Mental Wellbeing while on a Weight-loss Journey

It's been a strange week for me, and I wanted to address something important—mental health and the impact of weight loss, especially when on GLP-1 medication.

I haven’t struggled with mental health in years. I was on medication for anxiety and depression for a long time but stopped over eight years ago when I became pregnant with my daughter. Since then, I’ve felt stable and haven’t experienced any major episodes.

However, just before my last period, I was hit with a wave of anxiety out of nowhere. It was overwhelming, and I wasn’t prepared. Maybe it was work stress or something else, but all I wanted was to retreat to a dark room, away from all stimuli.

The next couple of days were the same. I felt withdrawn, avoiding people and going to bed early, even skipping TV to disconnect. Anxiety often feels like a heavy weight in the chest, and this was no different. Eventually, it passed, and talking to others helped. Acknowledging that it’s okay to not be okay was cathartic.

It made me reflect: in the past, did I dull these feelings with food for a dopamine boost? The answer is yes. Whether it was takeout, chocolate, wine, or sweets, I often ate alone, hiding the evidence out of shame. Food became my way of coping.

For anyone feeling similarly, it’s important to talk. The NHS now has a mental health service via 111 (Option 2). It’s easy to dismiss or bury these feelings, but they need to be addressed so we can move forward.

I hope sharing this offers some support or solidarity. If it helps even one person tackle their "black dog," it’s worth it.