How to Put on Weight When You Have Depression

If you are depressed, chances are your body is reacting to it in one of two ways: either gaining weight or losing weight. Both are bad, but losing too much weight can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. Losing too much weight or losing weight too quickly can cause kidney damage and other health issues. So how do you gain weight when you can't find the will to eat? Here are some tips on what you can do to gain weight when you are depressed.

Instructions

Gaining Weight During Depression

• 1

  Ask for help from friends and family. Enlist the help of friends of family to make meals, bring them to you and sit with you while you eat. This helps to overcome the lack of desire to get up and make your own food and the disinterest in the food itself.

• 2

  Make it pretty. When you do make food, make it appealing. Don't just slop food on the plate and then stare at it. Take the time to prepare each entree and arrange and garnish it nicely. When you are not depressed you may not care what your food looks like before you eat it, but when you are depressed, a sad looking offering will only make you feel more miserable.

• 3

  Get up and get moving. It may take a little effort because when you are depressed it feels like all you want to do is crawl under the covers and hope the world goes away, but exercising is a great stress and depression reliever. It also helps improve your appetite and helps you gain weight when you are depressed.

• 4

  Make sure you get enough sleep. When you are depressed it may seem like you are spending your whole life in bed, but chances are you are tossing and turning, not sleeping. If you are having trouble sleeping consult your physician for possible medical help. Getting enough sleep is a major factor in the body's ability to regulate its food intake and weight.

• 5

  Drink supplements. There are a variety of nutritional weight-gaining drinks on the market for those who cannot get enough calories and nutrients from a normal day's food intake. During the worst parts of depression, when eating is a chore no matter how you slice it, make sure you drink plenty of nutritional supplements like Boost or Ensure.