If you are suffering from depression, the feelings can seem unbearable and coping with everyday life can be difficult. Sometimes, depression can be so severe, it affects how well you take care of yourself, including how much you eat. If you are experiencing depression and weight loss, you should seek medical attention to make sure your health is not being severely affected.
Signs
Depression is a serious medical illness and affects around 20 million people in the United States, reports MedlinePlus. When you are depressed, you may experience feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, irritability and difficulty in concentrating. Lack of appetite, along with weight loss, is also a symptom of depression. In severe cases of depression, your weight loss can be significant. Lack of a proper diet can result in additional health issues, such as nutrient deficiency and low blood sugar. If you have a loss of appetite due to body image issues or stress, you could develop an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, where you deprive your body of food.
Causes
Weight loss that is associated with depression is one way that your body copes with the feelings of mental anguish. If your depression is brought on because of grief or an event that has been traumatic to you, such as a death, illness, loss of job or relationship, you may have to seek help through a licensed psychotherapist to resolve underlying mental health issues and learn ways to cope with your grief in a more positive manner. If you are currently taking an antidepressants, such as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), one side effect is weight loss.
Treatment
Gaining a healthy amount of weight back starts by getting treatment for your depression. Depression can be treated several ways but typically involves a combination of therapy along with medication. You need to start by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet from all of the food groups, getting enough exercise day to day and practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress. If your depression is severe and any other medical illness has been ruled out, your physician may recommend psychotherapy through a licensed psychologist. Treatment may include psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with anti depressant therapy such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, atypical antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Your doctor will want to observe you closely to make sure you are not losing more weight while you are taking anti-depressant medication.
Warning
Depression and weight loss can both have serious effects on your body. Having depression puts you at risk for suicidal thoughts and feelings of helplessness. If you have any type of thoughts of harming yourself, you need to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. If you are losing weight and are unable to eat or put weight on, do not hesitate to seek medical help right away.
Member Comments