First off, don't worry about what people think. You are what matters. I am a plus sized woman due to my medication. I've had three specialists tell me the weight can be lost. You can lose your weight too. I count calories and I'm losing. You can be beautiful even when you're heavy. Fix your hair and makeup 💄 everyday. Put on pretty clothes. It. Does wonders for your self esteem. Try it.

I can totally relate to what you both are saying. I too was horrified, at the weight gain, even my own gp said,,, Oh Linda this is not you! I was a size 10-12 fit, healthy, then they put me on those tablets.
Now at the doctors surgery or,,, chemist, you can ask about how to report the effects of your anti depressants.
My feeling are, that, have they done the 25 years tests on these drugs? Were the ginny pigs.
I for years had been put on this drugs, on a very low dose, now,,, the effects of the low dose, are all the above and beyond. Fuzzy head, dont work, hard to concentrate, noise sensitivity, tired, no get up and go, which has long since gone up and went. sitting for hours watching TV, life passing me by,,, but 2 years ago when I realised my gp had left.
I insisted to increase the dose by double, because I felt I had enough, struggling each day. would take me ages or aucustrate a shower, going in and out forgetting things, and then thinking what was it again??? two hourssss.
My daughter was taking double as we come from same family, similar chemical make up. OMG I had realised, why she did it, but that is another story.

For goodness sake, its your life, do what you think is right for you,,, change meds, or increase them or try something else. These doctors do not have the answers, we do, we suffer it ! Under prescribing, can cause, yes cause depression. Just stopping your tablets can, bring it back on again, because your brain has not had the chance to adapt. Now did your depression come on it the winter time?

What triggered it? is it triggered by, partner being an assshole, get counselling, maybe your stuck, or being abused and you don't realise it because, its the norm for you. Get some help yourself books, and ask yourself questions.

New year , new you, new changes, scary but necessary. Nothing can be worse than how your feeling, make yourself go out, write a diary, so you can look back on progress, or do you feel worse, after,,,, or better.

Before your 60, then you realise, your whole life has passed you by, go swimming, then pamper yourself, and be nice to yourself, have your hairstyle changed. Be daring. Get to know, the new you. Be kind to yourself.

I have found reducing my cards and increasing my fruit and veg has helped. And by researching different ways to incorporate meals in my diet as stimulated me.

I think I'd rather be on the heavy side and feel happy than be skinny and miserable.

I'm at the point now where I don't care what people think. My clothes are comfortable and I don't feel fat. If people want to look at me and judge my appearance that's fine, I keep myself clean and wear nice clothes. I do my hair and makeup everyday. I put my jewelry on. People are so self absorbed these days anyway, they don't care about other people. They don't go around saying, OMG, look at her, did you know shes wearing a size 16? People just don't care. So you shouldn't either. Just worry about yourself because no ones looking.