Is anyone experiencing significant, unintentional weight loss with anxiety/depression?

[Cured2020]

My PCP dIagnosed me with severe anxiety early last year, and I’ve lost @ 30lbs unintentionally, which is NOT good for me.

Concerned that this weight loss is getting out of control & need to gain/maintain a healthy weight...(Currently not taking any meds)....

Any advice?

[Gh0st]

I understand you perfectly, I have also lost some weight and I am not dieting or anything like that, if I am eating healthier and more balanced than before (or at least that I try) but that weight loss I blame it to anxiety, as there are people that gain weight in an uncontrolled way there are some who lose it, as I have read it is because of the constant alert state to which we are, consciously or unconsciously, and we are always burning calories, I try not to pay much attention, I exercise whenever I can and I try to eat the best that I can, as long as there are no symptoms of something really bad, not much can be done, we can only fight against the anxiety that is the real problem.

[kenster1]

hi I lost a fair bit of weight with depression/anxiety never seemed to put it back on apart from my tummy.

[Pugglesworth]

I lost 25lbs in one month during my last major depression (depression and anxiety walk hand-in-hand in my experience). I honestly just didn't feel like eating. I had to set different alarms and reminders for myself to eat. Even that only slowed the process a bit. I forced myself back to the gym. When I can't do the gym I go for a walk. The endorphins are what do it for me. I have to consistently remind myself of how much better I'll feel after only 20 minutes of exercise (the time it typically takes endorphins to kick in). The exercise makes me need and want to eat.

It sounds very 'cheesy', but exercise works. It's very hard for me to get to the gym, but I just keep reminding myself I will feel better with even a small time commitment. I now take my iPad and watch a show that I like. If I'm walking I just enjoy nature or listen to a book on Audible. Exercise kicks in a lot of good things for our body and mind that just aren't present when we're sitting, watching TV or working. The really good thing about exercise is if you start to do it consistently your body will begin processing these good hormones and peptides on it's own in anticipation. Kinda a 'Pavlov's Dog' thing.

[Cured2020 in reply to Pugglesworth]

Thanks, Pugglesworth!

Question: Did you take meds for the depression, & did they help?

[Pugglesworth in reply to Cured2020]

Yes and yes.

Without exercise and eating right things get really bad for me even with meds.

[Hidden]

Please see a doctor, this could be entirely unrelated to your anxiety and might require treatment. A weight loss like that without some sort of drug or exercise regime behind it needs to be checked out by a medical professional. I hope you are ok.

[Cured2020 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[Leawrjet]

I also experienced significant weight loss due to stress. Within 5 months of losing my last job I had gone from 130 lbs to 105 lbs, and now 4 yrs later I struggle to maintain 100 lbs. I eat a very healthy plant based diet and have recently started to exercise even though I am afraid it will make it harder to keep from losing any more. The benefits of movement are starting to show as my mood has started to lift, so I need to keep working out to help with my depression!

[Cured2020 in reply to Leawrjet]

Thanks for the response....

Question: Are you taking anti-depressant/anxiety y med? Have you found another job?

[Leawrjet in reply to Cured2020]

Not currently on meds, but have been off & on for over 20 yrs.... oddly didn't feel extremely depressed at that time but defeated about work. I was 59 yrs old then, and have not found another job. My confidence was shattered and then we moved to another state and I looked and interviewed but nothing.

My depression is pretty bad the last few months - have moved again and don't like where we are living so added stress.... plus my husband has COPD and it is getting worse.

[Storsie]

That kind of anxiety coupled with the weight loss could be a signal of a hyperactive thyroid. It might be a good idea to ask your doc for a full thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4, Free T3, etc)