Why am I so depressed?

Question

I am a 21 year old female and I am always so depressed. I have gained about 15lbs this year, and am a pretty active person. I know that I should not be down about gaining weight, but I am....when I was thinner it made me feel so good about myself. I binge late night, and almost feel like food taunts me when I am around it. I don't puke, overeat for the most part, or starve myself. I know that I am a pretty girl and stuff, but inside I just don't feel good. It effects my days, my social life, and my school work. I really need advice, I feel like this is giving me so much unneccesary stress. It all started after transferring to a new college after the end of a 4 year relationship. Can someone advise me on how to stop feeling like I need to eat for comfort? Please!

Also, can I get some advice on how to trust people and get rid of this horrible wall that I have up that won't allow me to have people get close to me? I am always so scared of being screwed over.

Answer 1

Hi Jaclyn

I some herbal remedies that will help you tremedously, but you also have to change the way you eat. Also some eating tips.

Herbal Aids
1.Julep: This is a stimulating drink-type preparation flavored with aromatic herbs (but this is not the alcoholic drink referred to by the same term), and could be defined as "a large draft." An example of a julep would be: Four ounces (eight tablespoonfuls) cinnamon water, two ounces (four tablespoonfuls) Jamaica cayenne, two drams (one-fourth ounce or one dessert spoonful) compound spirit of lavender, one ounce (two tablespoonfuls syrup of orange peel, mixed; (this is for general weakness and depression).

Dosage: Wineglass to one-half glass at a time.

2.Motherwort: Motherwort tea will eliminate the swelling (it is also good for nervousness and depression).

3.Brigham Tea: In modern usage, the prized constituents, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are extracted from the plants for medicinal use....The pharmacological action of ephedrine is similar to adrenalin. Its pressor and vaso-constrictor activity is slower and less than adrenalin, but it lasts longer. Unlike adrenalin, it can be given orally. It stimulates the respiration, increasing the depth of respiration, reinforces heart action and dilates the bronchi, especially during spasms, hence its use in bronchial asthma. It contracts the uterus and dilates the pupils. It also stimulates the central nervous system, this attribute being the basis for its use in the treatment of depression and for the relief of narcolepsy. It is used in vasomotor rhinitis, coryza, congestion of the mucous membranes, acute sinusitis, and hay fever. It has a slight local anesthetic action.

4.Gotu Kola: It can treat depression and mental weaknesses; many claim that it is a marvelous memory herb. If you take too much of the herb, you will experience headache and stupor; thus, you must regulate your personal dosage.

5.Lemon Balm: Others assert that the herb can truly alleviate depression, helping us accept difficult situations.

6.Lady's Slipper: It has been found to be very efficient in cases of hypochondria and mental depression which often accompanies digestive trouble, especially among women. Whenever a person feels like he cannot settle down, cannot sleep, cannot think properly, feels depressed, often from sexual overindulgence, Lady's Slipper can be a calming and balancing influence.

Things to Avoid


Do not eat after 6 p.m.
Do the best you can on this, however, the good news is you can virtually eat like a pig all day long, and if you stop eating after six you will still lose weight!

Absolutely NO aspartame or any artifical sweeteners
Aspartame, which goes by the name NutraSweet, will make you fat. All other artificial sweeteners including saccharin, Splenda, or anything else, should be avoided. If you want the full story read two books, Aspartame: Is it Safe? And Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.

Absolutely NO Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
MSG is an excitotoxin. It makes you fat, causes all kinds of medical problems, and can affect your mood making you depressed. It also can be physically addicting, like Aspartame, and actually make you hungrier. It is an excitotoxin. Read the labels of the food you eat. Unfortunately, the food industry has lobbied Congress to pass laws allowing monosodium glutamate to be put in the food and not be listed on the label. There are dozens of words that can be on the label such as spices, artificial flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, etc. that are in fact MSG in disguise. This is why buying organic food where everything listed in the ingredient list is something you recognize and can pronounce. Also, MSG is in virtually all fast food, including things you would never imagine such as pizza. This is why people in foreign countries eat all kinds of food and never get fat. It’s not so much the food, but the ingredients used in American food processing.

Absolutely NO diet sodas or diet food
Diet sodas have been called the “new crack” because they appear to be so physically addicting. They actually make you fat. The reason they are promoted so heavily is because people become physically addicted to them and they are cheaper to make than regular sodas. I did an interesting experiment with people who drank diet sodas on a regular basis. For two weeks they replaced their diet soda with regular high-calorie sugar sweetened soda. Amazingly, no one gained any weight. Even more shocking was 80 percent of the people actually lost weight. One person lost seven pounds! This was stunning to me. Diet foods fall into the same category. Do not eat anything that is being presented as a diet food. They are loaded with ingredients that will actually make you fatter, and make you physically addicted.

NO fast food or chain restaurants
Any restaurant that is a chain, a franchise that sells fast food, produces their food in such a way that it will absolutely make you fat. You can actually eat French fries and cheeseburgers and lose weight! - provided that the ingredients that you use are all organic and contain no chemical additives. It is virtually impossible to eat food in a chain or franchise restaurant where the food has not been processed to last for years without spoiling. The food has to be produced as cheaply as possible for the companies to make money. They must add chemicals to make the food taste great and get you physically addicted. This food also has been produced to increase your appetite and make you fatter. Remember, these are businesses whose only objective is to make a profit. If the food tastes amazing, becomes physically addicting, increases your appetite, and makes you fat, the restaurant is assured of success. They are like drug dealers getting their customers hooked on their product. The customer can’t get enough and becomes so addicted that they keep coming back for more. This is the sad truth of what is happening in our food industry today.

