Depression and weight loss

YOU ARE AWESOME! I'm so happy you mentioned it and happier that you are on MFP. You should find a lot of support on here. I say, along with your food diary, use your BLOG!! Write down your feelings, make a strong group of MFPs to surround your self with and positive energy. I want to see you do well, please post updates, tell us when you have good days and feed off of your MFP support. Good luck on your journey!

Talk to your doctor. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and medication is often very helpful.

Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce depression/anxiety. I can understand being reluctant to try medication, but why not try making exercise your drug instead of food? You will feel better in many ways.

I'm not a professional, but from my own experience exercise is the single best treatment I have found for anxiety and depression. As hard as it is to get up, go out and get the heart really pumping, I truly believe this makes such a difference. There is some science-y explanation about chemicals released in the brain when you exercise, but I don't know enough about it to speak on it.

My SO is a psychologist, and he recommends daily exercise to his clients too. And he knows of other therapists that refuse to treat clients if they aren't engaging in some sort of physical activity on a regular basis. It's THAT important.

Good luck to you, I know it's really tough, but you can do it!

K x

Hi Marie_leanne89, depression sucks. You can beat depression. You have to take control over your life. You have to ignore depression. When it visits you, you have to fight to break free from it. Yes, depression makes a person want to eat. Feed your depression healthy foods. Most of the time, depression crave snacks. Stack up on healthy snacks. Fruits, nuts, mini size popcorn, carrots, celeries, etc. - Just because depression visits, it doesn't mean depression has to control your food choice.

I don't know what kind of exercise you do, but if I can suggest Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pound workouts to you, get some. Try Walmart. Exercise is good for depression. Calming music is also good. Go to the Dollar tree, if you have one in your city and buy some relaxing music.

Get out the house, when depression strikes. Depression wants to be entertained. Don't pay depression's cable bill.

I'm here for you. I'm your cheerleader.

I've been there, through years of severe depression, and while I don't claim to have "all the answers", I've found some tools that certainly help. I'm like you; I don't have the support of family or friends, but wow when you get to the place where you realize that you are STRONG enough to fight it, and keep fighting , and you realize you're winning....wow, there's nothing more empowering in the world.

In addition to a background of trauma, I found that my hormones were imbalanced, which contributed greatly to my depression. I take a natural supplement that balances my hormones, and it has made an extreme difference. I also have had to choose to walk away and completely break ties with anything in my background that contributes to pulling me down. It's important to define your triggers, then make active choices to eliminate, or at least let YOU be in control, of them.

Taking B complex, also B12, is helpful. I like to use nutritional yeast in my food, because it's a natural food source of B12. I also like to use things like flax meal, which is another natural source of B vitamins. Processed sugars contribute to depression, as does alcohol. If I drink, I always feel kinda blue the next day.

Drink plenty of water, and use exercise as the ultimate "high". Making yourself complete a good workout, even if you don't feel like it, will give your spirit a boost and give you a feeling of empowerment. It's important to claim that and let it carry over into the rest of your day.

Another thing I use is L-Tyrosine, (500 mg capsules), which you can pick up super cheap from a health food store. I notice a HUGE difference with it. Basically, it's a nonessintial ammino acid that plays an important role in the production of dopamine and norepinephrine. I take it every morning, but if you start to feel stressed it helps to take it during the day.

Hope that helps. There was a time that I thought I would have to give in to the darkness and depression, but I can honestly say that I am in control of it now, rather than the other way around. I truly never thought I would ever say that. It's a long road but you can get there too!!! xoxo

Well done for posting up and looking for help, I must admit I am a fan of taking the meds in order to get you to a place where you want to be - I have personally tried without, and literally couldn't exercise because of the insomnia, IBS and inconvenient vomiting sessions which accompanied the anxiety! That said, I also have friends who have managed without the meds but I think you've got to be honest with yourself about whether you need that extra help or not - you say you are going to counseling and want to exercise, and that's great.

How is your diet? I recently started taking some high strength fish oils to see if they'd help me through the Winter, and I take extra B vitamins which are supposed to be useful too. Do you do any kind of meditation or yoga? No-one could have been as sceptical as me but really love it now - I use aromatherapy oils too to help me sleep, and when I have the money I've found Reiki and massage helpful too. I know you're US but I quite like this link and the relaxation info will probably be about the same - good luck to you, you're doing great: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/medical_and_alternative_care/mind_guide_to_relaxation

I suffered a severe bout of PPD after my second child was born and went on anti-depressants...then realized that I've probably been depressed throughout my entire life. Getting on and staying on my meds help me find the motivation to go and exercise, which in turn, helps with the depression. I'm on a very small dosage of my meds (the smallest possible to prescribe) and I know that the dosage is small because I'm able to move.

Depression sucks, but getting help, whether it's from talking to someone, meds, exercising, or a combo of those, can make such a difference. Best of luck to you!

As had depression for about 10 years. Looking back now. I would say it went back into my childhood. Long stories, even freaks my Doc out. Have controlled it so to speak, without medication. Yes i have tied it. And different ones, in that time frame.

Stress brought on my last major hit. Again medications wasnt for me. Im fighting this, with will power. Having lost family and those i consider family along the way. Its been a battle. BUT its working, for me. Now with this battle to understand why i am the way i am, Im finding a way to get my health into order. That will power isnt as strong, but im trying. Thats what matters.

Some things works, for some, some things work for others. Its a learning curve for sure.

Im on the way back, now just to conquer my weight. And nothing will beat me again

Hang in.. and ty for sharing

Depression has many causes, for many it's not just one thing. I do believe that positive thinking, exercise, meditation can all be very helpful in treatment and that for some it is enough.

But depression also can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and so for others medication is necessary. We don't expect others with chronic illnesses to fight their disease with will power alone. There is no shame in taking medications to balance brain chemistry; it doesn't mean you have failed.

Over the years, I have known several people with chronic depression. Overall, a combination of therapy, etc with medications seem to have the best response. For some, being on antidepressant for a while brought them to a place where they could start initiating other healthy behaviors.