WHAT THE **** IS WRONG WITH ME???

Hi Everyone. I posted this on the main board and was hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this. I was sitting here yesterday thinking about the things I have to do when a revalation came across me as to why I eat (junk, grazing, etc). God, I can't believe I do this and it is embarrassing but I find one of the reasons I overeat is because I try to avoid things! I use food as a crutch. Maybe it's laziness. I realized that If I have to do things like school work, computer work, taking a shower, going out, house cleaning, etc, I will find myself in the kitchen looking for something to eat even if I am not hungry just to put off what I have to do. What the hell is the matter with me??? I am disgusted with myself. Sometimes I will nap to avoid doing things. I have no desire to do anything. It takes more effort for me to get moving then it does to pick up food and sit and eat. I really make myself sick (figuretively) just thinking about the way I am. I am on depression meds but it is not just depression. I just am too tired (physically) all the time. Right now, at 3:30pm (EST) I am sitting here, in my robe, just ate hot cereal, and dreading having to go get ready to go out to the store. I am not agoraphobic. I have no problems with crowds, people or anything. I guess I am just lazy. Someone. please tell me I am not the only one like this. I feel very alone in this situation since I have not heard of anyone mentioning this as a reason for over eating. Joanne

Perhaps Depression. Tek

Definitely, depression... also thyroid and fibromyalgia. But I am under meds for all of them. They worst part is realizing that I AM eating to avoid life. Did this my whole life and can't seem to stop it. I am also on Adderall. That is for my ADD which doesn't work as well as Ritalin for concentration but works well for energy. They problem with both of them is they sometimes got me so irritable that someone or something was going to fly out the window. So I take those sparingly. Great energy though. Now if they can make something that gives that type of energy without the anger AND rids you of depression, I am all set! Joanne

Joanne, Fatigue can be a large symptom of MANY illnesses/diseases. You really need to consult with your doctor regarding all of your symptoms/feelings so that you can get on with life!!! My other thought is that you may have hypothyroidism?? I had it for 10 years undiagnosed until the Board of Endocrinology changed the range. But before that happened, I had to get it bad enough that I was over the prior acceptable range. I hope I'm making sense. I have included information from my profile regarding hypothyroidism. I also post about depression that offers information and allows you to take a quiz to find out if you should be further evaluated. I hope this information helps you and/or someone else. Here is the information: Do YOU suffer from Hypothyroidism and are going untreated??? The Board of Endocrinology changed the range of appropriate TSH levels in January of 2003. The appropriate range was .035-5.00 but is now .035-3.00. Anyone having a TSH over 3.00 is considered to have hypothyroidism and should be treated. Anyone between 2.00 and 3.00 with symptoms should be suspect and considered for treatment. The labs have not caught up with this change even 2.5 years later. So, PCPs and Surgeon's get TSH levels above 3.00 but they are showing within the acceptable range on the blood work. Therefore, people are going untreated. I'm a good example as over 10 years ago my TSH was topping to 5.00 (I had suddenly gained 20 lb for no apparent reason) but I was within normal limits - never mind that I had all the symptoms. Later, it would go over 5.00 but they considered this "slightly elevated" and didn't rush to treat anything as they were being conservative. So, I suffered needlessly for 10 years and slowly gained over 100 pounds. If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism such as the following, please inquire with your physician(s) and/or surgeon about your TSH level. Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually develop slowly over months or years. Symptoms and signs may include: *Coarse and thinning hair. *Dry skin. *Brittle nails. *A yellowish tint to the skin. *Slow body movements. *Cold skin. *Inability to tolerate cold. *Feeling tired, sluggish, or weak. *Memory problems, depression, or difficulty concentrating. *Constipation. *Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days. Other, less common symptoms may include: *An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). *Modest weight gain, often 10 lb(4.5 kg) or less. *Swelling of the arms, hands, legs, and feet, and facial puffiness, particularly around the eyes. *Hoarseness. *Muscle aches and cramps. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are you depressed? Symptoms of Depression There are several signs and symptoms that help a healthcare professional or doctor determine if a person has depression. These include: **Depressed or irritable mood most of the day--nearly every day **Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (such as hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends) most of the day--nearly every day **A sudden change in weight or appetite **Inability to sleep or sleeping too much **Agitation or restlessness (observed by others) **Constant fatigue or loss of energy **Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt **Difficulty concentrating or making decisions **Frequent thoughts of death or suicide Important note: If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare professional or doctor, call 911, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local suicide hotline. You don't need to have all these signs and symptoms to have depression. Symptoms will also vary from person to person. For instance, compared with depressed men, depressed women are more likely to experience guilt, weight gain, anxiety, eating disorders, or increased sleep. Depressed older adults tend to experience persistent sadness or "empty" moods. Depression can also manifest itself with physical pain. It is important to remember that depression is a medical condition like any other. And, just as there are treatments for conditions like diabetes or heart disease, there are treatment options available for depression. Be sure to seek the assistance of a healthcare professional so he or she can determine if you have symptoms of depression. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of depression, you can take a screening "test" online to assist you in determining if it's time to see your doctor. Here are two: http://www.depression-screening.org/screeningtest/screeningtest.htm http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.html You may also like to go to http://www.depressionhurts.com This is a very informative site. You can also google "depression screening online", "online depression screening", or "signs and symptoms of depression" and get several sites to visit! Please remember, it takes several weeks for the body to fully respond to treatment. Also, there are many drugs available to treat depression and the first one you try may not work for you. It could take a few medicinal trials and several weeks before you find what works for you! The links above do not intend to support any particular drug and/or treatment for depression; rather, they are simply web sites that may help you determine if you are depressed and/or should consider a more thorough evaluation. Treating depression with pharmaceutical(s) is a decision and choice to be determined by you and your healthcare professional. I hope this helps! Best to you and yours, ~Vanessa~

See reply on main board. Thank you Hon. Joanne

Vanessa you super rock posting this information on hypothyroidism. For years I was told there was nothing wrong with me except I was depressed....well I finally found a doctor who dug in and found my thyroid was out of whack....guess what? And no big surprise....no more depression and a lot of other symptoms!! Happy Holidays to you!

Everything you talked about in your post made me think of depression. Maybe you need to talk to your doctor about changing the medication or increasing it. The bad thing about medication for depression is that it's hard to find the right dosage. You aren't lazy, it's all about hormones. Hope you soon find the right solution for you.

I have an appointment tomorrow to talk to her. Thank you so much for caring. Joanne

Consider the possibility of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many people who have it 'winter over' by taking anti-depressants or have to have the existing dosages adjusted for the season. Mention it to the doc treating your depression. Nowhere Man/Jay/PH