Cycling and Depression
 

Does anyone else suffer from depression? I do, but my cycling has been an effective treatment for it.

Two weeks ago, I had hair transplants and have not been able to ride for almost three weeks. I have noticed that since I have not been able to ride, my depression has come back. It seems like to me that cycling has been a great therapy. Anyone else experienced this??

yes, 100% except for the hair.

I can. Depends on the situation. But biking isn't my only outlet, really its anything physical. The gym, snowboarding, biking...

Anything aerobic works for me.

I had hair when I needed it. Bicycling uplifts my spirits too, although I don't suffer from depression.

An interesting article to read (if you trust Australians) can be read at the following:
http://www.depressionet.com.au/articles/exercise.html

I think the benefits are: exercise, meditative experience(possibly ), and as a treatment for seasonal effective disorder.

:lol:
That's funny dude!

I would like to have "seasonal Effective disorder!" That would make life fun. How might I catch that? :D

That's a really good article!

Sex always helps.

Very interesting.

Yah, I've been having a rough few weeks (not due to hair transplants though - but depression never-the-less)... and for a while I got myself in a rut of just driving, but when I ride... things seem alright... it is meditative and gets your blood flowing and endorphins and whatnot. It might not solve any mental problems but its good for the spirit. Next step, I need to detox again for maybe a week.

I used to find that winter would really bother me and I guess it was the seasonal syndrome, but riding my bike to work all winter seems to have cured it completely. Now I'm not depressed about winter, I'm just tired of looking at it.

Heck yea! I do the same thing. If it rains for a week strait I get the blues bad! BTW, I'm bald on top and shave the rest. :D I find being bald handy, less stuff to worry about.

I went to a couple doctors last winter and they confirmed I had SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)... they wanted me to start popping pills. I ripped up the prescriptions and never went back. Shortly therafter, I quit my job, sold everything I owned and moved to southwest Florida. I've been more than happy ever since...

I did lots and lots and lots of research on SAD and was going to try a light-box (along with hitting the gym, going tanning, and trying to stay active)... but, I had been wanting to move outta Ohio since I was in high school... and figured what better opportunity than now (well then).

I wont deny that I still dont get a little bit of the "winter blues" due to the decreased sunlight in winter... but, its NOTHING like it used to be when I lived in Ohio. I knew I had to do something when I started thinking really STUPID thoughts... like crashing my car into a telephone at 100mph on the way to work... brrr... it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about stuff like that now.

I haven't ridden in 3 weeks either.. I'm starting to get irritable... 3 weeks ago I had to go to AZ with the wife to see the inlaws... last weekend I was busy with Errands and junk all weekend... and this weekend it looks like it is gonna pour down rain... damnit... I guess I'll just wash and wax the Lemond one more time

jeff

Ride in the rain...I'm going to tomorrow

Read the Holy Bible. I read the "Positive Thinking Bible" which has really helped me alot.

Maelstrom's comment is dead-on with my experience. At a younger age when the stress of supervising 55 people, started causing various stress related pain, I took up running. I was absolutely terrible at it, but the daily physical workout
combined with a few chiropractor visits, did the trick. From that point forward, I've been a regular excersizer (last 23 years).

I have definately noticed that on the forums the mood is always a little more grumpy in the winter. Seems to be more prevalent where the weather is the worst and there are fewer outlets for activity. Anybody else noticed this?

Maelstrom - I just saw Warren Miller's show that was filmed in Whistler, I can't imagine living there and EVER feeling bad! Snowboard and ski all winter, mtn bike all summer, what else could a person ask for?

I've been in a funk for the last couple weeks, and nothing seemed to help. Today the weather was beautiful so I got to ride at lunch. I feel like my old self again. Up until today I took for granted how much I rely on cycling for stress relief. Now, I am going to just be grateful for every moment I have on the bike.

funny this should come up....but last night I was sitting around being grumpy...around this time every year I get pretty depressed. It is getting close to spring/summer, but the days are still dark and rainy. Cycling helps, but I have even been in a rut with that. After living in the same place for many years I have ridden nearly every street/path/bike route in the area. I need to find something new. I have thought about buying a new bike (road bike) but I tend to get buyer's remorse after I spend a load of cash.

You know, I don't have a problem with the change of seasons here in Minnsota but our winters are just toooooo long. You combine that with shorter daylight hours and many many gloomy cloudy, snowy day and by this time of the year it can be a real bummer. I think my year around biking has kept me from going over the top and I do x-country ski.... but hey, bring on spring.

This is what I do also. There was a time when I would not, but now that I do, I actually find myself hoping for rain everyday so I can ride in it! In fact, long periods without rain depress me.