General Cycling Discussion - Biking: My anti-depressent

I had taken a hiatus from biking due to some issues with sleep disabilities, depression, etc. Life is really getting turned upside down. Trying this drug(Rx of course), that drug, huge stress on my family, and school work snowballing.



So one day I was struggling to keep going with life in general and decided I was going to ride over to the local trails right after school. It was 4:30PM, 38 degrees out, and pouring rain. As my peers watched me happily pedal over to the trails, I could only imagine what they were thinking!



I arrived at the little drop into the trails, and was filled with a very cool feeling. It occured to me that I owned the trails. I was in complete control. If I didn't want to ride, I could just sit there, and nobody would hound me!


But who wants to sit there?

I hammered out the most rediculous 8 miles I have ever ridden. I sprinted the entirety of it. When I would fall I would take the opurtunity to do some pushups and mountain climbers. A nice little family came by with thier kids under some umbrellas. I dismounted so as not to scare them, smiled at them, and they waved back. Here would be a great time to mention that my Avid Mech is a beautiful thing.

It started snowing, but I still had some light to work with. Pushed out another two miles or so, and headed back to my highschool to get picked up when it was dark. Oh the reactions I got from my friends to see a mud-covered soaked me limping up to the school wall and slouching over weakly drinking from my water bottle! I love being labeled "crazy". I like to think of it as "dedicated"!




Anyway just my little nonsensical and overall pointless anecdote about how biking is a wonderful thing. I now see how we should all really be very happy that we're blessed with the resources and means to, as well as the knowledge of this sport.


I have to head out now, parents are screaming at me for something or the other :rolleyes:



--James. Age 16. Occupation: Bike.

Biking and coffee keep me emotionally balanced

my brother has recently gone on a prescription anti-depressant. I have tried to coax him into exercising saying that this is one of my best mood lifters. I feel great for hours afterwards. I have better self esteem and look in the mirror and think to myself that I am pretty darn okay looking.

I only wish that my family and the rest of Amerika would think the same thing and get on a bicycle. Exercise is a great natural antidepressant.

Hey James,

I feel for you. I remember what being 16 was like (believe it or not :p) and it's not an easy time; however, it will pass quickly enough. I know it doesn't seem like it now but trust me, it will. All you have to do is hang in there and ride your bike as hard, and as often, as you can. As you've already discovered, it will help to get you through the rough times - maybe more than anything else that you do.

Depressed or bi-polar could make it rough to eat,leave the house,get out of your room,turn on the lights,so riding would be low on the list before getting over that stuff which u dont really get over without drugs that can take years to get right.

No doubt!

I think I would kill people without my outlets.

As a young person, life changes constantly. Keeping up with those changes taxes whatever real life coping skills you have developed. Riding gives people time to think, or more importantly, not think.

When in doubt, ride baby, ride!!!!!

my brother has recently gone on a prescription anti-depressant. I have tried to coax him into exercising saying that this is one of my best mood lifters. I feel great for hours afterwards. I have better self esteem and look in the mirror and think to myself that I am pretty darn okay looking.

I only wish that my family and the rest of Amerika would think the same thing and get on a bicycle. Exercise is a great natural antidepressant.



Not to be rude, but I assume you've never had some real nasty clinical depression.


I say this because when you're sitting there, getting up to go do something like eat, or a little homework, let alone push yourself for miles and miles is incredibly difficult.


Its a real, debilitating illness.

Not to be rude, but I assume you've never had some real nasty clinical depression.


I say this because when you're sitting there, getting up to go do something like eat, or a little homework, let alone push yourself for miles and miles is incredibly difficult.


Its a real, debilitating illness.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle clinically diagnosed depression. However, I do think that antidepressants are way over presribed in our culture, while obesity and lack of exercise are on the increase. Correlation?

I also agree they are overprescribed. I also agree that we as a country need more exercise. But I''m not about to draw a correlation.



As overprescribed as the medicine may be, there still are cases in which I believe it is fitting.

I think I can relate to Ehenz's comments the most..WHen you get older more often stress is the greatest hassle. Too much hassle to be depressed.
Biking..Great therapy so you do not kick the crap out of the cat when you have been taking crap all day from jerks at work or wherever.
Want to get over stress, go out and crank up 90 plus rpm's, on and off for an hour..Why was I so upset? I forget.

yuk, shoolwork. Im in the last 3 weeks of the semester which is home stretch for the teachers. So what do they do? give me 8 tests to study for(counting finals) and 3 projects to do!

:fight:

I have to head out now, parents are screaming at me for something or the other :rolleyes:



--James. Age 16. Occupation: Bike.

It is because they are evil. :D I don't know your situation bro but 16 is rough. I am 34 and a parent myself. I still remember being a teenager. It sucks cuz everyone tells you what to do and you have to sit there and go along with it.

Your parents probably scream because they care. However I still don't know how screaming gets that message across. When people scream at me I just assume that they are mean. However, I can promise you that it is hard being a parent too. There is also about a thousand years of history which establishes screaming at kids as ok. So that is why parents do it. It feels good, cuz it is very frustrating being a parent just like it is being a teenager.

Either way, hang in there and don't take things too seriously. Just ride your bike and think of ways that you can be successfull in life. That is the key. Successful is dependant on your definition but generally in this country it means making money and doing the best you can. You can make your own definition if you wish. Good Luck!

I got through my teen years on drugs fine,i dont remember them but my friends all said i did.

Without singletrack I wouldn't have gotten through my engagement breaking up, losing my job, quitting college, being broke, homeless, and carless. BUT-I still had my bike, and plenty of free time.

eat good foods- stay away from fast, junk food. It helps, your body needs this to help you-very important if your appitite has dropped-Hope you find things to elevate your spirits.
Seen the sunrise lately? ( I mean a nice sit and watch, not a glance as you run into the day) keep posting- lots of folks have had (have) similar feelings.
Best to you. J

JasBike, just hang in there little brother , it does'nt last for ever ! Keep riding & keep on being yourself , think how good it is to be able to work off your frustrations on the bike , I almost allways return from a ride in a far better mood & frame of mind :D

If you've been prescribed any meds take em. Riding can help. If you're clinically depressed just one or the other won't be enough. As you get older, the stresses will be different. Be sure to pay attention to your needs. One way I've dealt with that is the first part of my ride I think only of what's bugging me. By the end of the ride I've either figured out a solution or I realized I placed to much on the problem. Remember to anticipate the worst and plan for it, if it's not as bad as all that then it's easy, if it is really bad then you're ready.
You're not alone. You are important. You do make a difference.

Yah, I got thru the teens with drugs too. I work with teens today, who tried to get thru their teens with drugs. They ask what my drug of choice was, I say "MORE!"

More is better, more biking, more singletrack, more open roads, more "one less car" bumper stickers, more fixed gears, more...

I was starting to feel very blue by yesterday as my wife and me had been making plans to ride our bikes each day only to put those plans off because of cold weather or being tired or too many errands to run, etc, etc...

finally yesterday afternoon we looked at one another and said "lets go!"

We did and it was a short ride because of the weather BUT it felt great and the rest of the day we had energy-both physically and psychologically...

getting out and riding is THE best medicine!

I was starting to feel very blue by yesterday as my wife and me had been making plans to ride our bikes each day only to put those plans off because of cold weather or being tired or too many errands to run, etc, etc...

finally yesterday afternoon we looked at one another and said "lets go!"

We did and it was a short ride because of the weather BUT it felt great and the rest of the day we had energy-both physically and psychologically...

getting out and riding is THE best medicine!

I see you changed you avatar, Madame :D