My health story, I am 55yrs I have suffered with bouts of depression over the last 20yrs, in 2008 I suffered from Adrenal Fatigueas being already overweight at the time weighing 82kgs this soon went to 92kgs. My ideal weigh would be 68kgs.
I 2009 with great determination and a low carb high protein diet I lost 16kgs, got down to 75.9kgs by August. Going on holidays in the Aug I blow the diet and excerise regime and never got back into it.
It's now Jan 2010 and I am struggling again with food, excerise, motivation, fatigue and depression.
Whilst my story is not a very happy one I am hoping to seek support in a community that understands.
Catherine
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HI.
Wow thats quite the story. So sad about your upbringing. I too have/had alcholic parents. Growing up I remember I hated Friday nights as something was always going to happen with my parents whether it was a hugh argument between them, or a fall resulting in time spent in the hospital (this happened quite often). There was no physical abuse, maybe a bit of mental abuse though, but as my mom passed away 6 years ago, and my dad had a stroke shortly after (he lost his drivers licence-which keeps him from the legions) I am his only designated driver and he's much better now. If I could change my past that would be the first thing to change...it was so embarrassing.
My doctor isn't much of a help as far as I'm concerned. I go into talk to him, and instead of talking, I watch him addressing and stamping envelopes to some big shindig! --He's not always that bad, but I find he's definitely in it for the money. Do you have to pay for the doctors there? We don't pay for regular doctors, but we do for most specialists (psychiatrists).
What kind of work do you do? I'm thinking about getting a job--right now its my dad almost full time. Whenever I think about having to be at a certain place at a certain time I almost feel sick to my stomach. The stress is overwhelming. As it is, my daughters are having exams this week, and need me to pick them up from school tomorrow morning...sounds crazy, but the thought of knowing I have to do it stresses me out.
What meds are you taking for your depression? How long have you been on them? I've just recently started on Pristiq, and other then wanting to sleep all the time I guess its doing the trick (keeping me from crying for no reason at all) A few weeks ago (befor the Pristiq) I headed down to my dads place and all of a sudden started tearing up. I managed to get into his place and do a bit of cleaning then I opened the front door and the dog accidentally got out the front. (they're not allowed out the front as the neighbors complain) anyhow, I went running down the street to catch him, and brought him back with tears in my eyes. I barely was able to tell my dad I was going home--I told him I didn't feel well. I drove around the corner and couldn't stop myself from pulling over and having a good cry. Then it hit me...I have NO friends. Thats when I called my psychiatrist and told him to get me some pills that worked. He called in the prescription, and within a couple of days I was much better. The fact that I have no friends still gets to me, but its probably better that way for now.
Well, I hope your day was good, and keep smiling :)
January 26, 2010 - 4:48pmThis Comment
Hi Catherine. I too am suffering from depression, and finding it hard to deal with just about eveyone/everything. I was in the drs. office last week and was told to "get a life" my dr is telling me to go out and get a job and meet people. I have no friends as its a bit of a phobia of mine. I would love to have someone to talk to(online) and maybe that would be a bit of a help for you as well.
January 25, 2010 - 1:38pmThis Comment
Hi Francene
January 25, 2010 - 9:07pmThanks for your comment. It doesn't sound like you have the type of doctor who understands and supports you. I know how hard it can be, each day is a really struggle, some days I am better than others.
I have family and freinds however I don't share my situation with them as I feel embrassed and I don't want the attention.
I have been thinking a lot about my depression when did start and why? I am not sure sure I think it is started to my childhood my father is an alcoholic so my childhood was always full of drama and the next bout of drinking, screaming and abuse. One doctor I was seeing in 2008 said that I had potentially lved with high cortisol levels for the most part of my life due to the environment I was brought up in, constantly in flight and fright mode.
My first bout of depression was in 1995 and it was triggers by a poor business decision/investment that my husband (seperated now) and I made and we lose a lot of money including our house. I never seem to have gotten over the fact that I made some really poor decisions and each time I seem to start to get ahead something happens and I go backwards again financially. I still don't have my own home, I bearing earn effort to pay my bills.
Enought about me, let me know about you? I live in Sydney Australia, were are u?
Today is Aust Day we have a public holiday back to work tomorrow.
Catherine
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Catherine,
You've found the right place. And I'm so glad you wrote.
You say you are suffering with food, exercise, motivation, fatigue and depression. And that you're interested in information on Cortisol, Adrenal Fatigue and Depression.
That's an awful lot to bite off all at once, Catherine. Do you think you're suffering from depression now? Are you seeing anyone about it, or taking any meds for it? If so, do you think that the treatment and/or meds are helping you?
Are you an "all or nothing" person? I know exactly what you're feeling. I also am a person who can get into a great routine of diet and exercise and make lots of progress and then something comes along -- a trip or a vacation or an illness -- and I never get back to it. It's like, if I didn't do it perfectly, I won't do it at all.
Are you a perfectionist by chance? Does that sound like you?
Don't worry any more about last year, OK? That's gone now. What we have now is January 2010, and a year ahead of us. You learned a lot last year about how to do things well. You made a lot of progress. That learning hasn't gone away.
I recently re-joined Weight Watchers. It was hard for me to do. But you know what? They had an entire handout for Returning Members. They took all my frustrations and made me feel better about them. The handout says things that are TRUE, like "your past experiences have shown you what works for you and what doesn't," and "If you feel a little frustrated about being back at the beginning, don't worry. Returning members are often re-energized by once again concentrating on their weight and their health."
And you know what? It's true. I bet that you know a small step you could take to make yourself feel better and to move toward a goal of better eating or more exercise. All the things you listed are connected: food and mood, exercise and fatigue, food and fatigue, exercise and mood, mood and fatigue, and all of it with depression. That's the tough news. The good news is that they're all connected, so when you start in on one of them -- just a little bit -- you start making progress in the other areas too, almost without trying.
Don't be too hard on yourself, Catherine. That doesn't help us a bit, you know? I'm hard on myself too, and I think it only gives me more bumps and bruises in the psyche (and I don't need that).
Here's a post I wrote a little while back on cortisol:
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/understanding-cortisol-our-friend-our-enemy
And here's a great explainer on adrenal fatigue:
https://www.empowher.com/media/audio/audio-dr-theodore-friedman-demystifying-adrenal-fatigue-and-adrenal-hormone-roles
And we have quite a bit on depression:
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/depression#definition
https://www.empowher.com/condition/depression
Does this help a little? If you think you may be suffering from the adrenal fatigue again, might you schedule a doctor's visit? To talk about that and the possible depression?
Write back and let us know a little more about yourself. I'd love to hear.
January 18, 2010 - 10:22amThis Comment
Hi Diane
January 25, 2010 - 9:23pmThanks for your comments, I will check out your links. In answer to your questions. You are spot on, I am an extreme person it's all or nothing and at the moment it seem to be nothing, to the point where I count the calories in and energy.
I am not on medication at the moment. I have been in 2004 and in 2008 on herbal treatment plus seeing a physotherpist.
I am seeing a nutritionsit at the moment, however I can't seem to get motiviated and I feel that I have lost my zest for life!
It all seem to hard and I would rather just sleep, I can't beleive at 55 yrs I am not enjoying life and I am miserable, I am even crying now!
I have decide to see a doctor this week to discuss medication. I will keep you posted and thank you for touch me with your comments it is a help to know that there is someone out there and I am not alone.
Catherine
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