Athletes suffering with depression?
At the risk of opening up a topic that is often misunderstood, I would welcome the opportunity to hear from anyone who has struggled with issues surrounding depression.
Hitting the "submit" button is done with tremendous apprehension - as this is a not widely understood.
How have you managed to get thru the struggles? Strategies?
If you are not comfortable sharing in a forum (I understand, appreciate and respect that), please feel free to drop me a message @wrfreese@yahoo.com.
Thanks -
0
Comments
Training helps me the most. Not only the brain chemicals that working out produces, but it also forces me to get out of bed and get my ass moving. It forces me to stay on a schedule and this is something that i have found works the best. Without that schedule i would never get out of bed.
The first time i started to run was because of depression. I started to train for a 1/2 ironman because of depression.
In the past (when i was really low), I have gone to see psychiatrists and I have been on meds for it. Personally, I find medicine is not my thing (a control and additive personality thing). Speaking with a psychiatrist works better for me because i love to talk.
I agree with Jonathan, not sure why it is a taboo subject. I have suffered from depression since I was a teen (I'm about to turn 50.) Back in the 90s I finally went on medication. Exercise helps tremendously, and like Jonathan, got into running/tris because of it. However, it alone has not been enough for me. I've gone on and off medication and my doctor finally said "you need to stay on" because, like a diabetic, if you have a chemical imbalance you have a chemical imbalance and the medication helps. You'd never tell a diabetic to stop taking their insulin. I now take a very low dose of Lexapro and it seems to be enough to take the edge off. I dream of someday being medication free however I no longer feel stigmatized because I take it. Hey, it helps keep me from that very, very dark place.
Sometimes I do miss training sessions because I feel too down, especially in the winter, even with the meds. It's one of the reasons I joined the team...to have extra support. I feel very alone sometimes with the training and my ability to reach my goals. EN has been somewhat helpful so far so I plan to stick with it.
Anyway, I'd be happy to discuss more with you on or off forum if you'd like. Leslies28@msn.com I'm glad you reached out.
I went in to see the massage therapist I go to regularly after John and I did our first IM in 2011, and one of the first things she asked me was, "are you feeling depressed now that the Ironman is over?" Working regularly with clients who are athletes, she was used to them coming in after a marathon or other significant event they'd been training for for months and then, when the endorphins from consistent training were gone and the rush of racing was over, they were left feeling "down." At the time, I was still riding the Ironman High and told her no.... but sure enough, a few weeks later, with nothing on the calendar for the foreseeable future and a boatload of injuries to contend with... yes, I admit I WAS feeling down! I wouldn't say depressed - just... down. Unfortunately, clinical depression runs in my family and I'm all too familiar with what it really looks like. I'll also admit that winter gets to me - too much cold, not enough sun!
So - here is what works for me:
1. I make sure I get plenty of healthy fats via coconut oil (1 tablespoon a day), fish, Omega-3 fish oils (taken WITH food), avocado, etc.
2. Vitamin D - especially in the winter. I currently take 6,000 IU's daily.
3. 5-HTP before bed - a precursor to serotonin and melatonin.
4. The OS!!! This is my first OS with EN, and I have to say - the consistent training, the intensity, the gains I'm seeing, the camaraderie of the JOS (and EN in general!) is REALLY keeping me focused on my goals. I've felt awesome since starting the OS! I'm used to having very vanilla (ie - BORING!) workouts this time of year, which left me uninterested in my training, so I'm loving every aspect of the OS!
I know I will need another goal when IMLP is over.... Having a goal to work toward is key for me to stay consistent with training and keeping my diet clean and in check - both of which help keep the emotions in check!
Unfortunately, my husband Mike of 28 years died unexpectedly and suddenly here at home on Feb. 9th. I dont know what I am to be honest. Depressed, sad, angry..yeah all of those things. I feel like Im losing my workout mojo slowly but Im trying to stay on the plan and just keep moving. I really hope you all find comfort in talking here and that in some way it helps you.
-Maureen
I have never seen another health professional for a diagnosis, but there are times in my life where I was VERY sad/depressed. Yes there is a stigma and I am telling my EN family things that I have not discussed with my wife. I have not talked to her about my feeling very depressed because I do not want to scare her.
I was at the IM California in the early 2000s when Perry Redina was killed on the bike course and I went past his body with the ambulance at the scene and the tarp over the body. That made a HUGE mark on me. I had a lot of time during the rest of the bike to think about the situation. I thought that Perry was probably very excited about this special day in his life. He had trained for months leading up to this day. When he woke up that morning, he did not realize that this would be his last day on earth. Then I had the epiphany that THIS DAY could be my last day on earth. So I tried to live each and every day with that thought. I started to glance at the obituaries in the newspaper each day to remind me how life is truly fragile. It is a difficult concept to live each day because life happens and you get into ruts and fall into old rituals and you lose focus on living in the moment.
