Severe depression

Hi @Lioness72,

I hope you don't mind but I was reading a few of your posts. I hope you start to feel better soon. I understand your concern around weight gain and medication - when I was taking antidepressants I had the some concern too but I remember think I'd rather put on a little weight than feel the way I was feeling. The good thing was when I started to feel better I was more motivated to be active and had a better mindset so the weight eventually came off anyway 🙂.

Warm wishes,

FloatingFeather

Hey @Lioness72

I really hope things start to pick up for you soon. I know what you mean about worrying about weight gain. Always worried me too with new medications. So many of us have been conditioned to think this way. Good luck with it and keep reaching out,

Warmest wishes

Hanami

Hi floating feather, thanks for reaching out to me. When I was in hospital I gained a lot of weight quickly. It took 2 years and an incredibly strict exercise regime to lose it and I stopped medication in may this year. I was going fine but every single aspect of my life not included my beautiful girl has shattered. If I could I would never get out of bed. In saying that I have also been there and that resulted in ECT 26 times and so on. I am trying to fake it until I make it but it is so hard. I'm hanging on though, my beautiful girl needs me.I so wish I was well. I am sick of being so sad and teary all the time. How are you going floatingfeather?

Hugs @Lioness72 - you are so strong and courageous @Lioness72 .

Hanging in even when i hear it is just so tough. Your beautiful girl is so lucky to have you.

Sitting with you,

tyme

Thank you Hanami.I gain a lot of weight each time I take the meds but I just have to get better and then I will address it. I know that I can't stay in this space any longer. It's miserable and torturous

Hearing you @Lioness72 . I've gained a lot of weight from medication too. It's something I need to address. It's also a whole lifestyle change when it comes to losing weight. I know all the theory, but after taking my meds, a short time later, I'm absolutely ravenous.

This is something I really need to work on.

But I have to say I'm grateful that my mental health is now stable so I can work on my physical health. Then again, even though my weight is excessive, that is only in terms of BMI. My dietician told me that BMI is not actually accurate in determining overall health.

This is not an excuse to say that I can keep eating the way I do, but looking at my overall health, I have to say I am quite healthy.

What about you? Are you worried about your physical health? or is it just weight?

Hi Tyme. I am a little underweight at the moment due to my depression. I am a qualified aerobics instructor and my experience with my weight gain was unfortunately not diet related in any way as in my eating habits didn't change. Each time I stopped a AD the weight came off. In 2017 due to the cocktail of meds I gained a massive amount of weight. I decided once I was well enough to start exercising seriously whilst still taking a healthy cocktail of meds to lose ***kgs if I'm allowed to use numbers.That would get me back to my original weight. It took huge dedication, a never give up attitude and no sugar coating, hard work but I did it. It took about 20 months. I also like my clothes and I want to be able to still fit them. In saying all of that,I really need some help so for the moment, meds it is. I really wish I didn't stop my meds in may. I thought that I was better. And I would have been if all of the truly horrible things didn't happen. But they did and here I am. I so hope I get my life back @tyme

Good pick-up @Lioness72 - unfortunately, our system does pick up numbers related to weight. Hence, I've just added asterisks - hope that's okay. I didn't want to take away the value of your post.

I'm not one for exercise. Look, let's just say I need people to do it with and to give me that little push... otherwise, I just don't.

But yes, I know my meds cause my body to crave sugars and junk. I do need to kerb my eating habits... and exercise!

To be honest, lockdown was my healthiest time. I had such a great exercise routine. I miss it. Hopefully, these holidays, I'll go back to some sort of exercise routine.

Hi Tyme just need to reach out. I am living in an awful environment with my repulsive abusive husband. We are not together but I have to stay here until may because my townhouse is currently being leased until then and I'm still unwell with covid and I won't be right for work next week. I have only been working there for 2 months. They are closing this Friday for 3 weeks. I hope I don't lose my job. It's been so hard going to work. I am on the verge of tears all the time but somehow manage not to..I really am so upset because I will have to put 2 of my cat's in the animal shelter because I have 4 cats and I can't take them all. This is heartbreaking for me. I never thought my life would end up like this. The systemic abusive, manipulation, betrayal deceit . The list goes on. I have no savings no superannuation because I have been a full-time mum for 30 years. There is 12 years between my son and beautiful daughter. I am shattered. All family has passed and I don't see my son.so it's just myself and beautiful girl. Life is so hard @tyme @Eve7 @Shaz51 @FloatingFeather @hanami

Hey @Lioness72 ,

Are you safe? There is no excuse for abuse.

If you feel unsafe at any time, please call 000.

Id also encourage you to phone 1800RESPECT. They. At be able to better support you with your situation.

Thank you for reaching out.

I’m here sitting with you.

tyme