Due to a lot things in my life right now, I am feeling very depressed and when Im feeling low, I tend to hate myself and eat more just to stop feeling bad! At that moment, I dont care if I am fat or I am on a diet or that this is not good for me. Its just not something I think about.

I enquired about counselling and psychotherapy which is 160/50 min session in my area which I seriously cant afford at this time (makes me more tensed). I have moved here recently and have noone to talk to about this.

Once I am feeling better, I regret why I ate so much or slept through the entire day. but next time it happens..its the same story.

Does this happen to anyone else? any advice on how to deal with this would be highly appreciated.

I seek comfort in food when I'm depressed or stressed or angry or anxious or...well, you get the picture. I don't have any answers, or I wouldn't be where I am now.

What I know I *should* do to cope is exercise, journal, or refocus my energies on something else. I haven't accomplished this yet.

I guess the hard part is not being able to focus anywhere else at that time. If I could go exercise, do something else...then I would also be able to stop binging!

But I guess you are right, We must try harder.

I also tend to just shove food into my mouth when I get emotional about anything. Lately I have been thinking about everything I put into my mouth. I know that a few days ago I was depressed and put off eating until I was sure it was hunger and not depression that was sending me the I have to eat signals. When my stomach started growling I knew it was hunger hehe
I also agree with above that exersise and journaling probably do the best. I would suggest just evaluating to see if you are eating to get at the emotions or if you are really hungry. I hope this helps a little.

Trish

Try drinking a big glass of water. Before you eat anything.

Also, sit out in the backyard in the sun.
Or get in your car and drive to the water's edge somewhere. Or a park.
Just get out of the house.
Seems to help perk up my mood.

Call someone and just chat..........
Or get on line and chat -IM.......

xoxox

I recently started the exercise thing. I have been blessed to have a friend who joined a gym with me. Been a real moivator. I really do feel less stressed after a work out, less likely to "bite" the family members heads off. Because I "graze" when it comes to food, eat any quick thing I can find, I have found the exercise somewhat slows me down... I will have to work so much harder to work that cookie off. It's only been a couple of weeks, and I usally go "all out" when I start something. But it's a start... Have you looked into a "Weight Watchers" group, or some sort of support in your new area. It's support that works for me... You will make it.

i completely know how you feel. i have a lot of stuff that's just weighing on my mind and unfortunatly i turn to food, even when i'm not hungry at times. and then i do get that attitude like, 'i don't care if i'm over eating, this is good and i'm going to enjoy it!'

i've taken to starting a weight journal to help me sort out my feelings seperate from my regular journal. & it helps to talk with someone that's going through the same thing that's why i really like these support type groups online.

I started exercising and I find it helpful. I still hate it, but I like the feeling I have after I'm done with it! I also journal and think 'positive thoughts'. The problem is that when I'm feeling extra emotional or low, I seem unable to stop myself from binging. I know I should go for a walk, have some water, read...but I just want to eat and nothing else matters. And after I eat I feel mad for not trying to do anything to prevent my binge. I need to learn to slow myself down, to delay the binge. I need to learn to do something else to divert my attention. Oh, It's tough!

Hi willmakeit,

Do you have insurance?????

I see a counselor every other week, and all i pay is my $30.00 copay for a specialist, with out insurance it is $155.00
Usually what you need to do is go to a psychiatrist, and they recommend you to go to counseling, and then insurance covers that

Or just call your ins. company and talk to the mental health department, they can tell you how your ins works etc...

God bless you,

you aren't alone,

I just started Jenny Craig Saturday, i'm an emotional eater not a hungry eater, and i've been more anxious this week because i haven't been able to stuff away my emotions.

It's strange... when I was younger & depressed, I ate LESS. Lost about 12 pounds during that time.

When I was older & depressed, I gained weight (I was on Paxil, and that drug is well known for making you gain weight! - increased appetite, etc.)

Right now, I'm not sure I'm "depressed" or just going thru the motions of perimenapause or just being exorcisty with the PMS every month...

Ah, the joys of being a woman.

Hey ladies, Hope it's been a better week for us all. Willmakeit, thought about you a few times this week.. Any chance to get out and meet someone in your new home this week?
I just spent 50 minutes on line checking into lab band surgery, I have this weird idea that if I lose this 50 pounds I going to be a "happier" person. Like the weight is my only issue. Then I headed for the cookies, had 4 and felt like crap... Thought I say hey to you guys, shake it off and start again. I did exercise 3 times this week, did a yoga class that about kicked my butt... Know what I really hated about the class, the mirrors, man hard to focus when your looking right at your big butt... Got though and will do it again...
Got to because losing weight will make me happy, right?
Sherunsfree, love the journal idea, saw a thread here where you can do that, maybe I sould give it a try... sort out this being thin, being happy thing...
You guys and your post are really great support, I hope you know that. Hope your day's are better, will be thinking of you all.

It's a terrible cycle. There are a lot of reasons why i binge but no matter what I feel depressed after. I feel gross cause i ate so much and swear up and down that I will never do that again but it's not long until it happens again. When you eat a lot of food you get sort of high. It doesn't last that long and when it fades you crash, causing major depression. I go through it too much.

Your right, it is sort of a "quick high" only for me half the time I don't even realize I've eaten what I have. I mean I some times don't even taste it. Kind of a mindless thing and before you know it, yuck... then the feeling of hating yourself, knowing everything would be better if only
Congrats on your 16 lbs lost angiepants, I'm pulling for ya!

Hi.. I surely know what you mean. I get depressed I eat alot. I want to sleep and eat and the two combo's are not good for sure!!

also, if you have an employee assitance plan at work...you *should* be able to call and ask thru the EAP for a doc. I have access to the EAP at my workplace....as well as a friend of mine who had to deal with a husband who'd been cheating for 6 months. Thru her workplace she got 3 free sessions with a marriage counselor.....maybe your EAP can help you Just my input