Depression | Depression Information

Question: Eating addiction/depression. please help.?

(Posted by: so_silent10 on 2010-03-14 18:30:12)

I'm 18 years old and lately I just haven't haven't been able to control my eating, which is very unlike me. As of now, I probably only weigh about 126 pounds, but about 16 of those pounds have come within the past 2 months. When I have my "eating days ", as I call them, I'll consume up to 4, 000 calories or sometimes more (I'm great at counting up calories, so that's how I can give a number). The worst part of all this is that these days are more like "eating nights " since that's when I do most of this eating. It usually comes after dinner, and before I know it, 1 guilty snack turns into an additional day's worth of calories. Once I start eating, almost nothing I tell myself can make me stop. I'll tell myself things such as " I'll stop having these eating binges starting tomorrow ", and usually I can get back on track for a day or two at most, but I always come back to them and consume far more calories than what I had burned off during those days. I've been deeply hurt about a girl since December, and I don't know whether my constant eating is due to this depression or just a simple lack of will power. If this is about the girl, then I'm simply going to keep gaining weight because nothing will help me move on from that any time soon. I could only move from her if I found another girlfriend, and with graduation around the corner, it's too late for that. I love her and will for some time to come. I do things such as jog and lift weights nearly everyday, but that doesn't completely make up for all the calories I consume. My parents won't listen to me, as they always said I needed to gain weight. Well now I'm technically at a healthy weight, but if my eating continues, I'll gain another 15 pounds by graduation. Gaining over 30 pounds in one semester is never good, no matter which way you look at it. Please, I need help and advice. How can I stop having these binges? It's beginning to really show on my face; I can't even see my jawline anymore. And, is this eating really due to my depression about her? I always go jogging and lift weights, just to stay in shape. Those aren't things that I just recently started to combat the weight gain.

Posted by: cricket on 2010-03-14, 18:41:07

It sound to me like you are depressed over the girl. a doctor told me when you are depressed your body crave carbs.

Posted by: Skater girl on 2010-03-14, 18:40:46

I would go to a doctor for help. I've never heard of anyone gaining that much weight. (Except me) I gain a lot of weight really fast, but that's because I lost the will to be outside. My mom kept me inside most of the time as a small child, that left me with no will to be outdoors for exercise and sun. Maybe your depression has to do with the binges. I suggest a doctor. Sorry for the life story.

Posted by: ▪�ϊά▪ on 2010-03-14, 18:40:53

Sometimes when we lose someone in our lives our natural reaction is to eat. This is our way of trying to fill the void or empty feeling we have when we lose someone. It becomes a form of comfort and something to hold onto. Something that will never leave us. Yet, food is being abused when we do this and it should only be used as a means to fuel our body and mind. It is okay to have a naughty snack here and there but to consume that much in one day is not good. I would suggest you seek the help of a counselor or doctor and also eat only healthy stuff. When we consume bad/ empty calories we still have hunger because our body was never given any real nutrients to run off of. So next time you are on an eating binge grab the banana before the brownie and it may help. Also, remember you are only 18 and this could be a growth spurt but you have to consult a doctor to be sure.

Posted by: N on 2010-03-14, 18:46:19

First off, 126 lbs. is NOTHING. You're light as a feather, chill out on that count. As concerns the girl--you are good to try and analyze your symptoms in terms of causal relations, but I also do think that you might be psychologically influencing yourself. Because you lost your girl, and because you feel horrible, you feel the need to 'fill up' the space in your life and heart that she occupied. It's okay. It's part of the grieving process. It's natural. Or, you might just be really hungry, totally disassociated from the girl problem. I know my boyfriend normally eats about 3000-4000 calories every day, and he's a bit plump but only a bit because he's really tall. So don't worry about the weight; it's so changeable, especially in guys, that it's nothing to worry about. And if you meet the right person who truly is the right person for you romantically, your temporary body image will be irrelevant to how much they like you. So anyhow. Feel better.

Posted by: Elle on 2010-03-14, 18:55:24

You may want to see a doctor first...to rule out some physical reason for your eating binges. If you are underweight you may be ok to gain some weight. You're doctor will tell you that though. 126 isn't very big, assuming you're a guy. If there's nothing physical going on you may be eating this way because you are depressed. When I first went away to college I broke up with my boyfriend of almost 3 years and then proceeded to gain about 25 pounds. I was miserable. But then I realized that he wasn't worth me destroying myself and I put all my energy into working out. Plus I quit going out partying and eating in the middle of the night (like after drinking)...that helped too. Anyway - back to you - I think just the fact you are aware of it is a good sign that if it is depression, or more likely grief, you will quit once you quit grieving her and realize if it's meant to be, it will be. You never know what the future holds.