Depression and Weight IssuesHave you been diagnosed with depression, are possibly on depression medication, and find it affects your weight loss efforts? Post here for support!
No Access to Meds/ Therapy, anyone else treating it naturally?
Severe anxiety here... chronic PTSD, atypical depression, no meds. Prescribed a beta blocker to help with anxiety as needed (propanolol) but nothing else...
Work in the field in a small, rural area so can not visit clinicians without creating a dual relationship... has nothing to do with embarrassment... but just can't really get around the ethics of it all... Plus, recently lost health insurance so doubly screwed now in that regard...
My symptoms are the worst they have EVER been due to a super rough 2008 with several family emergencies and just a general 180 degree turn to my life. Leaving full-time work force to return to get an additional certification for my degree/license and just adjusting to having no cash, etc.
So, yeah, I'm trying really hard to remember that it can be body over mind just like mind over body... and I try my yogic breathing and I have plans to change my diet up for more healthy foods... but sometimes, like tonight, this mental stuff is totally paralyzing.
Anyone else coping with only the help of the internet?
Your username says it all. You must live for yourself and nobody else.
From what I read, you are a woman who desperately needs professional help because you have chronic PTSD which is caused by severe trauma. Something terrible happened (or is happening to you). You need a trained professional there for you. Your symptoms are severe and potentially life threatening. This is an emergency. No amount of online support will heal you. You need a licensed and trained professional to help you.
Remember! Your life is important. You are living your life for you!
I suggest you get a consultation with a psychologist in your area. Do this as soon as possible. Don't worry about ethics. Having a colleague as your therapist does not seem to be an ethical violation unless they are your supervisor. Confidentiality will protect you.
I'd also suggest seeing a good psychiatrist. I've never heard of using beta blockers for anxiety except for nerves before making a presentation. I'm not going to give medical advice, but I suggest you google anxiety and SSRIs and see what you find.
Good luck. My battle with trauma, anxiety, and depression is far from over, but I will tell you, I couldn't have done it without the help of a great psychiatrist, psychologist, medication, face to face support group, and 12 step program. Online support only helped somewhat.
thank you so much for your post. it is great to know that such compassionate people frequent the boards.
after re-reading my post, i realize i might not have been clear about the type of support i am looking for online... no offense to the internets, but i wouldnt dare trust my mental health to them.... ha...
you are so right, this mix of disordered thinking needs attention... but right now, i can only focus on using my skillset (learned through my own therapy as a patient and pratice with others) to try and manage my symptoms until i am able to get back in regular care...
i guess my first post did sound a little alarming and although it is completely true... my symptoms are also well managed when i am away from the family and their infliuence... ill be in that safe space again soon... and i believe i should be eligible to see the university counseling center once i start classes...
the propanolol is a true wonder drug for me... it was rx'd by a psychiatrist a few years ago and i adore it... it works on attacking real symptoms... i use this analogy... a typical anti anxiety benzo simply slows down your bodys ability to react to stress... whereas a beta blocker stops your bodys reaction to stress... most of the stress related diseases are caused by an exarcerbation of your ns and the resulting hormone level changes leading to neuronal responses, etc... the propnpanolol stops that inappropriate stress reaction from occurring... i wish i had some now.. ha... i left it at my home and prob could have used it...
if i sound like a commercial for propanolol... i am... ha.... one tiny pill, as needed, only 4 dollars for 30 pills... few side effects at minimal dose... and not tempering my psychological ability to respond... bc afterall this is about learning new responses and behaviors to triggering situations but how can i if i am so mellowed from other meds?
of course this is 100 percent my personal opinion... from being in the field i know it is so much more complicated for some others... but i am a pretty fortunate gal in that diet exercise environment and managing physiological responses to stress worked better than any ssri, ssnri, or benzo has ever worked... in fact, all of those left me much worse off than before i had ever went on them.... waste of 3 years of my life and unfortunate further unbalancing of my brain chemicals... when that psych referred me to the ptsd specialist, i finally found relief... sweet peaceful relief... ha
so that ends my commercial for that little pill, ha, i would love to hear how you have stayed committed to the physical health part of all of this... im a former exercise junkie... physical illness took hold of my joints and ive been slow to get back to activity like i will need to lose weight... that and quitting my job and giving up extra cash will surely limit my access to fresh fruits and veggies...
any tricks with feel good foods that you have learned over the years? i took a cont ed seminar on nutrition and mental health years ago but that was before i got serious about using my own knowledge on me... so i lost the info.. i remember the gist was that without the right foods we cant even make the chemicals that keep us psych healthy and without sleep we cant store them even if we make them... i might try and research the specifics again...
im looking forward to this journey... ive only tried to lose weight once before and that time i did super well .... but it was only to spite an ex... ha... and clearly...ive gained all that back...
thank you for noticing my name... i was kinda surprised it wasnt taken... i am using it to start a blog to vent all of the crud i would get out in therapy... but im not really sure id ever share the link... i dont like for my bad attitude to flood out to the masses.. ha...
thank you again for the response... it really is encouraging to know that you reached out to a stranger.. look forward to getting to know you and everyone else...
also, sorry about typos and weird format...im typing from my phone...
I am diagnosed PTSD, anxiety disorder, and chronic depressive episodes, for what it's worth.
For me, anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs don't work (they're not a good fit with my body chemistry, I've tried many and it just isn't good). I agree that quality therapy is really important, and encourage you to get some as soon as you can.
That being said, two lifestyle changes have made a huge difference for me in terms of symptom control:
1. Regular, intense exercise, particularly cardio. The best way I can describe it...my anxiety was an excess of energy, and the intense exercise literally burned it off.
2. Clean eating. My symptoms are reduced most when I'm eating whole, unprocessed foods, no or very little sugar, and only complex carbs. Simple carbs, including sugar, or processed foods will shoot symptoms through the roof for me. Also, too much alcohol (I can usually get away with a glass or two of wine a week) will trigger more symptoms for me.
Neither substitute for therapy or application of really good coping strategies, but they DO make a big difference for me.
No Access to Meds/ Therapy, anyone else treating it naturally?
