Depression and cycling

[victoria]

thank you Irulan for opening the door on this one.
i would like to ad that if anybody out there is suffering -- get help-- do it now... depression can be a horribly debilitating and closeted disease. i know too. i was diagnosed about 15 yrs ago and have been on and off of medication since then. that's what motivated me to get my first "real" bike, a giant rincon weighing about 430 lbs. i loved that bike and i sincerely believe it kept me alive. cycling is still the most effective therapy for me. sets me free. ok, off of the soap box.
victoria

[snapdragen]

Originally posted by victoria
that's what motivated me to get my first "real" bike, a giant rincon weighing about 430 lbs.

Wow, that's one big a$$ bike

Seriously though, I think it's fantastic that we feel comfortable enough to share our stories. Thanks Irulan for starting the thread!

[ChainsOflove]

My cycling is my life raft from depression.

I've done the meds for 5 years, they are great but they can't do it all.

[trekchic]

YES.......I AM NOT WIERD!!!!!!!!!!

BTW: Thank you ANNIE for being my sounding board during my rough times a few months ago!

Depression is something we "superwomen" don't want to admit to...simply because it makes us feel inferior. Women judge each other WAAAAAAY too much!

As I have posted before, I suffer from "situational depression". I didn't really think about that when I was 1st diagnosed; thought it was just a clinical term........then I took a look at the words.... and thought, "....oh, the situation I am in makes me depressed!" That made so much sense to me! I have been on Effexor XR for about 7 months.......and it takes about 4 weeks to even feel the effects. I just this week weened off of it. I decided to see if I am any better emotionally. I also have been to a therapist (not a phsychiatrist, but a women's health phsychologist). She did wonders for me by making me look at the situation I am in to see what I could change to help me cope with or significantly reduce the feelings of despair and down-in-the-dumps. It's different for everyone....you have to find yours!

If I find I can't cope without the meds, I will definitely go back on them. It beats crying all day and having those, "my life sucks" thoughts running thru my head all day!

Biking for me is.........freedom. When I told Cindy, my therapist that, she said, "...that tells me everything I need to know!"

The best word of advice I can give...........TALK ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST! Talk about how you feel with a best girlfriend; find someone if you don't already have someone to talk to! It will make a difference.....trust me!

[Irulan]

Originally posted by trekchic
YES.......I AM NOT WIERD!!!!!!!!!!
The best word of advice I can give...........TALK ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST! Talk about how you feel with a best girlfriend; find someone if you don't already have someone to talk to! It will make a difference.....trust me!

my thoughts are this, talk to someone you can trust that is knowledgable and has tools and the ability to help you. A family doc, a therapist etc. Friends are great for listening but I've found that one can alienate people who don't understand or are scared off, or you can get a lot of well meaning but useless advice.



just my 2¢

Irulan

[victoria]

i would second Irulan's wonderful advice...
talk to someone you trust to start the process of healing and then see a professional -- a good one-- you wouldn't think of asking your friends to set a broken bone... give your broken spirit the same consideration. climbing off of the soapbox now...
victoria

[trekchic]

Hey, gals! I haven't been on the board for a while & let me tell you why!!!!!!!!!......

I posted a while back that I suffer from depression; not just your everday chemical depression....it's situational (clinical diagnosis). The good news is, once the "situation" rights itself, I'll snap out. The bad news is, until the "situation" rights itself, I can't snap out! I know, some of you are rolling your eyes and saying..."...get over it girl.........don't be so weak!" I used to be one of those people who said that. Not any more. Depression is nothing to take lightly. Not only is it difficult to function (can't get "it" off my mind) but it's hard to keep from hurting those around you as well.

All this being said, the reason I've not been on the computer or my bike or anything else fun for a while until recently is because I decided to face my depression without meds! I woke up one morning and decided today was the day I either started to change things or accepted them the way they are and grow up! Ok, it's a little harder than that. I had to ween off the meds (Effexor XR) for 2 weeks......makes you feel like you have the flu! I was dizzy to the point of not being able to drive for days! My body ached, my head ached, I threw up......you name it I suffered with it for an additional 2 weeks after coming off the meds. But, I'm happy to report that I am free of all chemicals associated with the depression! I'm not cured, I'm not over it, I'm not happy, but I AM me! Take it or leave it!

One word of advice for those of you considering Effexor: I'm not sure I would recommend it. It's supposed to be non-addictive, but apparently that's not the case. Tread lightly! It is scary coming back down from it!

Any way......I'm back on my bike (well, in the trainer mostly) doing my intervals........hate 'em........working on my cardio.......trying to get this 10 lbs back off........went thru an eating binge when I was coming off the meds....trying to function as a normal human being!

I am praying for everyone on this board right now who suffers with clinical, situational, chemical.......or other types of depression. I am right there with you! OK: my therapy session is over! Great to be back is all I can say!

