help please

[serenity402]

hi i was just wondering if anyone out there suffers from bouts of nasty depression, and if anyone has had an evil eight gain before they went on any meds, i keep getting depressedand teary eyed for no apparent reason or for little things which shuldent usualy bother me, am i going mad, please help, i have also been asked if im pregnant, wich im not, i just keep on piling on the weight and cant seem to loose it, and i eat healthy, any ideas or similoar experiances please so i dont feel so alon

[MsWobbles]

Hey Serenity,  

Trouble with depression is you have low energy levels so it is hard to make positive changes - but force yourself.  Sometimes getting on something temporarily to give you more energy, like an ADHD medication (Ritalin etc.) or Provigil can help reduce the depression enough for you to have the energy to make positive changes.

Exercise is great for lifting depression.  So is eating more veggies!  Have your folate levels checked.  Eat foods rich in folate - like asparagus etc.  Higher folate levels help defeat depression.  Stay away from concentrated sweets - candies, cookies, cakes etc. that cause an eventual drop-off in energy.

Also check your thyroid - but not just the TSH (which is a poor indicator of thyroid function although it is commonly accepted as THE best measurement of thyroid activity).  Check free T3, free T4, reverse T3.  Also check your basal temperature - the temperature first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.  That is a better indicator of thyroid function than the TSH for sure!!  My basal temperature has been as low as 94°!!!  Being low-thyroid (hypothyroid) and energy-less can lead to depression.

If you even suspect you might be bipolar, do NOT take SSRI medications such as Prozac or Zoloft because they can drop you down to way deeper depths than you ever knew existed!!  

Best of luck in escaping your depression!!

Hugs!!

WAF

[anniecrawley]

Hello have you ever seen a doctor about
Your depression. I went to the doctor and
He put on antidepressants and it has helped
Me a lot .I have had ups and downs on my weight
I struggle with that and eat healthy I try to go
Take walks that is a good exercise if you can't
Get to do any other kind of it also I've been trying
To eat five fruits and five vegetables a day. I'm
Not a big fan of water but I'm trying to drink more of that
Also

[HVAC]

You are not alone. I certainly understand depression it has plagued me for over forty years. I also understand the catch 22 of weight gain and depression.

Depression is a serious problem and needs to be addressed before the weight. Have you gotten professional help? It was hard for me to admit it was something I could not handle on my own.

I started with my PCP because I trusted her. Then with research found a great Psychiatrist. After that when I was at my lowest I researched and found the right therapist for me.

I thought I could not afford the therapist but it was pointed out that I could not afford to go with out therapy since I would end up in the hospital.

A year later I am doing very well. On top of if it since I feel better I am getting more exercise and losing weight with out trying.

Hang in there.

Alex