Brief Answer:
These symptoms can occur due to some underlying depression or overeating

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. You are 55 years old and remain stressed out at work. This has resulted in overeating and you have gained significant weight in last 6 months.

Yes the problem has psychological origin and because of stress at workplace you have started to eat excessively. This could be occurring due to Depression or other possible reason as Compulsive Over Eating or binge eating. The symptoms doesn't suggest any other eating disorder like Anorexia or Bulimia.

Depression can be the possible reason but apart from work stress which is persistent you haven't mentioned any other symptom that can help in making diagnosis of depression.

Compulsive over eating is the other possible diagnosis. Though it is not a complete psychiatric condition but a lot of individuals have such symptoms. In most cases the stress is aggravating factor for such symptoms. Persistent stress result in over eating which ultimately result in gain in weight which further increase stress and thus a vicious cycle of "stress--overeating--increased weight--stress--overeating" is formed.

So to come out of this overeating one have to break this cycle. Medicines like SSRIs are mainstay of treatment for such symptoms. Fluoxetine is a SSRI medicine that is particularly useful in such symptoms. Bupropion also has been found to be useful in compulsive over eating. Both these drugs are known to reduce the stress, reduce the compulsive over eating and in long time help in improvement. Please consult a psychiatrist for help and treatment.

I'd advise you to exercise daily. Exercise result in secretion of endorphins which result in improvement of mood and reduction of stress. This will also help you in losing the weight. Please dont remain stressed and take proper treatment and you will come out of these symptoms.

Thanks, i hope this helps you. Please dont hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

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Brief Answer:
Relief from stress would result in reduction of impulsive overeating.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question

Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug and the drug is rapidly acting for anxiety symptoms but the drug can't help much in controlling the stress induced overeating. Other benzodiazepines as Etizolam, Oxazepam can also help in acute symptoms of anxiety. These medicines are rapid acting and can even control panic like anxiety and also doesn't cause much sedation.

For relief of the impulsive over eating as I have mentioned that relief of stress would reduce the episodes. So if even if SSRIs doesn't resulted in relief previously still there is need for some anti anxiety medicines. Bupropion is also a good option in such symptoms. The drug is relatively better tolerated and is not associated with sedation, drowsiness side effects if we compare it with SSRIs. The drug if used in proper doses can help to reduce the episodes of stress, social anxiety and obsessive thinking. You can discuss for that drug also. For quick relief Buspirone can be used. Buspirone can help to control stress rapidly and you can take the drug before the episodes of over eating. Please avoid alcohol because this would make you more obese. Consult your doctor for prescription.

I hope this helps you. Still have some more doubts, please ask again.

Take care

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