Kim in TN

[MightyMitre]

Great to have you back trekchic!! Make sure you keep us all posted of your progress.

[Irulan]

I posted a while back that I suffer from depression; not just your everday chemical depression....it's situational (clinical diagnosis). The good news is, once the "situation" rights itself, I'll snap out. The bad news is, until the "situation" rights itself, I can't snap out! I know, some of you are rolling your eyes and saying..."...get over it girl.........don't be so weak!" I used to be one of those people who said that. Not any more. Depression is nothing to take lightly. Not only is it difficult to function (can't get "it" off my mind) but it's hard to keep from hurting those around you as well.

I dont' think you'll get that "snap out of it" from this group!!! Congrats on getting back out. I know when I was at my worst point, it was so hard to do that. I had days when I would look out my window and finally force myself out. I was a big walker then ( 5 mile loops from my house) and I knew if I could just get it together to put my shoes on I would feel soooo much better. It always worked too, but just getting there was the hard part.

I"m thinking of you and your trainer... sometimes just doing it is the hard part but you feel so much better afterwards.

Any chance of getting out in the sunshine?

hugs

Irulan

[snapdragen]

You'll never hear a "snap out of it" from me! A friend said that to me at one of my darkest times...well, let's call her an ex friend now!

I think all the antidepressants have side effects when you stop taking them, so I guess that is a form of addiction. I'd rather look at it as my brain chemistry is finally normal. My depression is different from your's, I would be in a very dark place, for no reason at all. It got harder and harder to come back, so the drugs are a life saver for me.

It sounds like you've got a good handle on your depression. Remember though, when you hit the low spots, there are people here that know exactly what you are going through - so please don't suffer in silence!

Janet

[doctorfrau]

Originally posted by trekchic

But, I'm happy to report that I am free of all chemicals associated with the depression! I'm not cured, I'm not over it, I'm not happy, but I AM me! Take it or leave it!

One word of advice for those of you considering Effexor: I'm not sure I would recommend it. It's supposed to be non-addictive, but apparently that's not the case. Tread lightly! It is scary coming back down from it!
Kim in TN

Hi Kim,

First of all Good Luck with your situation - we are behind you!

With that said, I just wanted to clarify a few things about depression and medication. Regarding "addiction" to antidepressants, just in case your statement scared anybody, this is not actually an addiction. Taking Valium can make you addicted, taking Oxycontin can make you addicted, BUT taking one of the SSRI's or related meds like Effexor is NOT an addiction in that sense. It is not the same thing - that's like saying you can become addicted to food.

Effexor and some other depression meds work by increasing the availability of serotonin in your body. Where we want it to work is in your brain synapses, but serotonin is also an important signaller in places like your Stomach, Intestines and blood vessels. If you suddenly remove the supply of that signaller, the body reacts. It's sort of the same way as when you go on a drastic diet - you feel crappy, you are hungry all the time, you feel weak. If you stay on it for awhile you stop being so hungry and stop feeling so crappy, because your body has adapted to the new " lower" level of operation. It's that same thing with serotonin. Your body needs it and uses it all the time all over your body, but if it is suddenly not there, your body has to adjust to conserving and using what you have, and that takes time.

Also, "situational" depression, " clinical depression", " Unipolar depression", " Major Depression".... are ALL clinical diagnoses, and they are ALL chemical. Depression can be brought on by all kinds of things, from genetics, to chronic stress hormones like cortisol, to environmental factors like ambient light levels, to other hormone levels like hypothyroidism or estrogen fluctuations. There are all kinds of "causes", but it is ALL depression.

[Irulan]

thanks for the clarification, doctorfrau... I've experienced similar side effects when going off one ad and then switching to another. My doc refers to it more as the body's adapting to the drug, and then adapting again when the drug is removed from the system. Same as when you take bc pills and then go off of them, or any other long term non addictive drug. (right?)

Irulan

[doctorfrau]

EXACTLY like that, Irulan

[MightyMitre]

Just out of interest does anyone have any thoughts on why there seems to be so much depression around these days?

Is it our lifestyles? Do we put so much pressure on ourselves to be super-human and perfect, as we rush around trying to live up to false expectations and then falter under the strain?

Or, is it just the same as it ever was but is no longer being hidden under the carpet with people no longer prepared to accept it as one-of-those-things ?

[Irulan]

I think that to a certain degree, it's always been with us, but not identified or dealt with. There is less stigma nowadays. Think back.. how many people do you know of that had "nervous breakdowns"?

I'd also agree that the modern rat race contributes, but more I think it's that people are more willing to acknowledge the effefcts of bad things in their lives, whether high levels of stress, abuse, or other unpleasantness.

just my 2¢ as usual

Irulan