As most of you know, I have been on seroquel for awhile now. But a common side effect that I don’t talk about often is: the weight gain. Since starting Seroquel I have gained roughly 45lbs, and the hit to my self esteem has been a big one.
Most people don’t realize that antipsychotics cause weight gain, and for me it was a doozy. Seroquel caused me to constantly be hungry, which turned into me eating a ton, and then weight gain. No matter what I tried I just kept gaining weight. Healthy snacks, lighter portions, even straight up fasting.
I would always cave and eat. Countless nights I would find myself in the kitchen in the middle of the night getting a snack. Anything from lunch meat to Italian ice was on the menu. One time even dino nuggets. It was out of control. Work outs, walking, nothing stopped the weight from coming.
And that is when I learned that antipsychotics had a side effect, a big one, weight gain. And I was now in a cycle of just trying to maintain my weight. But the pounds slowly crept on. The more I gained the worse I felt about myself. And the cycle continued. Weight gain caused anxiety, and anxiety caused stress, and stress caused more eating.
What I have come to learn is that sometimes the sacrifice of stability is going to be my weight. It hasn’t been fair, or exactly easy to come to terms with. But my mental stability is more important. And I did finally take a step in a different direction. A new journey, with my doctors approval and supervision, of weaning off the Seroquel and trying something new.
So, to new adventures and being open about my journey. It is time to escape the stigma and make mental health talk, just health talk.
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