. Good ones are l tryptophan, vitamin b complex, omega 3 fish oil

I totally relate, right down to your last sentences.
It is hard. I also have hypothyroidism, alongside depression and issues with binge eating and at times, bulimia(though I am mostly past the latter).
I have slipped into 8 week long phases of severe binge eating, where I barely left my home, only going out to buy more food. I slept and ate, and did little else. It was no way to live.

The only thing that helped, was getting back to the gym, I have to say. The lack of exercise, just compounds the situation as you have all this sugar running through your system, causing endless peaks and dips, and no means of burning that off. The tiredness is also partly, at the very least, caused by the binge eating and lack of exercise.

I suggest getting in a decent pile of healthy and nourishing foods, setting a realistic calorie goal for yourself while you try and break free of this binge eating pattern, and getting that first workout in... I have pushed myself into that gym many a time, when all I wanted to do was curl up in bed, so tired did I feel, but I still went, and came out feeling better and more alert. At the very least, get out and go for a walk, somewhere calm and peaceful if possible. Take yourself to a nice cafe and sit with a tea/coffee and a good book....just get out there and do something, because the alternative, is remaining stuck where you are and getting worse.

Make sure you are in a good routine. I have a bad habit of staying glued to the internet half the night and not getting up until midday and gone. Makes matters worse. Keep your hands and mind busy... I do cross stitch, but you could get yourself a puzzle book, or a colouring book, or take up knitting or writing.

Most of all, remember you are as worthy of happiness and life as the next person. I know believing that is hard, as I myself spend many hours a week, feeling myself to be of no worth, or use at all. But, I am working on it, and so must you.

Good luck.

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I do understand. I also suffer from depression, along with ADHD and Anxiety. It is very hard to get out of a slump like that. I've been in one for about 6 months now, its frustrating. what helps me, is being outside, I like to take walks at a park near my work that is very peaceful for me, my "happy" place. I was having a really rough time a few days ago, my PMS was really bad, so I went on pinterest and found some inspirational quotes and posted them on my wall. It really helped me. Try setting a small goal for the week. Good luck. hugs.

too sleepy to respond properly to this so will do it tomorrow. i can totally relate to you:frown:

So I finally got a blood test from my doc for my fatigue, everything is fine but she suggested Vitamin D since we're in a huge bad spot for sunlight. I'd big time suggest asking if a Vitamin D vitamin would be beneficial towards your depression. That said, I swear by my citalopram. And it's taken me so many freeken years to find a drug that worked for me. AND that said, it's taken years to figure out what works for me and what is just a placebo.

The oddest that has helped? Blood pressure medication. Now my BP is perfectly fine (125/70) but when my doc put me on Propranolol my anxiety and my migraines have gone down. And the key was for my migraines. However having the help with anxiety has been HUGE. Again, it's your body so it may vary. If you'd like to talk about it please let me know. As you know everyone is different.

In the mean time, take the time to treat yourself well. Depression seriously sucks. *HUGS*

ok, so i just wanted you to know i relate to EVERYTHING you say. i have struggled with depression since i was a little girl. been on antidepressants since i was 13. in the last year and a half ive REALLY taken a turn for the worse, and thats when i gained 50 lbs. i also feel that my depression has turned into something more,like maybe bipolar? bc i have extremely uncontrollable ups and downs.actually thats why i decided to joing my fitness pal...bc i know my weight plays HUGE part in how i feel. physically,but mostly mentally. ive been doing better since i started exercising every day and monitoring my calories. now some days,i still cant get myself out of the bed to exercise but most days i can. add me anytime if you want to talk. there is nothing you could say that i would judge you for. ive been through it all. i need motivation too .

Read the book "The Mood Cure, Take Charge of your emotions in 24 hours...naturally" by Julia Ross. She holds a master's degree in clinical Psychology and is a leader in the field of nutritional psychology. It sounds like your body is lacking some vital foods, supplements and amino acids. I can attest that it helps me completely naturally find energy, get sleep, find motivation and feel great.

Bump for later...THANK YOU

First, I 'spose I can relate to much of what you said. Diagnosed major depression 5/05. Moderate anxiety also. Have been on meds for both, and seem to work ok for me. Guess I got lucky with meds, in that I didn't have to try others. No energy, sleeping excessively, total loss of interest in things, been there. I also have hypothyroidism, meds too, some days good, others not.

