How Depression Therapy Can Help With Weight Gain Caused By Depression

One of the most common symptoms of depression is weight change. This has a lot to do with the fact that for most of us, food is a form of pleasure.

If a person is so depressed that they are not enjoying things they used to, they may also lose their appetite. This can lead to unintentional weight loss. Unfortunately, this is not usually a healthy weight loss, because the person may not be getting proper nutrition, which can cause depression to worsen.

For others who are experiencing depression, your brain may be attempting to use food to self-regulate. Food is pleasure so the depressed brain may be screaming for serotonin or dopamine. People who are depressed often find themselves craving foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. Sugar, fat, and salt consumption are known to affect our neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and serotonin.

Sugar, salt, and fat, in moderation are parts of a healthy diet, so extreme restriction is not advised. However, overconsumption can cause dysregulation of brain and body chemicals, which can leave you feeling worse physically and mentally. Overconsumption can be both a symptom of, and a cause of depression.

Body shaming adds another layer of negative emotion to weight gain. It is no secret that we live in a society where body shaming is the norm. This happens even as new data is coming out that shows that many bodies, including heavier bodies can be healthy. Unfortunately, it is still the case that many people who gain weight often feel judged by others and struggle with embarrassment.

Depression therapy can help:

If you are struggling with your weight as a symptom of major depression, therapy can help.

First of all, your therapist should not judge you for your size. If you are feeling judged, you are in the wrong place. If weight loss is one of your goals for depression counseling, your therapist can help you focus on taking better care of your mind and body.

Here are some ways therapy can help with weight gain that occurs with depression:

First of all, be patient with yourself: One way of reframing weight gain is realizing that you were temporarily not in a good place mentally, and your body did what it had to so you could get through this tough time.  Weight gain during times of stress is incredibly common. As you start feeling better, you will start taking better care of yourself again.

Depression treatment can help you find better ways to cope: Many people seek therapy during a major depressive episode.Therapy can help you learn more depression coping skills, so you would be as dependent on food as a source of pleasure. As you start to recover, it will become easier to treat your body better

Set realistic goals: If weight loss is one of your goals, make sure your goals are realistic.You’re probably not going to lose 20 pounds when you first start exercising and eating healthier, but you might lose 2 pounds! Although we often crave transformation, true progress usually comes through small gains over time. Your depression therapist can help you learn to celebrate every win, even if it seems small.

Trust the process: Sometimes, you might start exercising and you actually gain weight! While this can be incredibly frustrating, it is really just another indicator that we have been taught to focus on the wrong ways of measuring a healthy body. A body that is moving more is healthier, even if it weighs more. Often the weight gain is muscle gain, which is actually better for your health. As you gain muscle, you will feel stronger and better in your body. Don’t get discouraged and try not to focus too much on what the scale says!

Taking care of yourself should feel good: Crash dieting, restricting major categories of food,  and extreme exercise routines do not feel good and are not sustainable. As much as you might want to change your weight quickly, extreme measures are not usually effective and can actually be dangerous. Your depression therapist can help you make sure that you are choosing self care tools that feel good and are healthy. Finding ways to move your body that reduce stress and feel good is the more sustainable path to improving your mood and losing weight.

You may need to seek the help of a doctor, dietician, or nutritionist: A depression counselor can help you make behavioral changes that will improve your mood. They can also help you track your progress and stay motivated. However, you should always consult with your doctor or a dietician or nutritionist if you are looking to make major changes in the way you eat. These professionals can help you make sure your plan is safe and effective.

Our goal is to help you feel better mentally, physically, and enjoy your life again.

We are not so concerned with how you look on the outside as we are with how you feel on the inside. We also understand that the measures set up to decide what a healthy body should look like are often biased, antiquated, and inaccurate. If you are realizing that a depressive episode has negatively impacted your health, help is available.

Click here for more information about therapy for depression.