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Depression and cycling

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  • December 4, 2011 at 9:38 am #14569
    lazyusername

    Following the Graeme Obree interview thought it might be useful to have a thread to discuss some of the issues highlighted by the interview.

    I’m going to try and kick things off in a positive manner and simply share what works for me. I have a depression diagnosis and cycling is massively beneficial. I can’t remember a ride where I have got back and felt worse. Slogging my guts out trying to keep a quick pace up or just buggering off for three or four hours and unwinding through the lanes it’s all good

    I haven’t started this thread as a ‘this is what you need to do because it worked for me’ type thing. Just thought there were a lot people commenting on the interview and it might be beneficial to have a thread to discuss whatever the hell you like

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  • December 7, 2011 at 9:03 am #658327
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    OldRidgeback

    I’d say physical exercise in
    I’d say physical exercise in general provides an effective counter measure to depression and lethargy. I do regular gym sessions, mixed with running, some football and a lot of cycling. It makes the difference for me. As others have pointed out, alcohol is only a short term measure and has other effects that can be totally counter-productive.

    I did suffer long term depression in the past and do sympathise with what Obree went through, as well as respecting his courage in speaking out. I do wonder if Speed’s problems were linked, at least in part, to his having stopped training so intensively. The endorphins that a hard training session will generate in the system are addictive.

    December 7, 2011 at 5:05 am #658325
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    lazyusername

    lushmiester

    lushmiester wrote:
    [quote=lazyusername]PJ

    I don’t drink at all these days life is better for me like that, good infact…..

    .. as a response to mental health issues.

    Yes!

    December 6, 2011 at 9:37 pm #658323
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    lushmiester

    lazyusername wrote:PJ
    I
    [quote=lazyusername]PJ

    I don’t drink at all these days life is better for me like that, good infact…..

    .. as a response to mental health issues.

    Alcohol is a depresent (it slows down or inhibits the functions of the central nervous system) and sustained use increasing the risk of depression. This may seem odd because most of us are familiar it’s relaxing effect which makes us feel more sociable.This is apparently due to it first slowing down or inhibiting those functions of the brain associated with inhibition. It then goes on to effect mood, impair cognitive and coordination abilities.

    Am never sure about exercise and mental health. Does it have preventative (which is the mental health benefit I gain from cycling) and or curative effects? It can be associated with improved physical health so there is then the association between the sense of physical well-being and mental well-being. There is no harm in giving it a try and if it works for you it works, but when it does I have no idea why its worked.

    December 6, 2011 at 8:57 pm #658321
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    the_mikey

    100% agree, cycling has a
    100% agree, cycling has a mood and general wellbeing benefit that I cannot get from taking medication, having used fluoxetine and citalopram in the past, I’d much rather have cycling instead.

    Also agree with the guardian page, broken legs, winter vomiting virus, flu, are all easier to deal with than having to explain depression or anxiety.

    December 6, 2011 at 5:20 pm #658319
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    lazyusername

    PJ McNally completely agree
    PJ McNally completely agree about exercise and feel you can feel ten times the benefits if you exercise outdoors, possibly this is just me – not a huge fan of gyms. There are drugs with far worse side effects than anti-depressants and I do feel I need anti-depressants, prob for the long term, nothing to get too hung up about but obviously if you can manage without them all the better.

    I don’t drink at all these days life is better for me like that, good infact.

    I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this but anecdotally, OK a couple conversations down the pub nonetheless, talking to friends who have taken up cycling a large portion have done so as a response to mental health issues. I realise that any serious analysis of cyclists would prob show most were ‘normal’, well maybe. Just wondering if anyone had noticed this or is just my peer group

    December 6, 2011 at 4:48 pm #658317
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    lushmiester

    Great idea! will pop in from
    Great idea! will pop in from time to time.
    Read this today on depression,

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/06/need-justify-depression-worse-than-illness?CMP=twt_fd

    interesting am sure many experience the same.

    December 6, 2011 at 3:49 pm #658315
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    Bennyboy

    I posted on the other thread,
    I posted on the other thread, but forgot to mention that some people recommend ‘Chromium’ supplements for depression. I take setraline and Chromium. I’m sure most folk will know that alcohol really messes your head up for depression sufferers. I have cut booze back to only a couple of pints a week, otherwise I feel noticably down.

    December 4, 2011 at 11:30 am #658313
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    PJ McNally

    I have a similar diagnoss –
    I have a similar diagnoss – one severe major depressive episode – thankfully no recurrence yet so I don’t yet have a “major depressive disorder”.

    The bike is fantastic, brilliant therapy – I’ve never needed medication, and I hope I never will, as long as I keep riding.

    (We doctors know that exercise works better than drugs, btw, for mild to moderate depression – and the side effect profile’s much better too. Yet doctors persist in prescribing sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram etc – to people who don’t need it).

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