I'm New Here and Looking for Support

[nathalieplan]

I am very new to this site but found it and thought that I would give it a try and hopefully find some support through here for the things that boggle me down. I'm thirty one years old and have been diagnosed with PTSD and Clinical Depression. I am an adult child of a father that commited suicide in front of my eyes as a young child and I am still struggling to deal with that. I have a boyfriend that sometimes can be the most amazing amn ever and other times can be the biggest child ever when I feel that I need him the most. Example: If I even show any emotion except happiness, he will make some excuse and ignore me until I get over what emotion it is. We have talked about this and we are working on it but its a slow process. I currently see a psycharist once a month who has me on Pristiq 50 mg a day and for the most part, it is does help me. But then there are those hard days where I feel like no one cares about me and I feel so alone. The only side effect that the Pritiq has given me is weight gain. I once was 115 pounds before I started taking it two years ago and now I am currently 220 pounds. I recently just joined Weight Watchers to get control of my weight and back to where I once was. Because I know that the weight I am now isnot healthy for me phsyically and emotionally. I am hoping I can make some new friends here that truly understand what I am going through.

[1butterfly4u2]

Hello, I am new here myself and just signed up today. I read your letter and I can adentify some with what you are going through. I too and about 216 in weight and used to be 145.  I had a post tramatic episode and had to get on antidepressant meds. I am sorry for the loss of your father. I know that was tramatic for you. I too have or did have emotional scars due to my childhood .  For eight years watched my step father beat up on my mother. Once he started to choke me. Anyway, My emotional scars have been healed through God's Grace. He helped me overcome my depression.  He can do that for you as well. Meds have helped as well. I am currently trying to taper off one of my meds. I have been on it for 11 years. I am about your age and went to counseling for 3 years straight. Continue with counseling along with what help the doctor recommends.

[specialk2012]

Wow, I saw your post and I just want you to know that you are not alone in this world. You have had many trials and I believe that God doesn't give us any more then we can handle. I am going to keep you in my prayers, and maybe we can encourage each other also along the way to a better, healthy lifestyle.
Currently I weigh 239, just last year I weighed only 209. I know my career change from constantly on my feet to a complete and total sit down job had a lot to do with it. Not to mention eating more and much differently on the sit down job. But I also just recently stayed with my 3 yr old in the hospital when we found out he had an AVM which caused bleeding on his brain in Nov. He had brain surgery on Dec. 1st and Jesus has carried us all the way to recovery. You would have thought I would have lost weight while in the hospital with him for 2 and a half months but nothing! We finally came home on Jan 19th 2012. It's been an amazing journey and now that my son is getting better everyday, I want to get myself on the right track and live a healthy, happy life for me and my entire family! So let's go for it!

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey Natalie.
Welcome to the forum.
My,my!  You have been through so many serious challenges and yet, continue to shine!
You do project this, because you are surrounded by a bright light!
It is helping you pull through and rise above your issues!

Some people who are on Pristiq, do happen to gain excessive weight in a relatively short time. A close friend was given free samples by her Dr. and
she did discontinue its use because of the unwanted weight within weeks!
There seems to be a metabolic issue with some patients.
My suspicion is that one of the main factors is that through the SNRI activity, the JNK gene expression gets increased substantially, and eventually resulting in excessive weight gain. So, Pristiq acts as an activator.

There are some ways to contain the JNK gene expression.
For this, I can give you details for a simple approach, if interested.
Also  this gene is a marker for health and longevity according to its level of expression.

At a deeper level -the root of your issue- PSTD and Clinical depression
can be treated very effectively. I have a strong backround in this field.
The weight loss community is not the appropriate part of the forum for this.
Please post here again, let me know what you think.
You may pm me anytime, if you prefer.
Blessings,
Niko

[Barb135]

Have you had your thyroid checked to make sure it's functioning properly?  I know some medications can cause weight gain, but 105 lbs is excessive.  Hypothyroidism, insulin resistance and PCOS are 3 major causes of weight gain.  Before starting any diet, you should get tested and make sure you don't have physical conditions, that might affect your ability to lose weight.  

The key to losing weight is keeping portions in check and getting adequate exercise.  You have to take in less calories than you use or you won't lose weight.