[Goals2017]

So I’m at a place right now where I’m just tired of being depressed. I have been trying to find a job and haven’t been having much luck but I’m still searching. I have gained 30lbs since my last episode and just not happy with my life overall. Now I like coming to this forum because I know everyone here understands and relates to each other in one way or another. So my problems I’m having in terms of my weight is I’m not active or working out. I want to but I just feel so discouraged that I can’t do what I used to and that I gained back all the weight I lost it’s demoralizing. The last thing is I just don’t have much to do and I tend to lay in bed a lot which just adds to my depression. Thanks to anyone who replies to this and I appreciate your inputs.

[clydeblack]

I'm where you're at right now in terms of exercise and staying in bed. Here's a tip that has helped in the past: do just 5min of exercise. Maybe you know of it, but there's this great channel on Youtube called "Fitness Blender" and they have anything from short + beginner workouts to HIIT. Another thing is stretching. When you stretch to improve your flexibility it gives you a goal to work towards. Hope this helps.

[Guiness187055]

I too have been suffering from depression lately. I just want to lay in bed all day and sometimes I do. What I have been trying to do is do things in 15 minute intervals. I got that advice on this board and it seems to help me get somethings accomplished. Wishing you the best!

[TheSeaCat]

Weight gain tends to make me more depressed more than anything; probably because I am one of those people who care about how they look. I know it's ridiculous but I get really upset when I gain weight. I'm okay with a pound but there was one medication that made me gain 20 in two weeks and the only thing that fit was dresses that clung to my stomach area that made me look pregnant and man did people like to comment about that. I am desperately trying to lose the weight too.

I am also ashamed to admit my pant size. I try to work out like do yoga and swim; my gym has a nice Olympic size lap pool that I really liked. My best advice; although I really need to follow it to is to find something you like. I really like yoga it clears my head; and swimming is just so relaxing.

I used to lay in bed a lot during my depressive phase; try and find one thing that you want to do, I would play with a coloring app on my phone. I felt like I had accomplished something not to mention it was just very therapeutic.

[Row Jimmy]

Put a long term plan together. Start small and look for small victories. Get back to "bipolar" basics - diet, exercise, mindfulness. Focus without the stress. Accept that things won't change overnight. Control what you can control and embrace the challenge. Much of who we are and what we become is more about the mind. At some point in time, you'll gain what I like to call "magic momentum". All of a sudden, things will just be.

[DechanDawa]

Same here with weight gain and depression.

I get really down on myself for weight gain. I hate being fat with a passion. But once you get fat and are depressed it is like being sucked into a deep hole.

Today I decided that until I lose the excess weight I need to just adjust to being bigger. My suggestion is to do everything in as positive a way as you can....dress well, proper hygiene, go out, do things, talk to strangers, be extroverted. Act like how you want to act when you are not depressed or weighed down.

It really works. It is a psych technique, "Acting as if..."

[Wild Coyote]

Goals2017,

I find myself in a very similar situation. I appreciate you starting this thread. I am also interested in how people cope with psych drug weight gain, etc. I have gained weight again on Abilify. I have recently stopped the Abilify per my pdoc's treatment plan. I need to get motivated again.

Thanks again!


WC