Posted , 8 users are following.
I have depression,anxiety and severe panic attacks and have not been out for a year except to appointments. My appetite is poor and I sometimes don't eat at all and sometimes binge. My weight had gone up at least a stone in this year due to no exercise. I have no motivation at all. Any advice welcome as my weight is getting me down.
1 like, 11 replies
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frazzled su_02495
Posted
Hi su: Sooooo sorry to know of your probems.
I too suffer from depression, generalized anxiety and use to have panic attacks every day and sometimes several during one day so I can appreciate the angst you are experiencing. It got so bad that I considered jumping in front of the train I took to work everyday and yes I had to cope with all that while working. I had to constantly push myself.
I've learned by going to group therapy for many years, not telling people about your suffering is the worst thing you can do. I had to reach out to people (the group I went to helped). I got a lot of flack saying oh this is all in your head, etc. but yes it is in my head but I cannot help how my chemical flow unless take medication to change what's going on.
Xaxax, altho it is a med that causes dependency and very difficult to withdraw from, stopped the panic attacks. Self talk (telling myself yes I could get thru something without dying) helps as well as prayer for generalized anxiety.
I'm glad you came here because the community provides a place to vent or rant or tell what's on your mind. It's a good step to take. Do you have friends or family who understand what you are going thru?
I got my weight down by walking inside my apartment. 15 minutes at a time twice and day. I also took the advise of my doc and snacked all day on healthy food (found that crackers with a tad of peanut butter satisfied me) so that I would not binge on dinner. I cut out as many carbs (pasta, bread, ice cream, etc.) that I could and increased my water intake (water fills your stomach and makes you less hungry). I know that food provides comfort but it comes at a cost, as you know. So, water water water, small frequent snacks/meals, walking inside or even around the outside of your dwelling should take off some of the lbs. Cutting down on carbs and sweets and maybe getting a pet or taking up a habit like crocheting, letter writing with encouragement to people in hospital or military, dancing in any form to music just to move your body to get your blood flowing, etc. may also help not only engage your mind making you feel less depressed or anxious and talking the weight off.
Good luck and know that you have a great outlet here. Sending vibes of strength your way.
I wish you the best and know that you are not alone. We are here to help in any way we can.
su_02495 frazzled
Posted
Hi
Thank you so much for your reply because I wasn't holding much hope. I do have a dog and was once out with him all the time. My husband does it now but it is an aim to get back to. Walking around my house sounds like a plan and I guess I should cut out the late evening snack. Cheese is my downfall, eating it in great chunks at night. I hardly sleep any way so don't get the nightmares it reportedly gives! I see a phsycologist who is taking me apart and putting me back together (like an old boiler). It is an intense 2 year therapy and I've only just starting. How do you get through the every day stuff? Even the tiniest things are so hard to cope with. My hours just seem to slip by and I don't know what I've been doing all day. Life is so hard but I am telling people about it now and people are trying to support me though some (devastatingly a friend of 25 years and we did every thing together. I haven't seen or heard from her since I told her. Since she was the first to know, six months ago it has been hard to tell other people). So my first step is to get off the sofa and walk round my house. My weight is heavy on my mind as well as my body so my first small step. Thank you again so much x
frazzled su_02495
Posted
Oh my I am sooo sorry your friend acted in such a hurtful manner instead of having compassion and trying to understand hard difficult it is for you. People are strange.
I haven't really lost people because my social phobia keeps me from meeting or being seen by too many of them but those on our block certainly think I'm weird cause I can't go out to block parties or BBQs or even visit my friend who is only 10 minutes away. I force myself to go to the library which is only a block away the whole time self talking telling myself that I can make it. Makes me anxious just to think about all the things that frighten me. I can sit in the back yard and read and I do have a wild flower garden that I tend but both are close to the house so if I feel afraid, I bee line to the door and in I go.
So you have made a resolve to walk inside? I applaud you. You don't have to do 15 minutes twice a day, you can walk 3 times at 10 minutes or set your own schedule as long as it's a half hour and to take your mind off of what you are doing, count your steps. If you have a pedometer even better (I bought one on line) and I put it on and count to see if we agree.
If you like music put that on while walking and do a bit of a dance. Nothing drastic just a few arm movements. You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel. If your hubby can pick up 1 lb. hand weight for you, even better.
Oh a thot before I forget, ALWAYS dress yourself no matter how rotten you feel. Do not sit/lay around in your sleepwear. If you begin to let yourself go not only your increased weight but your appearance, the ugly monster of depression sees an opportunity to sit on your shoulder and tell you how worthless you are. Depression lies. You are NOT worthless.
I feel exactly like you -- where does the time go and what did I do today? I don't go to bed until sometimes 3-4 am and I don't get out of bed and get dressed until around noon. Wake up around 9, put the coffee on to brew, back to bed for another hour, get the coffee, back to bed with my book or magazines. It's my morning ritual. The computer takes up a lot of my time too. I belong to FBook and spend time in various communities. I've found helpful suggestions from the IBS community.
