Aa
What's wrong with me?
I'm a 21 year old female, and I'm not sure what to think. In the last half a year, I've packed on about 15 pounds. I've always had eating issues, from binge/purge episodes, to starving myself, to finally recently just binging and not caring about the effect it'll have on my body. I've been eating at every turn. I have a lot of anxiety, or what I think is anxiety. In addition, I've recently become very depressed, and I don't know if that is because of the overeating or in spite of it. I don't sleep at night at all and I get severely depressed at night, I go from having flashes of death and being terrified, to just wanting to end it all because I'm tired of this. I can't concentrate at anything, and the only time I feel better is when I eat. And that's only for a few minutes, until I'm uncomfortably full and I realize that I'm overwieght and I start to feel disgusted with myself. I have severe episodes of anxiety, but sometimes I just get dizzy for no reason and tingling in my arms and legs and start to think I have MS, I had optic neuritis when I was younger and a hint of something in my MRI's but back then the doctor said he thinks its fine and so I stopped going to doctors for fear of what I might have.
I'm not sure which problem I need to address first, and whether the emotional eating is even a priority amongst all the other things, whether it has come along on it's own or because of everything else, or everything else came along because of it. Also, I'm terrified of getting help because I'm terrified of having to take any sort of drugs, as my mother was hospitalized when I was young because of anxiety, and the drugs made her a lifeless and addicted.
anyway, any kind of advice would be appreciated. thank you.
I'm not sure which problem I need to address first, and whether the emotional eating is even a priority amongst all the other things, whether it has come along on it's own or because of everything else, or everything else came along because of it. Also, I'm terrified of getting help because I'm terrified of having to take any sort of drugs, as my mother was hospitalized when I was young because of anxiety, and the drugs made her a lifeless and addicted.
anyway, any kind of advice would be appreciated. thank you.
What a thoughtful thing. Your support to meemny1 made me feel good. I'm so glad to see that there are still so many nice folks in this world. I agree with all your advice. You are so right. After reading a book "Peace from Nervous suffering" by Dr. Claire Weaks ( I think that's how to spell the authors name) I learned about the process of stress, anxiety and nerves in my body and A whole new world opened up for me. Thank You!
I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. It sounds really intense. Back a few years ago I quit smoking cigarettes, and about three weeks later began having severe anxiety and panic attacks--completely biochemical, I think. Anyway, I had similar dizzy and tingling symptoms, too, and it was from hyperventilating (breathing shallowly and rapidly) without really consciously being aware of it.
Severe depression is horrid--please go talk to someone (a specialist, I mean), and know that depression and anxiety go hand in hand. I want you to know that I AM THE LIVING PROOF that you can be one day happy and healthy. Keep your diet clean (but eat well) and try yoga or tai chi--both are super-easy and don't require a whole lot of energy if you feel like just doing nothing (you can do them in your living room with videos, too). Also, I found that taking B complex vitamins once or twice a day with serotonin-producing foods helped (potatoes with turkey, avocados and warm milk, for instance). Nutrition can do wonders for depression, so try to get your body as healthy as you can.
At the time I first began suffering from panic attacks, I was offered an antidepressant, but decided to go the holistic route instead (search yourself and experiment--it's a personal decision). It took me about seven months to fully go from flip-out, what the heck's going on with me/I'm scared I'm going crazy or dying, to happy, healthy, and working on the same food problem that I've had since childhood. (And that was five years ago). Since then I've experienced about a handful of "out of the blue" panic symptoms and they suck, but they go away because I'm able to recognize them for what they are, detect what's bothering me emotionally, know that the many cups of coffee a day I drink also contributes and amplifies the adrenalin symptoms, and just let the episodes pass. "This, too, shall pass."--It's VERY true.
Try to find out as much as you can about the workings of anxiety and depression. Sometimes knowing how something works in the body will make you realize that it's a physical AND emotional thing. It can feel horrible to feel alone in the world (this I know intimately), but know that you are not. You are stronger and more loved than you think.
Hang in there and good luck! Keep working.
Cici
Severe depression is horrid--please go talk to someone (a specialist, I mean), and know that depression and anxiety go hand in hand. I want you to know that I AM THE LIVING PROOF that you can be one day happy and healthy. Keep your diet clean (but eat well) and try yoga or tai chi--both are super-easy and don't require a whole lot of energy if you feel like just doing nothing (you can do them in your living room with videos, too). Also, I found that taking B complex vitamins once or twice a day with serotonin-producing foods helped (potatoes with turkey, avocados and warm milk, for instance). Nutrition can do wonders for depression, so try to get your body as healthy as you can.
At the time I first began suffering from panic attacks, I was offered an antidepressant, but decided to go the holistic route instead (search yourself and experiment--it's a personal decision). It took me about seven months to fully go from flip-out, what the heck's going on with me/I'm scared I'm going crazy or dying, to happy, healthy, and working on the same food problem that I've had since childhood. (And that was five years ago). Since then I've experienced about a handful of "out of the blue" panic symptoms and they suck, but they go away because I'm able to recognize them for what they are, detect what's bothering me emotionally, know that the many cups of coffee a day I drink also contributes and amplifies the adrenalin symptoms, and just let the episodes pass. "This, too, shall pass."--It's VERY true.
Try to find out as much as you can about the workings of anxiety and depression. Sometimes knowing how something works in the body will make you realize that it's a physical AND emotional thing. It can feel horrible to feel alone in the world (this I know intimately), but know that you are not. You are stronger and more loved than you think.
Hang in there and good luck! Keep working.
Cici
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
All of these elements are interrelated and have to be addressed at the same time. The best way would be to combine the shrinkyoursel online program with some professional counseling. Instead of taking drugs for your anxiety or eating to shut off your mind, you should be exploring your feelings and get to the source. Whenever you eat to feel better you are running away because you don't know how to handle your fears and emotions. You can learn how to do that, and once you do, your life will be much more successful. So start the program, and then consider counseling. You can also read my blog at medtalk on this site for more information.
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