What has happened to face! Pic included

[Ohgooodgodwhathashappened]

I'm a 30 yo woman who has gained 4 stone in a very short period of time (anti depressants). Psychiatrist warned me that the medication I was going was particularly bad for weight gain. The weight gain has made my depression infinitely worse.

I have just noticed this weird indent when it comes to face shape. Have always had an oval face with high cheekbones.

What is going on?? I recently started krill oil and collagen as I noticed fat on face isn't as taut as I would like.

This can't just be due to weight gain. I've literally just only noticed. Know idea how long I've had this.

What do you think???

I'm not very helpful at all but I just want to say your hair and your face = beauty

And hope you're feeling better soon. Oh and also, green tea. Green Tea really helps my bloating xx

@CollieWobbles2023 how lovely of you to take the time to type out something so sweet to a stranger on the internet. Will pay it fwd!

@TooJoy thanks a bunch. Your post really helped re the anxiety I'm experiencing right now. Hopefully with a healthier lifestyle my face may look a bit closer to my old face shape. I'm putting a lot of importance on my appearance as I feel I have wasted the past 3 years.

Ironically enough I have my cruel mother's lips. She would often attack my looks when angry/upset with me. I remember her pointing out my rear was large when she bathed me (therefore must've been less than 6), think I had been unkind to my sister. The problems she has caused!

How long have you been on mitazipine?

Have you been offered any therapy alongside it?

If the weight gain is making your depression worse then I'd say you need to change meds

I knew you'd be on Mirtazapine before you posted the drug name!

A close friend put on 3 stone while taking Mirtazapine. The increase in appetite seems to be a widely known side effect, which may be okay for some people, but not all.

As already suggested, Mirtazapine may not be the right drug for you?

As an aside, you have a lovely face and your lips are gorgeous. I now have lip envy!!! 👄❤

Definitely not volume loss there’s just areas of the face that aren’t as prone to gaining fat around temples etc which is a good thing as means your face has some definition still , gaining weight changes your whole face shape sometimes , if you lose it you will likely look like your old self again . Be kind to yourself though , you look lovely and your mental health is more important .

I've been on Mirtazapine for just over 6 months. Tried all sorts - Quietiapine, Pregablin, Venlafaxine, Sertraline and more that can't recall off the top of my head.

Has made my anxiety much better. Not too long ago I would hyperventilate multiple times in the middle of the night due to intrusive thoughts. Things beyond my control like abuse, I just wanted to jump off a cliff cause I saw the world being full of evil and pain. Its such an immense relief not having those thoughts that I'm afraid to try anything else. I was in a very dark place when fixating on cruelty.

Have tried CBT, cant say it was overly efficacious. About to start psychodynamic therapy, waiting for an appointment slot olto open up.

@Clarice99 thank you!

Sorry the post where I listed my meds was a reply to @Arewehumanorarewecupboards and @namechange55465

In all the photos it is clear you are a very beautiful woman. I hope whatever it is that is going on for you to make you feel so down and anxious goes away very soon. All the best.

Do you wear spectacles, if so I'd say it's them.

(1) levothyroxine causes weight loss, not weight gain.

(2) drugs with far more severe side-effects than this are licensed all the time. If a medical condition is severe/dangerous, a drug with potentially severe side-effects will often be licensed, because the benefits outweigh the risks.

Surely if you're depressed, putting on 4 stone isn't going to put you in a cheerier mood?

I would sack off the medication and find a better doctor.

ps I can't tell that you've put on 4 stone on your face and can't see the indents.

Even without seeing your eyes your very beautiful either way. Remind me of Angelina jolie. Lucky you . I have been on mirtazapine for 16 year and actually thought I just had a huge appetite. But hearing other people talk about weight gain ect I just thought I had lack of self control. It actually doesn't do anything for me anymore other than sending me to sleep very soon after taking it at night time. I recently stating taking brintellix 15mg which seems to even help improve my PMDD. I'm going to ask my doctor if I can come off mirtazapine, maybe you should too

FFS, you have no idea how ill the OP may have been. Mirtazapine is not usually a first-line treatment. For all you know, she was suicidally depressed.

OP, do speak to your psychiatrist about possible alternatives, but please, please do not stop your medication.

Don't ever just stop a medication. you have to do with your doctor slowly. Due withdrawals, which can be deadly or being back depression if you just stop.

@summerfinn you're going to give me a big head...maybe that'll help with the face shape!

Have learnt the hard way re abruptly stopping meds. Once ran out over a bank holiday weekend and honestly thought my body was shutting down. Luckily I had family to look after me as I had no energy to do anything beyond crawling into bed.

@Mbop I wear glasses to drive, watch TV etc.

Can glasses actually change you face shape??

@MaterDei thank you very much, one day at a time and all that :)

@ichifanny (<--- lol)

Seeing you type you don't think it's volume loss has made me feel a lot better! Will try to be kind to myself, something I struggle with as I genuinely hate myself and find myself to be repulsive

They can definitely squish water holding/ puffy bits of your face into an indentation. My specs do this behind my ears at the back and on the sides of my nose sometimes. I am on Levothyroxine for hypothyroid and collect water a bit more than I used too in the face and in my hands and feet around hormone fluctuating times of the month. But it ebbs and flows and you are lovely, to me your visible face looks a bit like Arwen from Lord of the Rings. Hope your stress levels out and you feel better very soon.

I have to agree, you look beautiful.

I was prescribed this drug shortly after finding out I had cancer and stopped being able to sleep. I took a low dose (like half the minimum prescribed for anxiety) as and when I couldn’t sleep and it was brilliant. Really helped me sleep, really helped me think and process all the treatment with a clear head and without a racing heart. It’s a great drug.

On the other hand I put on two and a half stone in a month. It was worth it.

@Ohgooodgodwhathashappened not permanently I wouldn't have thought but it's possible they are more snug fitting than they were before. Do you wear glasses, if so that's my guess!