I also do a lot of research looking up stuff that interests me (example the origin of olde sayings that we use ever day like "out of the blue." Where did that come from? Every now and then I do what my mom called surface dusting (hate housework) and I write out bills and am going to start a journal (doc suggestion). How do I feel today and what did I do and what is the weather outside doing, etc. He told me to just put my thots down on paper to get them out of my head. I keep a daily calendar and jot down the weather, birds I've seen, what the foliage is doing (flowers, etc.) doc appointments -- stuff like that and I do my walking.
I'm so glad to know that you will be seeing a psychologist. Don't hold anything back. If you begin to feel uncomfortable with what he/she/they may be putting you thru, let it be known. Never hold your feeling/emotions inside. I know you've lost a friend by telling her your problems but maybe that person wasn't your friends after all?
Again I wish the best for you. You can beat this with time. Just think of how wonderful you will feel once the weight starts coming off. Oh yes, absolutely NO EATING after 10 pm. Drink water to fill your belly.
Get up and get moving. Keep in touch. I'm here everyday (except next week I'm going with my friend and her husband for a 5 day stay on the lake -- that' aught to prove interesting -- something we've never done before). My honey can't go because he had an 80 lb ex-track racing greyhound who he cooks for. OY.
WALK..
sam18386 su_02495
Posted
Hi, I understand your distress you must find a exercise you like and do that. I use swimming walking and plates. It helps weight and depression. If you can swim in the day you'll find some friends maybe? Good luck.
su_02495 sam18386
Posted
Hi Sam
Does Pilates help with Weight? I had been thinking of yoga but not sure at all. Because I can't as yet get out is it easy to learn to do yourself?
robert68588 su_02495
Posted
Hi Su.I too have the anxiety/depression along with IBS.I had the IBS/anxiety for about 20 years and probably depression too,but it's only recently (last 8 months) diagnosed.For many reasons I have been in freefall for the last 10 months.Job was a big part as we were bought out by a large corp. about 2 years ago,switched to their"system" a year ago and ,excuse my language,but it's balls to the wall work every single day.They have us doing much more work in the same amount of time and it's impossible.Add to the fact my eating and drinking habits had gotten bad and although I strongly believe in God and was doing all the "religious" things:going to church,prayer group,outreach,etc.,I didn't have Him in my heart and really wasn't living a very Christian life.Well as stated it all came crashing down about 10 months ago.Since then I've lost 80 lbs. going from 265 to 185(I'm 5'9"",54 years old) which is my perfect weight but it was because of the pain from IBS/anxiety that made/makes it hard to eat.My regular doc although helpful said "Great your at your target weight but don't lose anymore."Well I don't want to!! It's just hard to eat sometimes.I've been put on new meds over that period(Mirtazapine,GAbapetin,Tramadol for back pain related to IBS) and weaned off of Paxil(20 years) and Ibprofin,seen a psy doc for the first time(she's alright,but they basically just give you meds here in the US),seeing a counsoler (who I've seen off and on for 10 years) and she's very good and massage therapy but only twice a month as it isn't covered and expensive.I'm soon to see a MD who also is holistic medicine but she's out of network,so I'd have to pay out of pocket and she's very expensive.The hunks of cheese things is amazing as I thought I was the only one who did that.Late at night usually after a big dessert i'd have them.Really bad for me and contributed to my downfall.Cut out all dairy except glass of almond milk in the morning starting 10 months ago.What has pulled me thru is I now have a stronger relationship with God.I've stopped all my religious activity except outreach and prayers and Bible reading everyday plus talking with God,A WHOLE LOT!! I'm looking for a new place to worship as my current church just isn't doing it.It's hard to explain.It's an old main line Methodist church and although they're trying to be more contemporary 70% of the people are older than me and are used to a subdued,rote service,which is fine,but there's just no energy or Spirit if you will.So i'm looking.In fact I'm leaving now for an evening service at a church just to worship.But I trust God is working me into the right place.Sorry to ramble.Hope something I said helps.I would just trust God,continue with therapy and just sometimes you have to force yourself to get out.I'm praying for you and love your way.God Bless You,Bob
su_02495 robert68588
Posted
Hi Robert
Thank you for taking time out to get in touch. I have no faith to turn to as I don't believe but I am really glad you have found yours again. I am lucky being in UK that my phsycologist is covered by the NHS but I pay for my meds. I'm not in a place to force myself out at the moment. Your job sounds awful. Too often this happens and the company doesn t care about employees. I wish you the very best. Su
Laney83 su_02495
Posted
hypercat su_02495
Posted
Hi the best way to keep a healthy weight is to follow a healthy eating regime. If you starve or binge for long periods it confuses your body and it doesn't know how to react.
It may seem strange but if you eat too few calories you can send your body into starvation mode so in order to retain as many calories as possible it hangs on to them lowering your metabolism as a result. The lower your metabolism the less easy to lose weight. This is the end result of yo-yo dieting.
Although exercise is very useful for losing weight it isn't essential if you for some reason you can't do it. x
hypercat
Posted
ellebi su_02495
Posted