Depressed or overweight?

[kimberkit]

Over the past year or so, I've noticed that either the antidepressant, or just the effect of being happier, is directly correlated with about 20 pounds more weight. That doesn't make me obese. But it does affect my clothing -- clothing that should be tailored, and isn't -- and confidence as an indirect result. I can go to the gym all I want; more muscle mass and better cardiovascular health hasn't touched the pounds. I like the feeling of having done something for my body, but it doesn't touch my waistline.

What would you rather be, honestly? Overweight and taking antidepressants, or trying to figure out how to deal with depression in ways other than with medication?

Seriously. It's easy to say, "of course you should be overweight rather than sad." Very glib. The other glib response is, "you should talk to your doctor about finding another drug." News flash: all SSRIs include a side effect of weight gain, and Zoloft is supposed to be one the of lowest on the list for causing that particular side effect. Plus it would be months more of experimenting with the right drugs and dosages.

I'm signing up for acupuncture clinic next semester, in the hopes that it'll strengthen my defensive qi, and feel more balanced, and perhaps the drugging can be eliminated altogether.

Comments

[kimberkit.livejournal.com]

I *heart* you :) for the sympathy and more. Like kiz points out, depression's more of a life-affecting thing, but I totally know what you mean about the birth control. It made me crazy, too (although NuvaRing, and the lower dosages and regularity of it, really does work pretty well for me now).

It's amazing that more people aren't scared shitless by pills.

[greenfountain.livejournal.com]

Seriously. Pills are some crazy stuff. (My silliness on valium and hydrocodone last weekend further this belief for me, but at least that did exactly what it needed to do any pretty much nothing more.)

Another comment though, more related to your newer post, and possibly something you've already considered...

Do be careful that you're eating *enough* and regularly enough. I get fuzzier and less productive when I forget to eat (nothing as drastic as fainting yet, for me), and one of the results is that I keep forgetting to eat, which turns out rather poorly, as this frequently ends in me not coming anywhere near necessary nutrition levels for the day.

It's probably not a huge issue, weight-wise, done only occasionally, but if your life is hectic enough that you frequently skip meals without realizing it, blah blah blah, it's probably worth making a conscious effort to ensure that doesn't happen. That and making sure to eat breakfast and get enough sleep. These things definitely seem to affect what's going on with my weight.

My feeling is that this is all fairly person-specific; general guidelines seem to all say 1200 calories is about where your body will go into starvation mode, but I really think it's rather higher for me, especially when I'm in my exercise-heavy phases.

Anyway, something to think about.