NO high fructose corn syrup
This sweetener makes you fat and is physically addictive. Just stop buying food at the supermarket, go to a health food store instead. Do not buy food that is manufactured by large publicly traded companies. Do not buy brand name food. The profit motive is so high you can be assured that it is not good for you. The sweeteners that are used in food produced in a natural way include organic honey, organic molasses, organic fruit juice, organic dates, the herb stevia, evaporated sugar cane juice. Simply read the labels and if you can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it.

NO white sugar or white flour
White sugar is in fact physically addicting and makes you fat. However, it is still better than any artificial, man-made sweetener. If you want to sweeten something use the recommendations I listed above. Sugar would be your last option. Artificial sweeteners should not be an option at all. White flour, as I have mentioned previously, when mixed with water, makes paste. Eating white flour makes you fat; it can also be addicting, and clogs up your digestive system, slowing down your metabolism. Use organic whole-grain flours that have not been processed or stripped of the fiber.

Limit dairy products
If you are going to consume milk, cheese, butter, or any dairy products, eat only organic products that have not been pasteurized or homogenized. The dairy products should be labeled “organic and raw.” It may be hard to find raw dairy products in some parts of the country. The next best option is organic, not homogenized, but that has been pasteurized. Your last option is organic that has been both pasteurized and homogenized. Ideally, if you want to lose weight, reduce dairy regardless of what you are getting. Definitely, absolutely, do not consume any dairy products that are not organic because they will have growth hormone in them and slow your weight loss.

Reduce or eliminate the “uncontrollable” urge to eat when you are not hungry
Remember, censorship is alive and well in America. The Federal Trade commission has forbidden me from saying my opinions on how a person can eliminate addictions and uncontrollable urges to eat. And you thought there was free speech in America. If the First Amendment were true, I would be able to state my opinions and conclusions. I cannot. However, if you are an emotional eater and have uncontrollable urges and compulsions to eat when you are not hungry, get the book Tapping The Healer Within: How to Instantly Conquer Fears, Anxieties, and Emotional Distress.

Best of health to you

Cheers

.

Answer 2

First things first.....depression is caused by a chemical imbalance and that needs to be checked out medically. Second, you need to speak with someone who specializes in self help and learn how to love and trust yourself first. Thirdly, you should get into a routine that involves something active to help release endorphins which are the bodys natural chemicals that help you feel euphoric and good. At first, the routine won't be easy but with repetition, your body will respond positively and you will accually start to WANT to work out because not only will you look better, you will feel better. Fourthly, surround yourself with positive people. Remember, you need people who are supportive and positive about the changes you are making in your life. Misery loves company so you need to steer clear or miserable people so you can continue on you journey to becomming healthy and happy. Fifth, you need to face whatever happened to you that caused you to become depressed in the first place...whatever the cause may be. When you face things, you deal with things. When you deal with things, you learn how to accept or change them. We all get hurt and we all get sad, the trick is learning how to handle the sadness and hurt. Give yourself time to grieve but then give yourself motivation to heal. Sometimes a friend is not the answer.....you may need to talk with a professional. Your conversations will be kept confidential and they are a pro at what they do. The last thing is pray, pray, pray. You do not have to carry your burden alone. When you realize that you can't do this on your own, hand it over to God. He will see to it that you make it through...

Answer 3

What youre seaching for is nourishment of your overall well being. Your erratic food habits are a physical manifestation of your soul calling out for attention and healing. Its apparent that your stresses are coming fro the ending of a meaningful relationship and your relocation. My advice would be to do as follows:

Learn to look yourself in the mirror and say "I love you". Declare to yourself who are and who want to be in a positive manner and love that person.

Pick up some books, do some inspirational reading. I greatly recommend Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch.

Develope a solid fitness schedule with a routine workout. Get some nutritional and fitness counseling to help get you on track with your fitness goal and so you can better be educated on nutrition and how it applys to your lifestyle. I myself am a personal trainer and have found that my ability to guide people nutritionally and educate them on fitness and exercise has helped many find an outlet for all their troubles and a way to channel that stress energy into something positive and productive.

Look into meditation. Meditation is a great stress reliever and an amazing way to look deep within ourselves to uproot the parts of our souls that need healing. Sit down, relax, breathe deep, let your mind wander, and sink deep into yourself.

Perhaps look into counseling as well. Sometimes sitting down with someone and talking about it is the best way to understand what is going on with yourself.

These are all things that serve the same purpose: they are all healing mechanisms for the mind (reading, counseling guidance), body (exercise) and spirit (meditation). When you learn to align the three you will find yourself in a state of flourishment.

Answer 4

I have been there done that and taken a picture. You need to pray and read more. You also need to keep yourself busy to keep your mind off of things. It is best that you join some social activities at your school, or volunteer somewhere.

Answer 5

You should start to exercise, you may be depressed also because your back may be out of line, go see a chiropractor, it will help naturally without the drugs. It is hard to get out of depression but meditate everyday. Good luck

Answer 6

Ive been depressed before, because im expecting so much from myself, so if i cant reach as high as i want, i'd feel depressed. then i started doing yoga, it helped me realized that you shouldnt be so hard on urself, u should accept urself for what u r.
plus, it also helped me losing some weight too..

Answer 7

Set up an appointment with a qualified counsellor and talk about what is bothering you. Maybe it isn't a good idea to post about this here.

Answer 8

Going to the gym sometimes helps I hope you try going at least 3x a week

Answer 9

start getting in the routine of lifting and excercising then eating the right foods. once you do this you will feel better about your body and yourself.