BigK75

Wait....your Bill from November 2012 Road Bike Action magazine. I just put the two together when I read your story and saw the small pic. Way to go Bill. Keep on riding. You must one of the toughest guys I ever heard of. Happy riding. I wish you nothing but health and happy riding for another 40 years.

Claude

Velo Vol 

If I didn't bicycle--or at least run--I'd have even more mental issues than I currently have. That's a depressing thought.

benajah

clinical depression is a beast. My ex-wife had it and we never found a combination of drugs, or activities that helped. After we split up we remained great friends for years before losing touch and I worry at times about her.

StanSeven

I saw a t-shirt on someone running once saying "No problem is so big or complicated you can't run from." So true whether it's running or cycling.

qcpmsame 

BigK75,
Yes, I am the same Bill, thanks for the kind words, I appreciate the thoughts. Not a tough guy by any stretch of the imagination, I am just trying to not allow my health problems rule my life and my choices.

Best wishes to you, also, for many years of riding enjoyment.

Bill

BigK75

Thanks Bill. I too have gone through some tough times with my health starting iny 20s. i was diagnosed with Addison's disease a very rare automimmune disease. Before I was diagnosed I was sure I was going to die. It took the doctors months to figure it out. By the time they did I weighed 165lbs (at 6'4"). I am now doing great and don't really even notice I have the disease as long as I take my pills.

I have also battled extreme anxiety/hypochondriac problems which I am sure were caused by the stress or watching my dad go through a stroke at 48 which took his life and my best friend . Cognitive behavioural therapy helped me deal with some of those issues. Riding has been an immense help and I hope to ride for many many more years to come.

God bless and cheers to good health

dleccord

have you guys done mdma in the past?

brundle_fly

I've found that exercise in any form has been the most effective thing for Depression.I'm sure i would have offed myself by now if I couldn't cycle or run.I'm not convinced by this serotonin theory ,but I know exercise gets you mind off things and the blood pumping to your brain seems to get the old grey matter working a bit better

eja_ bottecchia

This thread has to be the best thread ever in BF. I had no idea how many of us are hurting in ways that are not readily visible to others.

I was never one much into "sharing" feelings--I am from a generation and a cultural background where males just STFU and HTFU.

I am still in the HTFU camp (at least when I am riding my bike) but I am glad that we are all sharing.

bonz50

I sometimes struggle with depression a little, not severe enough to seek professional help imho, just get some funk on me every now and again (once every few years or so) and can take a month or so to get past. exercise usually helps a little, I just have to recognize it and seek out the sources of relief I need. for me, I find having a solid group of real men to talk with with helps. I'm fortunate that I have a couple close friends I can talk to about problems in my life, kind of like a sounding board for things. I also have a pretty good group of men in my church I can rely upon and are privy to the problems depression has caused in my life. once I learned how to recognize the symptoms in my life I find myself and lot more able to deal with it effectively.

in my experience, it takes a strong person to admit they have problems with depression. I find that once I get it dealt with I want to exercise more though I've found in MY life desire for exercise is a symptom of overcoming depression, not the cause for overcoming it. YMMV of course, but always stay alert to things in your life and don't wait to get help. depression can cause you to make some not so great life altering decisions, I almost lost my wife and kids while battling it.

Elduderino2412

when i was in high school til i was about 20

PolishGuy

Wow...great thread. I'm getting back into "mainstream" road riding after spending a long time in the classic and vintage area when I saw this thread. I've suffered from Dysthemia ( a low grade chronic depresive state) probably all my life but wasn't diagnosed until 2006. Went through about a dozen meds until the Dr and I settled on a combination of Effexor and Ritalin to be most effective. Been on this for almost 2 years. At my last meeting with the Dr I mentioned that if this is what feeling normal/good is all about, then I don't want to go back. I've also gone to support groups and have also found that cycling in any form is a tremendous help for me; your results may vary. Good luck with your efforts. You will find the right combination(s) of meds and Drs. PG.

Ridelots24

If cycling helps depression, then my mother is properly motivated to win the Tour De France at 72 years old....

DGlenday

I've been interested in this thread. I don't have depression, but my wife does - so I probably have a reasonable understanding of the condition.

Question: I understand how riding seems to lift the 'dark clouds' for a while. But has anyone seen any long-term effects? I.e. can cycling (or other forms of similar exercise) help to reduce the condition, in general?

Dudelsack 

Well, my own experience is that for major depression exercise is not an effective monotherapy. It also has it's own side-effects. I tried more intensive cycling than I usually do earlier in the year and got very tired which made the depression worse, not better. There's a fine line to be had there.

For some folks with chronic dysthymic disorder it can do the trick.

ThinLine

I was like that until I stumbled upon this thing called reality and mental illness.
Thank you and good luck to you.

ThinLine

Its tough, good luck to you...............I mean it!

ThinLine

Thank You!!

ThinLine

Over whelming response's and great positive input and sharing. I thought long and hard before starting this thread.
I am writing a book called "Along the Way", it is meant to be a self help type autobiography of my trials and tribulations with depression.

qcpmsame 

ThinLine,
Best of luck to you, I hope you can write the book and get it published. I will add that I would not depend on cycling or any other exercise/activity alone, as some have said. Find a good doctor that will listen to you and work with you as you go along. If you want to use talk therapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist take the time to find one you can work with and that will take your input as well as reply to your answers to their questions, I gave up on one that had this thing about cursing and said it was necessary to let go of things. If that is the answer I should return to the Marines and go through PI again.

Listen to what the doctor tells you, have them listen to what you have to say, take the medications if they are prescribed for your situation and if it helps the by all means Ride Safe and Ride Lots, I do.

Bill

mileslong

A great thread.... when I learned about mindfulness and how being mindful helps me spot how my thought patterns are leading me towards rumination and the angry moods that are the manifestation of my depression, my life changed forever.

Depression is an illness of the brain and the mind.. read Jon Kabat-Zihn's "The Mindful Way Through Depression", it may help you understand the relationship between your thoughts and how you feel.

If that doesn't work, buy something new for your bike, that always makes me feel better!

ThinLine

Thank you, I will.
Erich

ThinLine

Thank you

eja_ bottecchia

Good advice.

Buying and installing new bar tape always makes me feel happy.

qcpmsame 

So right, installed the new Kool Stop brake pads yesterday for my CAAD 10, made me ready for the afternoon's ride!