I have a “demon” of Depression hounding and oppressing me. I can out run him on my Bicycle; takes about 45 minutes.

Then it take 2 days or so for him to catch up.

The more I ride, the better I do!

Keep on riding man!

Good to hear you have some control over that demon! But get professional help too. You may also find riding with a small group helps keep you socially involved which can aid those symptoms.

I have a close family member who controls the demon the same way. Keep up the good work.

Endorphins are the drug of choice.

Keep pedalling!

I ran across that Demon once,,
I left him In a bloody heap In an ally



He don't bother me no mo........

I've had the same demon looking over my shoulder all my life. I'm very glad cycling helps you.

I did not open this at first, as a mental health professional, given the garbage I see in some of these threads. But, this is the best thread on this topic, so far, that I have seen. As others have said, keep riding! You have far more power in this than you know or believe, yet as you succeed, you will believe that more and more.

I'm usually just outrunning a thunderstorm. Sounds like your race is much more daunting.

Works the same for me.

Saw my first mental health professional at age eight. For the next forty years I enriched several members of that profession, and a few drug companies, and finally, a few drug dealers of another sort. All to no avail.

Now I ride a bike.

Totally understand.

I do not have anything close to clinical depression, I don't think, but I can easily fall into a deep melancholy. I function, but I do not enjoy life.

Cycling helps 1000%. It's my magic bullet.

My only problem is that I can't cycle as much as I would like, chiefly owing to recurring injuries and some times owing to my job.

I wish all of you the best. I also know the free-fallin' blackness of depression. Bicycling works well for me too. Drugs and doctors have not helped.

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Excellent advice all around, concerning both exercise and Vitamin D.

I have never had to deal with depression myself, but aerobic commuting has always helped me in my career, because by the time I arrive at the office by bicycle or on foot, I cannot be mad at anyone or anything. Likewise, on the return trip, aerobic commuting has always protected me from bring work-related stresses back home with me. Aerobic exercise is magic, but you guys already knew that.

Depression control is one of several reasons I strongly encourage my wife to keep taking ballet lessons, despite being the oldest student in the class.

Well, ride on.

that particular demon knows my address, fortunately, during the summer I'm out riding a bike when it comes around. Winter is a different story.

stay calm and ride on.

This is SOOO TRUE. I can't count the times when I have had a bad day at work or am just mad at the world, and then I go for a bike ride in the evening and my anger slips away.

One afternoon this spring, I had an argument with my daughter. I was really mad at her. And then I went for a bike ride. When I came back, I apologized . I had been a jerk, overreacting to a situation that didn't merit the angry response I provided.

After I apologized, I said, "I guess I just really needed that bike ride." And she said that at the point of the argument, she knew it would be better once I returned from my ride.

While not clinically depressed, I did have a rough patch a few years ago due to circumstances which included an injury that precluded riding. Vitamin D and joining an improv comedy troupe helped. As soon as I was able to walk for more than 10 minutes, that helped; as soon as I was able to jog half an hour on the treadmill that helped more, and when I finally made it back to commuting by bike, I was myself again...except I was even better as I continue with the vitamin D and the improv comedy troupe. The improv is not so much about being funny as it is being positive. I believe most of depression is chemically based, but training yourself to build on the positive aspects of unexpected situations you have no control over doesn't hurt.

And ride on I will!

I don't know if it is like this for you ... my worst moments are moments where I get wrapped up in what David Foster Wallace called toxic self-consciousness. And when I am going as quickly as I can on my bicycle, wind in my face, I stop being myself for a little while ...

Clinical depression and PTSD here, miss 3 days of riding and I'm a depressed, edgy, assh++e, so I ride and things are good.... the wife and grown kid both ask "have you ridden today"?
When riding I'm in the NOW, not the past or future....

You've been peaking on my life, haven't you? (no, not paranoid too LOL). I agree all the way; my coworkers can tell if I haven't ridden, and will start bugging me about it after a couple of days.

jeez - is there anybody on this forum who is riding for a *different* reason? What a great thread - it's interesting to know how many of us are engaging in bicycle therapy.

It's also why I'm a private evangelist for riding. So many people I see, and I think - his/her life would be so much better if he/she took up riding. Generally I realize that people have to find it for themselves, so I keep my mouth shut. I know of one in particular who ended his life. I knew him for many years and remember well that he had enjoyed endurance sports (but not riding) when he was younger. I wonder (uselessly) if he would have coped differently if.........

And too, I think we all wonder whether Robin Williams just needed to get back on his bike. I read that part of his despondence was that a Parkinson's diagnosis had him thinking he couldn't keep riding.