DS20 is unemployed, depressed and dangerously overweight - I don't know how to help

[AngelikiEvangelia]

My adult son has been out of work since Christmas and his mental health has massively deteriorated. He has always struggled with overeating, but now he goes out several times a day to buy tubs of ice cream and tubes of pringles that he'll eat all in one go. His room is full of empty bottles of Dr Pepper, crisp packets and pizza boxes.

He's constantly applying for jobs but not getting anywhere. He's now so overweight that he's getting out of breath just walking upstairs at home. He's only 20.

Does anyone have any advice? The jobcentre staff don't seem particularly helpful, and anything I suggest to him just gets a 'yeah maybe' (which means no). He's been referred to the local IAPT service but he's still waiting for an initial assessment.

I am just so worried about what his life is going to be like if things carry on like this.

Yes, it's the Team course. Really glad to hear it was good for your son 😊

Ah that's brilliant! I can tell you a bit about it if you like? They had a presentation at the end and they said something about each young person. They said that my son had shown so much growth in his confidence over the 12 weeks and I could see it as well. They do work experience as part of it and I couldn't recommend it enough to any young person who is struggling.

What a brilliant update! Such a different feeling to your earlier posts. So pleased all these manageable changes are taking shape. All best to you both.

Glad things are moving forward for your DS.

DS has finally got a job! 🎉

Excellent news OP. Hopefully this will be a turning point for him.

Fabulous, well done him!! You both must be so pleased

In many people, antidepressants give you a constant and overwhelming craving for junk food, sugar and carbs. It happened to me. i went from never dieting, never thinking about what I ate to gaining two stone and having an incessant nagging voice in my head, saying, 'I'm hungry! I want cereal/toast/crisps/chocolate'.

Let him know that carb cravings are a problem with ADs and discuss ways to combat this. Two of the best ways imo were free weights and body weight training. Encourage him to drink a lot of water or herb tea. Ask him to help you with physical tasks - chopping logs, moving furniture, changing beds,carryig heavy shopping etc. Ask him to join you on a walk. Drag him out to spend some of his UC on nice new tee shirts and maybe a smart shirt for prospective interviews.

I agree with other, that WLI might help.

Good news! What's he doing?

Hurrah!! That's brilliant news!

What a great update. So pleased he is moving forward.

Fantastic news!

That is brilliant. My youngest is ND and spent months looking for a job and nothing. He has also just got one for 19 hrs a week with overtime. Am so chuffed :) well done OP’s son!

Thank you! He's back in retail 😊

Oh that's great - congratulations to your son too! 🎉

I think this needs to be a warning as to why allowing young, able bodied people to claim benefits is a terrible idea. All it does is fund their decline into an unemployable state by paying for junk food/gaming/weed (not saying your son smokes weed OP but many of the unemployed young men I meet via work do!) and whittling the urgency of job hunting to nothing.