Depression and Binge eating

[bobo13]

Hi

Over the past few years i have suffered with depression on and off. Sometimes its not so bad and i have the motivation to do things that distract me. Sometimes so bad (like at the moment) that i can barely get off the couch except to go to the cupboard or the fridge to have a binge.

Because of the binge eating i have gained a large amount of weight. 

At present my mood is so low and my eating is out of control it is putting a real strain on my marriage. 

Dont get me wrong he would support me in anything i did to get help (which i attempted once a while ago) but he has also said things like he no longer finds me attractive because of my weight gain and that he still loves me but not as much because of the person that i have become.

I want to get help but I'm afraid of taking the first step and am not exactly keen to go on long term medication either.

Any advice is appreciated 

[Guest_1055]

Hey bobo

I just want to give you a welcome hug, and tell you, that you are not alone in your struggle with binging. I can't give you much advice, as I am only just learning how to deal with "comfort eating" as I call it.

For me ,when I feel sad, or I am emotionally struggling ,well..... my brain automatically turns to chocolate. And sometimes other unhealthy foods as well. I think I do this in hope it will bring comfort or fill an empty space in my heart or something. But it is very short lived. For me it is like a circle... you feel sad, so you turn to food in hope to bring comfort, then you feel sad again because you really didn't want to eat that food.

Anyway what I have been trying to do, is eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Along with smoothies or fresh extracted juices that contain no refined sugar. I am finding this does help, but it is a struggle sometimes to carry it out.

I also think, and it is just from my own experience, is that some foods actually help you feel more depressed. For me it would be the sugar.... I am not sure what you binge on, but maybe it could be the same for you.

It is good you have a husband that is supportive of you.

I don't know if any of that helps or not?  But I do care about you, and I am sending some love to you now.

Shelley xx

[Shaz1]

hi bobo,

I'm in the same boat as you. My health issues are getting worse, and i spend 20 hrs a day lying in bed. I have lost my appetite but i still eat. When i eat something bad i just don't think through the effect it has on me afterwards.

I can't go out for long, but a lovely beach walk or bush walk works well. 

I won't say what happened to me, but it sounds like you have a supportive husband, i do think you should get some help, make an appointment with your GP and go from there. I too avoided my GP this week, rang and cancelled appointment, i couldn't see the point. (my mood is so low also) Maybe your husband could go with you to GP?

Take care.

Sharon

[bobo13]

Thank you both for responding. I honestly feel like just having the courage to write this post as well as your responses have helped.

 The food i eat is mostly junk, which i buy because i cant help myself. If there is no junk i will eat things like a mountain of butter on bread. 

 I managed to walk on the treadmill this morning for 30 mins and had a healthy breakfast and lunch. But as soon as husband left for work i had a binge.

 Maybe it's loneliness as i don't have a network of friends where i live at the moment. Although i binge when someone mentions my weight or something doesn't fit.

 Have made an appointment with a dietician who has a degree in psychology also. So i think this is a starting point.

Thanks for your support 

Xx

[thisaquarian]

Bobo - wow. I just wrote a very similar post... with very similar title. Uncanny. I've just dusted myself off and got off the couch after consuming almost a day's worth of food. I feel sick, and low. You're definitely not alone.

[thisaquarian]

Sharon, so sorry to hear that your health issues have lead to you spending so long in bed. Big hugs to you. Binge/comfort eating is a cruel addiction/coping mechanism... I hope that you find some peace, clarity in your mind and a smile on your face soon. I'm clinging onto the hope that I will get there someday too.

[thisaquarian]

bobo, I hope you don't mind me saying so (and apologies if this gets posted twice, I have had to rewrite it and don't know if the other one got posted)... I would be devastated if my partner told me that she no longer found me attractive. I can only imagine how that must have made you feel.  My partner assures me that she still finds me attractive, but I don't believe her, and does it really matter, if I don't find myself attractive?
Our bed faces the mirrored wardrobe and I avoid looking in that direction but I caught a shot of myself today and I thought, wow, I am massive... 

I don't know how but I have to try and claw myself back from this depression. We can help each other bobo and Shaz... through this forum. 🙂

[Shaz1]

Hi

Thats great bobo that you are seeing a dietician. hopefully she/he says something to help you on your journey. Let us know how it went.

Aquarian do you know why you binge? Being lonely is a big part for me, most of the time i only able to talk to my dr and physcologist who are monthly visits. 

I live with my 3 of my 4 teenage girl children but i don't quite get the conversation i need!!

So true about the mirrors, i avoid them a lot!! I went from being obese to normal weight to severely obese all within 2 years. I do stay in my bed a lot not just because of health issues but embarrassment/depression/suicidal ideation. 

Im meant to be going on a big trip in april, but at this stage i won't be able to go. will see how i go.

Take care

Sharon

[Shaz1]

hi,

Ive struggled with my weight and it has brought health problems, but its not the only reason i stay inmobile most of the time. Clinical depression mostly.

I had been overweight for awhile in my marriage. I lost a lot of weight, looked good on the outside. But it didn't help the relationship, i still felt worthless. in May 2014 year i separated from husband (now divorced) Im now severely obese.

I do have great support from my dr and physcologist, but thats pretty much the only people i may see. I don't have friends. Or a supportive family (not that they live close anyway)

Those mirrors are definitely to be avoided. Or photos, can't stand to see a photo of myself. "thisaquarian" sounds like your partner is quite supportive which is great.

take care

Shaz