Don't know how I accomplished my recent weight loss, but I avg. maybe 15 or so big bag of chips, eaten in one setting. Though I never include in food diary.

I find it sad that family especially is not a support, though from many mental health groups I've attended that is a common comment. I can relate also about others not understanding mental health. I've had numerous comments that it's all a figment of my imagination...like whatever. I really gave up driving semi, just to get disability (not), some folk are too funny for words. The big "S", well that does apply to me. 3 ICU's, and 12 stays in mental hospital. Nice to know you haven't plummeted that far.

The overeating, it was hard at first, but when I first began I went from 160 to 199, depression and love of chips mainly, that did it. for me. I'd like to hope that part might motivate you to control binges. I actually cut out all junk/fatty foods until I hit my 160 goal again. As I'm sure you know, we all handle/think differently, but please don't think "defective and disgusting", heck, that applies to many who are not in the mental health system. Chemical imbalance, sure. I still find little to no pleasure in most things at times, but the gym is one where I literally have to force myself at times.

Don't know if this will help at all, or if I rambled toooo much, but may things get better. Self talk?

Whenever I get down I go for a walk. It can be in a park or in the neighborhood, etc. My mind goes a gazillion miles an hour sometimes so I walk to burn off the stress and thoughts. Sorry to hear you're going through so much.

This might seem like strange and backwards advice, but maybe you need to forget about losing weight right now. Maybe you should just focus on your mental and spiritual well-being, and your physical well-being will follow. Focus on finding balance and tranquility in your life, rather than trying to lose weight....that's just adding another stressor that you don't need to deal with right now! I'm not going to pretend that I know what you're going through, because everyone's experience is different...but I know that I wasn't really capable of losing weight until after I was able to finally get my depression and anxiety under control. ****but the most important thing for you to know is that you're not alone, there are tons of people out there going through similar struggles, so don't ever feel like you are worthless or helpless or disgusting. You are human, you are imperfect, and that is beautiful

Same for me.

I am sorry you are going through this tough time. My faith is what gets me up in the morning and keeps with going. Food was my god but I have found another way that is so much better. I will be praying for you.

I can relate. Same two diagnosis. I can only tell you what works for me. Besides the cognitive therapy which helped me to recognize my triggers and early onset warning signs, I have worked to log everything I eat, and not apologize if I go over. Logging it as I eat it when I am in a depressive state helps me to be more cogniscent (sp?) of my actions and this tends to help a bit with the binging. Oddly enough, now I can recognize a pattern in the junk food I eat and the oncoming of a depressive episode. So it helps me with that too. What helps to keep my symptoms in check is walking outside, especially in the sun, or any form or exercise, but walking outside helps, as well as forced interaction with people. I only learned this because I adopted the worlds cutest beagle who needs to go on long walks twice a day and interacts with every person who remotely glances at her. In my depressive state I wouldn't go out for me, but i will always go out for her. The regular walking and interaction with people helped the episodes not to last as long ans the symptoms to not peak as highly (even though I fricken' hate it sometimes at my worst).

These may not work for you at all. We're all weird and freaky and different with our body chemistry. I agree with the previous posters. make weight loss your secondary goal right now. In therapy, I would try and work on the immediate needs of damage control during an episode. Start identifying signs, symptoms and triggers so you can name them and head them off at the pass when you start to recognize them. it takes time. then start experimenting with natural dopamine increasers like outdoors, exercise, animals, etc. And when you find one that works, take it seriously like you would your meds, daily, weekly, regular intervals. The hardest thing for me to do when i am in the middle of an episode is to keep to a schedule, but the routine also really helps to lesson my symptoms. Even if it's as simple as forcing myself to wake up at 7am every day and stay awake for an hour before I go back to sleep. Doing things like this, as well as taking my meds regularly has helped me to lesson the impact of my episodes and the length of them dramatically over the last several years. Side note: no two meds workt he same for no two people. it can take a few years to find the right med and dosage. Work closely with your doctors, communicate regularly with them, and keep a log of your symptoms/reactions with each one if you can manage it. It can be hard to do in a depressive state. Good luck. You are not alone in this, everyone here is rooting for you.