I have felt low and have experienced the Post Ironman Depression. I have found that you must plan to have another focus in your life after the IM race. It might be another athletic event, taking a class, a vacation, learning a new language etc. just something to have focus in your life. I get through quite well.
I am fortunate to have a secure life with my physical, financial, spiritual and family parts of my life. I am very upbeat and do a ton of service in my community. But there have been a few times in my life where for days (or weeks) where I really did not care if I lived or not. It was much more than apathy or physical exhaustion. I never had the courage to look up the clinical signs and symptoms of depression. Yes, I know that the brain is a very complex organ. But it still is just a series of chemical reactions that result in electrical stimulation that results in the world that we perceive. I thought that there was something wrong but like I said never sought treatment. The "depression" (in quotes because never been diagnosed) will disappear without any therapy or medications and it has been a couple of years since I experienced a really dark episode.
I always feel best and modulated when I am exercising. I am under no undue stress that I can relate during those times or the fact that it might be from over training. I just seems to come on every couple of years or so. But I wrote this response several times and wondered if I should also hit the submit button. The reason that I am writing is because it gives me great comfort to know that I am not alone. I was wondering during my last "downer" if I am the only one. Now I know that I am not the only one. Thanks team.
Some researchers indicate that as many as 1 in 3.5 people (not just endurance athletes) face issues surrounding/involving depression - why would 1 in 3.5 of us be immune? The responses - via this forum as well as direct responses have been amazing. I appreciate the honesty and support in ways you may never understand.
It has taken years of research and work with professionals to wrap my head around the concept of depression being a bio-chemical imbalance - and how that translates emotionally and physically, as well as socially and spiritually. It has taken years of emotional wrestling to understand that it is safe to discuss this subject, as long as you are careful with whom you share.
There are days when I think it is time to leave my shoes in the transition area (see a well-written article by Tim DeBoom re: this tradition http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/11/features/tim-deboom-it-was-time_67320) and then there are days when I cannot imagine my life without triathlons. Some days and weeks are better than others.
I'd venture to guess that there are others who, for whatever reason, do not wish to share on this topic. I understand, appreciate and respect that without reservation. That said, I encourage those inclined to do so - please continue to share and support to the extent you feel comfortable. I hope others will find strength in this forum - regardless of the circumstances surrounding that which is troubling for you.
Thank you all for reaching out - you are truly an amazing group of individuals.
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a chemical by-product of the protein building block L-tryptophan. It is also produced commercially from the seeds of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia).
"Don’t use 5-HTP until more is known. 5-HTP might be UNSAFE. Some people who have taken it have come down with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a serious condition involving extreme muscle tenderness (myalgia) and blood abnormalities (eosinophilia). Some people think the EMS might be caused by an accidental ingredient (contaminant) in some 5-HTP products. But there is not enough scientific evidence to know if EMS is caused by 5-HTP, a contaminant, or some other factor. Until more is known, avoid taking 5-HTP." FYI.
Woody, after Kona this year you were due for a huge letdown both physically and mentally. Think of those early Apollo astronauts. They were the biggest celebrities in the entire world. Hot shot fighter pilots that became astronauts and then went to the moon. You're 30 something. How are you going to top that for the rest of your life? That why I said I hope that you have another goal to focus on. It doesn't have to be an athletic event it can be something else.
I had a very successful business man tell his story at my Rotary club. He found himself homeless on the streets and somehow found proper medical help. His body did not process a certain chemical in his brain. So he has to take medication daily to function. As he said "By the grace of God and that little pill, I can funtion like a normal individual." That really opened my eyes to the problem of "mental illness" and how fragile are our bodies and minds.
Maureen, so so sorry for your loss. It hurts physically, mentally and every which way. Some of our members have lost spouses and Team EN suffered because those members are such a vital part of the team. The entire EN family ached. We have had members pass away in the prime of their lives. To paraphrase the First Law of Buddism- "Life is Hard" (My version-Life can really suck sometimes). Maybe by knowing that there are people that you have never met face to face, but we will always have your back may help.
Sending you some workout mojo your way.
So, as I biked, I thought about all that and started thinking about the sanity of what I am doing and why. So, instead of this great fitness experience, I instead got a huge helping of self-doubt and depression. So, I'm going to recover this week, get some sleep, go back to work, contact my kids and find out what is going on with them, and put my hobby back in it's place and hopefully let this pass as most things do.
@Maureen - so sorry to hear about your husband. I wish you well in pulling your life back in control.