Depression and cycling

[Tek]

Hmmm...

Without going into too many details as that I used to work for a bike company and I am sure some of those folks frequent this board....

There was a time when my Doc put me on Xanax/Zoloft because I was miserable in the job I was working.

The truth was that I didn't need that stuff at all- my feelings were natural- the job sucked and was bringing the rest of my life down with it.

Well, I took myself of that stuff because it only made me feel detached anyway. To make a long story short, due to politics, I got sacked from that job.

It was also my great luck that I am an IT person and I got sacked in this lovely market of ours (US) and have not been able to find a full time gig since.

Now mind you- I feel depressed as hell now because I can't find a good job. Still, I have my bike, I have me, I have what I can make my body do. I may not be able to control how others treat me. If I can find a good job or not. What I can control is if I get my butt out and make sure I sweat.

So I do. I bike. I run. I swim. I lift weights. If I go more than two days without working out, I get mega depressed and I start to hate myself even more (I'm not the type of person who likes to be out of a job for almost 3 years).

My bike has been the only thing that has kept me from totally losing it. Honestly. Now, someday, I would like to compete and maybe someday I might do that. But for now, just to be able to ride by the lake, feel my heart pumping, feel the sweat, and have that time to myself to think- that is enough of a boost to give me a little bit of hope . So yeah... cycling/running/swimming helps me where the drugs do not.

Good luck. =)

[Dogmama]

My shrink (who prescribes lexapro for me) believes that much depression comes from our overbooked society. We need to fill every moment with something. Even kids are being schlepped from soccer practice to violin lessons and then to a shrink's office for antidepressents.

For me, when I become overwhelmed by life, I become more depressed. That's when I know it's time to take some things out of my life.

We must have time to recharge our batteries. If that means taking an hour for a good book, nice walk or writing in a journal, all the better. Connecting with the essence of life, rather than what we perceive life to be, is imperative.

[MightyMitre]

Good post Dogmama. I agree - everyone is always so busy whirling around from one thing to the next. It really is enough to drive people crazy! (No offence intended here. I certainly don't think anyone suffering from depression is 'crazy' in any way at all.)

I think everyone needs quality time out for themselves. We need to give ourselves a break.

[moonfroggy]

this is a great thread
i suffer from sever depression or i have suffered from it, i have suffered from depression my entire life and ifor me it is related to post truamatic stress wich i have because i grew up in a severly abusive enviroment, i got out of the abusive home when i was 19 and started therapy when i was 20 and started taking anti depresents after i started therapy, i am 25 now, for me riding my bocycle helps a lot more than anti depresents wich don'ts eem to help me very much and i have tried almost all of them, also getting enough sunlight and fresh air really helps, i am very sensetive to sunlight, if i don't get enough i get depressed, i am currently very slowly going off effexor and iw ill try not taking any anti depressent for a while, i seem to be less depressed with the very low dose i am on right now than i was when i took a higher dose, and i have worked really hard to get to the point where i can try going off anti depressents, i have a great therapist and she is really helpfull, and the meds are really helpfull, but riding my bike is just amazing
one thing i sorta wana mention though is that for really sever suicidal depression sometimes riding a bike can be dangerous at least for me, about three years ago i almost got killed riding my bike through red lights because i was very suicidal, i didn't get injured i prolly really scared some car drivers thouigh luckily there was no acidents, i never ride my bike when i am feeling to depressed because it is to dangerous for me, instead i go for long walks

[Irulan]

Moonfroggy.... here's a big hug for you. Your story sounds like mine except I left home at 16 and was depressed for 20 years before I sought treatment.

hugs, and hang in there, it can only get better.

irulan

[moonfroggy]

thanks irulan
it is getting better all the time, i still have ups and downs and right now i am sick so i can't ride my bike but the depression still keeps improving for me
btw it was me that asked you about ink for silk screening

[pkq]

For the most part, I've always been even keeled. I've had two previous bouts with depression but there were very definite circumstances causing it. However, this summer I've had 3 episodes, which relate to my hormones changing/waning. Yup, I'm pre-menopausal and it's nasty. I never knew when my cycle was coming or going. As a result, I thought PMS, post-partum depression, etc. were all bunk. I know better after this summer. They are real and due to real chemical imbalances in the brain.

