Mental Illness Support

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  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    tara_means_star wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    Does anyone else have issues with asking for advice with mental health as it relates to weight loss efforts?

    I have misgivings about asking for advice in any detail mostly because I know no one here can actually help (due to not being psychology professionals or doctors).

    But most of my barriers to successful weight loss are my mental health issues. So when weight loss problems go beyond what to eat and how to exercise, where do WE go for help?

    Please keep in mind that many people simply cannot afford the potential years of therapy to "fix" these problems, yet still desire support. Is there a forum for this? Not here I know, but elsewhere? I have found mental health, and weight loss, but not a decent community that includes both.

    First you need professional help. There is no way around it. Not necessarily therapy, therapy is not even the recommendation for all mental health issues. But you need at least a psychiatrist you can trust, so you need to figure out a way to make this happen.
    Since I do not know your exact situation, it is hard to post specific advice, but you can check https://www.nami.org/ and see if you can get help there, or check mental health support teams and groups in your area. Struggles with weight are common with several mental health issues, so if you become part of a group you will definitely find others who have been through the same.

    Actually, for most mental illnesses I'd recommend you "at least have a therapist" before I'd recommend you "at least have a psychiatrist." For most illnesses, medication isn't a primary intervention but should be used as an intermediate intervention to help lessen the symptoms of mental illness while you work with a therapist to learn skills. Doing so can help many people eventually come off of their medications (though not always and should be done under supervision). Psychiatrists, thought trained in counseling, are notorious for focusing exclusively on pushing pills. Not all, but I've worked with a ton of psychiatrists and can tell you that medication is their primary concern. Mental illness can often be managed without medication, with less medication, or without long term medication use. (Again, NOT all and no one reading this should think that if they are on medication they should suddenly come off. THAT is dangerous.)

    Cosigned.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    ravi_tiwari_786 wrote: »
    I think depression and anti-depression pills are the biggest reason of weight gain... The best way to deal with mental illness naturally is yoga.

    I'm a yoga teacher and have been practicing for 20 years. I would never recommend yoga as the primary way to deal with my brother's mental illness.
  • robs_ready
    robs_ready Posts: 1,488 Member
    I've recently come off medication for the first time in 8 years and it's been tough, I understand where you're coming from though.

    From my own experience, unhealthy eating and a lack of exercise only Worsen certain conditions.

  • starbuckaddict
    starbuckaddict Posts: 38 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    ravi_tiwari_786 wrote: »
    I think depression and anti-depression pills are the biggest reason of weight gain... The best way to deal with mental illness naturally is yoga.

    I'm a yoga teacher and have been practicing for 20 years. I would never recommend yoga as the primary way to deal with my brother's mental illness.

    I do yoga (it's awesome.)

    But I also see a therapist, psychiatrist, and doctor in order to help me maintain my mental clarity and deal with my mental illness. Sometimes you just need help. But it's worth it once you find a combination that helps you feel better.
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    ravi_tiwari_786 wrote: »
    I think depression and anti-depression pills are the biggest reason of weight gain... The best way to deal with mental illness naturally is yoga.

    I'm a yoga teacher and have been practicing for 20 years. I would never recommend yoga as the primary way to deal with my brother's mental illness.

    Yes! Yoga can be a great support for people. It can be one part of an effective treatment for mental illness but to say that is all someone needs is at best over-simplistic and at worst dangerous.
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