Depression and cycling

[Irulan]

I occasionally see allusions to depression, anti-depressants, other treatments in different threads.

I know that on some days it seems like cycling is the only thing that keeps me from going down, or other forms of exercise. The medications have seriously improved my day to day life.

anyone care to discuss?

Irulan

[Adventure Girl]

I had an injury that kept me from working out for over a month. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO depressed. It was the longest I had gone without working out in more than 15 years!!! I don't know if there is any scientific proof that shows that working out makes you "high" (endorphins, I guess), but I sure missed it.

I was upset that I couldn't work out. I was upset that I couldn't ride my bike. I was upset that I was gaining weight. It was just horrible. I actually cried. (Now looking back, I feel really sorry for my poor husband through all of it!).

I wonder if the depression would have gone away if I never worked out again. But once I recovered it felt so good to work out again. I wanted to scream, "It's great to be alive!"

[kpc]

I know for sure that exercise is keeping me WAY more postive and I sleep better than i have since early childhood. I think that when I will have to take breaks, it will stress me out. I just love the relaxation I feel after a good work out!
What would be really nice would be an antidepressant that I could just take a few days a month for PMS! Instead i just try to keep myself out of trouble and do more aerobics for those few days. And riding just calms my mind, it's the best. The visual stuff and the sweating are so good for me.

[aka_kim]

I find exercise in general, and cycling specifically, to be hugely helpful in dealing with stress and depression. My bike is a relatively inexpensive form of psychotherapy.

VeloNews just had an article about cycling and depression, http://www.velonews.com/train/articles/5584.0.html, suddenly newsworthy after Marco Pantani's death.

[Irulan]

for about 2 years, I took mid cycle prozac, for about 10 days a month for severe PMS that was eventually diagnosed as PMDD( pre menstual dysphoria disorder) becaue my mid cycle depression was very severe, not your garden variety *****iness or blues. It really helped: I had to track everying very carefully. I was working with a really great nurse practicioner at the time.

After further diagnosis, a look into family history of mental illness and other factors, I'm on a daily antidepressant ( for a variety of other additional reasons) which accomplished the same thing, plus some additional things. I'm working with an MD-psychiatrst now, and life is much better

Irulan

[kpc]

you took mid cycle medication and this helped w the PMS? So you didn't have to take it all month? Was there a problem on tthe first few days after you finished that month's dose?
Glad you were able to work thru all of this. Were you cycling during these years or did you take it up after the treatments?

[newfsmith]

I used to run a fair amount (~50 miles/week) until a car ran a red light and ran into me. As I was heading for the pavement I remember looking up at the traffic signal and thinking "If I don't survive this, Dan won't know I had the green light and will wonder if this is how I killed myself." At that point I hadn't found a bike that fit me and I got my sweat fix by running. Although I got out of that without any serious injuries, my knees just kept giving out on me every time I got back to 3 miles, and that just wasn't enough for me so I quit. I felt like crying everytime I saw someone running. Ultimately I did go onto daily zoloft, which has been good, but there is one major difference between zoloft and cycling. Zoloft just lets me feel good if I feel good, cycling makes me feel good. For me it takes both.

[Irulan]

Originally posted by kpc
you took mid cycle medication and this helped w the PMS? So you didn't have to take it all month? Was there a problem on tthe first few days after you finished that month's dose?
Glad you were able to work thru all of this. Were you cycling during these years or did you take it up after the treatments?

well, I've always been active. If I wasn't cycling, I was walking, working out, hiking skiing. Sometimes activity is all that kept me from sliding into a depressive abyss. I've got some serious biochemical issues going on, and SEVERE PMS is just one part of it. Understand, this is not garden variety pms: I was unable to function. It's the kind of PMS where you are suicidal. You can look up PMDD if you want. So, yes it did help a lot. But I had other low grade, constant depressive issues that had to be treated seperately, and once they were managed the PMDD was managed also, tho it flares up about once every 6 months or so.

I've got a seriously screwed up family medical history of depressive issues. We can track all sorts of things ( bi-polar, suicides, depression) back 3-4 generations, and in various branches. At least there are better treatments available now than there were 100 years ago.

hth?

I.

[snapdragen]

I too have a family history of depression. Combine that with the typical "don't talk about it and it won't exist" northern European family, imagine my surprise when I found out a family member had been hospitalized in the 50's! I thought it was just me, then my nephew took an overdose. He's fine now, but God only know how many others in my family are dealing with it. I've been very open with my nieces and nephews, hopefully they'll have an easier time than I did.

I too take a daily anti depressant. It probably is why I'm here today! I'll never forget, after the first two weeks of taking Zoloft, waking up one morning and actually looking forward to the day. Looking back now, I can understand why I did a lot of the things I did in my teens and 20's. Smoking, drinking, you name it, it's all self medication.

I'm so glad I rediscovered cycling in 1999. Like Irulan, I get flare ups every so often. But now I have better tools to deal with it, and I love life!

[grannydea]

For me right now cycling is my anti-depressent. My mother has been given 6 months to a year and I can not be there on an everyday basis as we live 15 hours from eachother. Anyway riding gives me something to divert the thoughts. I go for a ride and think about speed cadance heart rate ect. It takes away the guilt that I am dealing with. Self induiced guilt but guilt just the same. Anyway if it weren't for riding and workouts I am sure I would be crying all the time or worse.
Dea

[doctorfrau]

Oh my, how long of a dissertation do you want on Depression and SSRI's???