Many people I know say, here in the U.S., we just aren't as happy as we used to be. Personally, I think we don't know how to have fun any more. We are too pressured with debt, job insecurities, pressures to be picture perfect, smart, successful, et al we can't think about what we truly value in life. We worry about minutia. We can't be just regular people. We don't even have enough time to think about ensuring the toilet tissue supply is OK. But I think we've brought this on ourselves because peer pressure is a powerful force even in adulthood.

All this coupled with TV, PC's, big houses with fenced yards has led many to be isolated from people. They don't have enough contact with real people, which is a real cause of depression for many people. I moved from my very middle class neighborhood to a lower middle class neighborhood and the people are much, much friendlier. The difference was very hard to miss. However, these people are outside often, checking the neighborhood, talking with one another, doing yard work, etc. I like my new neighborhood.

I've also noted the old people are generally friendlier than the younger people. They aren't afraid to talk to you or get involved with being your neighbor. I wonder why.

[Dogmama]

Moonfroggy,

How are you doing? You said in your last post that you were coming off of Effexor. How is that going?

So good that you have a good therapist. They're hard to find.

{{{HUGS}}}

[moonfroggy]

Originally posted by Dogmama
Moonfroggy,

How are you doing? You said in your last post that you were coming off of Effexor. How is that going?

So good that you have a good therapist. They're hard to find.

{{{HUGS}}}

well i'm not off it yet, i'm on the lowest dose, and getting to the lowest dose took me a few months because i get really sick going off it, i have tried stopping at thise dose a few times in the past but i got really sick, like sever nausea, and dizzyness and my face falling asleep, like my lips and stuff, and a horble headache, because of this i am aiting to go off completely, until after i get my wisdom teath out wich is next friday, on this low dose i am doing a lot better than i did on a higher dose, i think i will do good when i'm not taking any, i am keeping my fingers crossed
and yeah good therapists are so great, and i am so glad i found one i just wish i found her several years sooner
thanks
{{{hugs}}}

[PinkRacer]

I totally understand, I was violated last year and on top of that I broke my foot and was in a wheel chair for a few months, when it rains it pours…. I’ve been on drugs, therapy, herbs, and acupuncture, but nothing had helped my anxiety and stress levels like cycling. I am lucky to have a supportive finace who has been very paient with me and encouraged me to really get on a bike and ride till it “hurt”….

After all of the sleeping drugs that still haven’t stopped the nightmares cycling has. My therapist is totally supportive and says that it is an amazing outlet and she is really proud that I’ve become quite the cyclist over the past 9 months of dealing with my ordeal.

[spazzdog]

Good for you Pink! I still have to take my meds, cause I simply don't sleep (at all) if I don't. It doesn't matter if I run, cycle or work in the yard all day.
But.. the run, the bike or the yard does make my mind and body "feel" better.

Keep pedalin' grrl!

[shewhobikes]

I have not posted here in several months due to a downward spiraling marriage and depression (which is the chicken and which is the egg, who knows...) and I log in today and what do I find? Posts on break-ups and depression! Not to mention peri-menopause (and yes there's a post on here today about that!)

I was afraid of antidepressants. Not sure why. Then I got to the point that I was willing to try just about anything, and my dear therapist said, girl, you need some lexapro, let's just try it. Thank God for her. I don't think I'd have made it through this past year without her, and it. There is a decreased libido, which is not a problem for me right now. I had this misguided notion that antidepressants would make me "happy" and that's really not it...they just make me feel steady and OK (not giddy or high or whatever...)

Echoing many others here, my bike and my meds are the tandem that keep me going. You ladies rock.

[maryellen]

good for you shewhobikes. I love lexapro. As for the decreased libido, yeah, but don't get discouraged, it works if you work it.

[nicolezoie]

Yeah, been there, hospitalized for it, and sufferred through years of misdiagnoses and mis-medicating. I have been on and off medication since I was 13. Finally, what it came down to for me was being & living sober from all self-medication, eating properly, taking vitamin suppliments, and biking my fool *** off. The only times in my life I've felt even remotely "normal" have been when I'm active in a serious and focused way.

[Dogmama]

I'm going through another bout of depression - perimenopause isn't for sissies (see my rant on TDF thread about Lance's girlfriend for proof!) My shrink has tried every kind of antidepressant - SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic, and nothing works - or turns me into a raging lunatic. My regular doc thinks she can fix it through bio-identical hormones & we're just starting that route.

I'm interested in what people do in terms of diet, vitamins, etc. Thanks