Can losing weight put you at a higher risk for depression?

[sandpepper]

I thought that dropping pounds and becoming healthier would make me happier. But why do I feel the opposite? What is the matter with me, what should I do?

 

[Rexedgar]

I thought that dropping pounds and becoming healthier would make me happier. But why do I feel the opposite? What is the matter with me, what should I do?

Get someone to make you a sammich? :mrgreen:

 

[Praxas]

I thought that dropping pounds and becoming healthier would make me happier. But why do I feel the opposite? What is the matter with me, what should I do?

Try talking to a nutritional therapist.

 

[HowardBThiname]

I thought that dropping pounds and becoming healthier would make me happier. But why do I feel the opposite? What is the matter with me, what should I do?

I think it's always difficult to find happiness in something other than our outlook on life. I think that losing weight (if you were overweight) was probably a healthy idea, but I don't know if dropped pounds will make you happier if there are other things in your life that are getting you down.

Is something else bugging you? Lonely? Family members being assholes? Lost a pet? Feeling older? Never took that trip to Tuscany that you always planned and now you feel it's too late?

There could be a lot of reasons why you're feeling blue, and if you can't shake it pretty soon, it might not be a bad idea to talk to your doc about it -- maybe the weight loss caused a chemical imbalance? It wouldn't hurt to check it out.

In the meantime, I'll share a little secret with you -- look around you and find something you really like and say out loud, "I'm so appreciative of my amazing home" (or whatever). Look around some more and find something else you like and say the same thing. Go outdoors and admire the scenery. Find something to look at (a busy bee, a beautiful flower, a child playing next door) and say, "I'm so grateful and blessed to be able to observe this incredible flower" (or whatever). Keep doing that -- and feel grateful, feel appreciative, feel blessed as you say those things.

You can't do that for very long before you start to feel better. No matter where we are in life -- no matter how down we feel - we can always find something to appreciate and when we turn our focus to those things, we remove our focus from the sad things. It takes a little effort, but the more you work at it -- the easier it will be to turn away from hurt and turn toward happiness.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[CMPancake]

There's three basic activities you can cover to help with your mental health. Exercise, sleep, and nutrition. Losing weight is great, but if your nutrition to do so is utter **** it's going to affect your brain. Same if you cutting out on sleep to balance your daily life with a strict exercise regiment. Generally three speaking, if you can balance out nutrition, and physical exercise you should begin to feel happier and healthier. However if that is what you are doing, I would recommend seeing a psychologist or mental health expert. One on one interactions with someone who is far better trained than people on a political message board can provide.

 

[PoS]

There's three basic activities you can cover to help with your mental health. Exercise, sleep, and nutrition. Losing weight is great, but if your nutrition to do so is utter **** it's going to affect your brain. Same if you cutting out on sleep to balance your daily life with a strict exercise regiment. Generally three speaking, if you can balance out nutrition, and physical exercise you should begin to feel happier and healthier. However if that is what you are doing, I would recommend seeing a psychologist or mental health expert. One on one interactions with someone who is far better trained than people on a political message board can provide.

Dont forget sex and having a stable relationship- those things are important too.

 

[CMPancake]

Dont forget sex and having a stable relationship- those things are important too.

I would disagree with that. Humans are social creatures, but if you're focusing on bettering yourself and improving your mental health entering a sexual or romantic relationship takes away from that.

 

[sandpepper]

Thanks for all your replies. I will add those things to my lists and consider some of your suggestions
I don’t want it to happen again and be depressed about it.

 

[ModerationNow!]

I would think that trying to cut back on anything you like could cause 'some' depression. It depends on what it is, why you are doing it, and how bad your obsession or addiction is. To some people, eating is part of their OCD. Some people are hooked on excessive eating like it's an addiction, albeit purely a psychological one. Physical addictions are MUCH harder to kick.