Wow Amber! You said your physical health has been great, so that is huge! That is really something to be grateful for. It sounds like your mental health is your biggest concern, and what comes to my mind first, are questions. Have you been seeing a counselor? Not just a psychiatrist, but an actual counselor who can help you. Are you in the process of menopause? Are you getting your hormones regularly tested, treated, and monitored? What are your nutritional levels? Are you seeing your primary doctor regularly for blood monitoring? Tanked vitamin levels such as vitamin D or others can contribute to our mental health. When my D tanked and went below normal, I got seriously depressed to the point of not wanting to get out of bed, let alone live life. If you are on medications for mental health, they need to be monitored as well for whether you are digesting and absorbing them and get them adjusted accordingly. In my experience, I have learned throughout this journey that I am responsible for my own health. I have had to push the doctors to test me for certain things along the way after I had done my own research. They don't know our bodies and rarely, in my experience, know about nutritional needs. If our nutritional needs our not being met, our mental health suffers too. Three of the most healing tools I have found along the way for my mental health have been journaling, EFT tapping, and practicing gratitude. The fact that you have reached out for help here tells me that you want to live and regain a healthy quality of life. Good for you for reaching out! It is possible to find balance, and I hope that we can be a part of your journey in finding balance in your life again.

Keep coming back and don't despair if people don't get back quickly. This new website "upgrade" has taken a huge toll on our group and some people aren't coming on as often as a result.

Amber1968, I completely agree with what Lcat4 just posted for you. I also know how easy it is to jump from using food to calm myself to using anything that makes me feel good for a minute. I'm doing therapy, a 12-step program, gastric bypass support group, and working with my primary doctor to check all my levels. One of the best parts of my network is no matter how down I am on a given day, I know I have a team supporting me. The worst feeling for me is feeling like I'm in this alone. We are forced to advocate for ourselves when it comes to our health. But, I have found in the past 106 days since surgery that there are times when other peoples breathing annoys me. Working without a candy break at 2pm, traffic, cell phone issues, etc. All these things that I would go home and eat over, I'm stuck feeling. I have two choices: find a new way to medicate my feelings (alcohol, shopping, etc.) or get help dealing with these feelings. I wish you the best. Please know that you are not in this alone.

Amber, LCat and GAskirt are right. You are NOT alone and you will find help here. Wish I could reach through the computer and give you a big hug.

I have an addictive personality and I've just been hoping I don't trade off food for something else. I just had surgery last month.so far so good.are you seeking out things to replace the food that used to comfort you? Do you exercise? Exercise releases natural feel good hormones and dopamine into your body, and it helps anxiety and depression. Good luck to you!

Hi, Amber1968! I'm glad you came back and felt comfortable enough to be honest about what you are going through emotionally.

My mind/emotions were a mess the third year after my surgery (RNY on January 10th, 2010). Counseling really helped. As Lcat said, hormones can also play a big role in our mental health. And, if you were on anti-depression meds, your body absorbs them differently post-op.

If your surgeon's practice provides follow-up care, please make an appointment and be honest with them about your struggles (if not, talk with your primary care doctor). Most of us were using food to cope with our emotions and not being able to "eat" our feelings means we have to find new ways of being... those new ways can either be healthy and or unhealthy. Learning to use healthy ways of dealing with our emotions and thoughts is the "mind work" we know is so important.

Please be gentle with yourself and get professional help. You are worth it!! ((hugs))

JJ