Depression > eating > depression cycle

You need to realize something for as hard as it may seem to you at times...

Food is not confort! Food is not a emotion!

Food is survival, food is a necessity.

I wish you the very best dealing with your problems, but if you're here and posted this, is because food (the way you have it now) is adding to your problems rather then helping you through them. The change has to come from within, from your mind and body.

Good luck!

You know the saying "if hunger is not the problem, food is not the answer"?

Take your medication girl, it messes with your head if you are not regular.

I crave carbs when I'm depressed, too. Hugs for you and good luck with your journey.

GG

Hey, I feel your pain. I'm not on 'the other side' of things yet, but I'm making progress emotionally and so far, physically. I have depression and anxiety (they're like two bullies who are best friends) and have had them both for over five years. My weight is largely due to me eating anything and everything that was total comfort.

For example, I feel like if I had to eat a salad, it would take mental energy to do it since I DON'T like it and it'd be like a chore trying to get it all down. BUT, if I had my fav pizza I know I loved it, it tasted great, and was like a warm hug I could depend on unlike support, income, and the likes with other things in life. When I felt ****ty, cupcakes, chips, burgers, fries you name it, were all so easily there and worked immediately - like they were some magic bullet to beat the blues, despair, anxiety whatever. If nothing else could feel good, at least my tastebuds could.

This summer was really tough for me. I finally got my Masters degree after a gruelling four year battle of depression, anxiety, poverty, and then having the department think I was slacking. There are *no* jobs right now so I worked my $$$ off in a Staples store for minimum wage while my friends with less education were getting paid $25 more per hour doing hardly anything. Then, my family had dramas threatening to rip us all apart and I didn't like the way I looked to top it off. What made me drop the carbs were a few things.

I told my family doc that everything in my life sucked. I couldn't control my job situation at the moment, I was poor, my family was nuts, and I was lonely (no partner). I told her the only thing I feel like I could control was what went into my mouth but that I needed help. So, here's what I did:

I got a book called: "Women, Food, and God" - it's not really religious, more spiritual and hilarious. Anywho, it really talks about why we eat the way we do and how many of us do it to numb mental pain. Anyway, it was insightful for me.

Then, I started watching my calories on here for two weeks making sure I was under and doing at least 15 minutes of walking a day.

Finally, I started this metabolic clinic that is super strict about food (ironically, I don't really follow it lol...) - I just make sure that I eat all the extra lean meat I want, some veggies (considering I hate most of them), low salt (try to keep my daily total below 2000), and try to keep as much processed food out of me as possible. I also got this book called the Glycemic Load Diet (what many diabetics follow).

In two weeks I've lost 11 pounds and I haven't really exercised much at all. I drink loads of water (about four bottles a day - which is loads to me). Keeping my carbs down to nearly zero has crushed the cravings and stabilized my moods actually...BUT, I did go through crazy withdrawal the first two days. And still, I crave them a little but I just do something to occupy myself. If I'm upset, I just make sure I make one hell of a good steak or chicken dish lol.

So, it can be done. It's a slow process but one worth the trip.