My depressive "crash" was a major factor in my mid-life crisis. I would literally stand in the shower and SOB! I would wake up at 2 AM and not be able to get back to sleep - and SOB. I thought about how my life and marriage was going to continue to be one unending desert of boredom, unhappiness and lack of love - and SOB. I lost 27 pounds (no appetite for me was waaaaaay abnormal - I would have 5 bites and feel literally sick to my stomach) I power-walked to try to run away from it, but exercise wasn't enough. It got to the point where on my 5 AM walks I would hear a car coming behind me and think-- gee, I'd only have to take one big sudden step to the left....

It took me a month or two to figure out what this was, and took me another couple months to figure out that it was NOT going to go away by itself. I thought I could beat it, and didn't want to have to do medication, but a very wise physician pointed out to me that since this is a biochemistry thing, that trying to 'willpower' my way out of it made as much sense as a diabetic or a person who was hypothyroid trying to "bootstrap" themselves out of their condition!

I got a counselor and agreed to medication because a dear friend admitted to me that she was on medication and I saw how much it had helped her. IF she hadn't said that - who knows- I could be dead by now.

Because of that, I try to be VERY open about that fact that I take daily medication for Depression. I have been on Zoloft for almost 4 years and experimented with adding a tad of Welbutrin last year. I got a divorce, applied and was accepted to medical school, and I am the happiest that I ever remember being in my life!

It's not magic - I also took some hard looks at my life and my approach to it, did some spiritual reawakening, and some self-esteem re-assessment, but I am totally not the same person that I was 10 years ago. In retrospect, I think that I was teetering on the brink of depression for many years ( called Dysthymia), and it took the final fall into the abyss for me to recognize it. It was one of the hardest periods of my life, but I wouldn't give it back, because it was also a turning point.

So if anyone recognizes some of these symptoms in themselves, please, please talk to a doctor or counselor ---- it could change - or SAVE-- your life!

Sleeplessness (or excessive sleeping)
Excessive irritability or anger
Guilt or anxiety
Emotional lability (mood swings)
Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
Lack of interest in things that you used to enjoy
Sudden gain or loss of weight/loss of appetite
Thoughts of suicide

/steps down off soapbox

[snowtulip]

Hi Everyone,
I agree, riding my bike has been a great anti-depressant! I have epilepsy and was put on a new medication that left me weak and tired for months (I literally slept about 12-14 hours a day). I was so bummed about having to deal with this, plus the fact that I was too tired to even ride. But I started practicing bunny hops, going off small drops, etc. (this didn't take a large amount of energy, but at least I was on my bike). It did a world of good, the anti-seizure medication I'm on does affect mood and when I haven't been on my bike for a while, the depression starts to kick in. Luckily, this site is keeping me motivated to ride my bike even on the cold days. We all deserve a stable happy life, so it's great to see everyone talking about these issues and sharing what works for them.
Enjoy!

[Dogmama]

I've been active for years, but riding is what keeps my depression at bay - that and my daily dose of lexapro. I, too, have severe PMS and I'm also perimenopausal. So, my PMS is amplified by a factor of ten. Two months ago, my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer and has had tons of complications just from the surgery - we haven't even gotten to chemo yet. My entire life has changed with the exception of my riding (except that I haven't been able to get out much). Riding is the one thing that remains constant.

I was glad to read Irulan's post & think I may pay my shrink a visit. This has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Trying to work, plus take care of him (daily IV drips & bandage changes) plus the constant worry is taking a huge toll. I completely fall apart about every 7-10 days.

One thing I'm grateful for is that the days are getting longer and warmer, so I can get back on my bike. Even a 45 minute ride, if I do a lot of sprints & hills, can totally alter my day.

[kpc]

I've been gone for the day. just returned to read all of this. thanks for sharing, i've got a lot to think about.

[Irulan]

Everyone, thanks for sharing. I wanted to open the door on this both for "safe" sharing, and more because I feel it's a topic that DOES need to be discussed and not hidden.


KPC, I'm gently suggesting that if you have drepressive issues to go see someone, whether it's your family doc, a GOOD therapist, or a MD psychiatrist. For a long time I felt that if I was fine I shouldn't have to take pills to improve my quality of life, but I slowly got it that brain chemical malfunction is no different that a diabetic having to handle their insulin issues, or any other medical situation that needs managing. Sure , AD's are like any other medication, some are just handed out with out looking at what may be causing the depression by well meaning but busy or undeducated medical pros.

There can be many causes of depression whether it's strictly bio chemical, unresloved trauma or even short term stress and overload, or any combonation of the above.

I too take a daily anti depressant. It probably is why I'm here today! I'll never forget, after the first two weeks of taking Zoloft, waking up one morning and actually looking forward to the day.

that is exacly how I feel. Once we got the right medication going, it was like a grey shadow that I lived with every single day was lifted. A GOOD therapist can help too... gave me tools to handle the anxiety that still flares up, plus we were able to root out the other issues left over from an abuse ridden childhood. Hehe, I say good becuase there are some really bad ones out there with agendas and motives that have nothing to do with healing YOU.

Irulan