Really Trying to Improve - and Failing

Within a few months, I experienced a family loss and a personal tragedy, on top of that. My health, as a result, is being neglected.

I try to stay positive, I have started seeing a therapist, I took a few months off work and got a new job, I keep a journal, I have a good partner, I try to stay social – I am doing everything I can do to stay healthy.

But I still gain weight – due to lethargy, lack of motivation, sadness.

How can I motivate myself every day to be healthy and get out of this rut? I have been this way for about 5 months.

Thu. May 22, 4:53pm

Perhaps you have depression. There are many treatment options.

You could also have your thyroid tested, and other bloodwork (low iron level? low b-vitamins?)

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 4:57 PM

Sounds like very serious depression to me. You're seeing a therapist though. What do they think?

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 6:40 PM

A therapist is a good first step.

Keep in mind that major traumas cause your body to release chemicals that help you deal with the crisis. They can stay in your body for months, causing depression like symptoms. It makes it hard to get motivated, when your bodily chemicals are telling you to sleep, you can't focus or make decisions. (this is true, ask your therapist).

Exercise is the BEST and fastest way to flush your body of these toxins and get you back to normal, if not increasing seratonin production.

I am not against medications, I think there is a definate need. But you can attribute this to a moment in your life. I would try to sweat myself outta trouble first.

Motivation is the toughest, especially with your symptoms.
You are not alone.
Good Luck

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 7:00 PM

It can take a while to reset after upheaval. You've gone through massive changes.

I find walking with an iPod, playing something uplifting, has done wonders. You may not feel like doing it, but it's great when you're out walking. It gets some basic exercise in, and give an opportunity for the mind to reset. I had to decide that I wasn't good to anybody else if I didn't take time for myself, reset.

Don't rush to meds unless there's a clear-cut case for them, they'll mask symptoms but won't fix the problem.

Thursday, June 5, 2008, 4:09 AM

See if there are any walking, hiking or biking groups in your area. It will be new people to interact with and a commitment to get out once or twice a week.

Thursday, June 5, 2008, 11:07 AM

Every time you start feeling sad again, drink some water, take some deep breaths, tell yourself that you can get over this hurdle, and go take a mini walk. Up and down some stairs, or around your work building, or a 10 minute walk in the park. Something fast. Or just being home, doing some kicks side to side, or jumping jacks, or a few lunges or squats. Just something to get you up and moving.

The point is that you can stay feeling sad, even with massive and momentous changes and losses in your life, or you can do something about it. Your choice. if you can't get over it yourself, work with your therapist. If they aren't helping, find someone who is. But it has to start with you. You have to decide you want to feel better about your life, and about your body.

Bad things are going to happen to us all, at the worst possible times, and sometimes overload us. How we deal with them when they happen is determined by how we make our choices. If we allow all the bad to bombard us, we will be crushed. Or we can meet the bad stuff, know it will happen, and have a plan of how to deal with it. Work with your therapist on a game plan for your life and then implement it. Sounds like work, and it is, but you will get over this hump. We all go through trials. Trials that we learn from make us better people. Turn your sadness into a reason to change. Only you can do it, but we are here to be with you and cheer you on!

Thursday, June 5, 2008, 10:11 PM

I would work on beating the depression for now.

I had serious depression a few years back. I ended up on meds which helped but not really. The problem with most depression meds is that they make it very difficult to lose weight, and the ones I was on made me baloon up! One of the things I found that helped a lot was joining a local softball team. We were only low level, most of us hadn't played before, but we all had a great time, and I tend to think that this was my first step towards climbing out of the pit I was in.

Good luck, remember - you're not alone. Also check out beyondblue.org.au - it's meant to be a really good tool for handling depression.

Friday, June 6, 2008, 12:56 AM

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