Training Because You're Mental

I struggle with PPD that rears it's ugly head as anger.  Training helps me keep the ugly beast at bay a bit of the time.

Right here! Training for Ironman allows me to indulge in all sorts of my personal insanities without inflicting them on those I love.

Yep.  I work from home and I'm convinced that being able to get up and go do an impromptu training session when work really gets to me is what has kept me employed.

^^^This.  I'm very ADD and regular workouts definitely keep me focused and productive at work.  When I am unable to get in a workout, productivity suffers as it is hard for me to be attentive to many tasks.

Bryan, while I always appreciate what you have to say ... that's sig line gold, right there.

I've been training/competing in SOMEthing pretty much year round since I was 4. (I'm 43, do the math :p)

If I wasn't training or doing something, I'd be divorced and friendless in a month. Maybe less. I get distinctly grumpy.

John

I'm a complete nutcase.  Training calms me down (tires me out).  My craziness runs free during races though.  I'll usually get really excited and start yelling/singing at people to psyche myself and them up.

Yep - years on antidepressants, but they never really worked all that well, had awful side effects (especially weight gain), would stop working and need to keep upping the dose, side effects would get worse, etc.

Finally had a doctor tell me, "ya know, 1 hour of exercise is worth more than a whole bottle of Effexor." Didn't buy it at the time, rolled my eyes and said "just give me the Rx"

At some point I was DONE with the side effects, done with being overweight, done with the pills. Stopped 'em. Threw them out. Started eating healthy and exercising (wasn't "training" yet, just a really good exercise schedule of 5 days a week at the gym) And I all of a sudden felt "cured." I felt more "normal" than the pills ever made me feel. Its been 5 years now and I haven't even had to consider meds again.

The thing that drives me to get my second workout of the day in on most days is the stress of work + the kids driving me insane so, yeah...for sure part of my training is because I'm mental! Also, on the days I don't train in the AM before work I just feel like I'm dragging all day so I think my AM sessions wake my brain up as much as they do my body!

A side note - I have a T-shirt that says "Running is a mental sport...we are all insane" so, we could replace the running with triathlon and there you have it!

I am crazier than a sh*t house rat if I am not training!!

IIRC, Alexi Grewal was the same way. I'd have to look it up, but I think there have been a couple pro cyclists that did that as kids.

John

I often think of myself as "self medicating" when I go out for a workout.  In fact I started in with endurance sports as an outlet for being largely miserable in my day to day life.

Training definitely provides an opportunity to mentally check out for a while and helps to put things in perspective.  I don't know about everyone else, but after I work out, I have a sense of well-being that lasts for just about the rest of the day.  Makes me tolerable to others, even though I now sweat ammonia...       

On tuesday, Lisa and I were riding together on the local MUT...

About half-way back, she looks at me and asks, "You actually like riding, don't you?"

My reply was, "I always have." And it's true. I like riding. I like riding hard, or easy, with no cyclometer, and with a constant readout reminding me I need to go faster. When traffic is whizzing by my left elbow at well-above-the-limit, or a desserted country road (or a gravel road or trail WAY out in the boonies).

I also like running, and I can't run as fast as I like (yet). But I really DO enjoy it. Road, trail, hot days, snow...

And I like swimming. Even when the water is dark, and I've seen too many scary movies, and visions of some creature looming up from the depths, or the face of a long-dead person emerging from below with an outstretched hand to pull me under... I laugh at myself, stroke on, and think better thoughts. Or the monotony of swimming laps when, for the life of me, I can't keep track of whether that's 6 laps or 7...

Yup, I'm sure I'm not normal. And I don't give two $%@s...

Oh yes indeed. I took up tri (after several years of regular gym-going) at a particularly rough patch in my life because I needed *something* that got me moving and out of my own head. Still works. Also, the fact that nobody can call/knock/ask me for anything while I'm SBRing is a huge benefit.

I've battled depression and addiction for years, and endurance training is the only thing that's worked for me. No more meds and I cut out the booze without a feeling that I'm missing anything. It allows me to stay "normal."

I've struggled with depression for more than 10 years.  I've found that if I train consistently, it pretty much goes away.  My wife can see it in me too, so she supports me more than I think she would if it were only a fun hobby, and not therapeutic.

I agree with you all. Training of some sort keeps me sane or insane, which ever way you look at it. It helps keep my head clear and in check.( in more then 1 way)  totally got my husband hooked now too. We find it such a good release.  Trying to get our son into the sport a bit now as he showing interest. He is almost 10 and has ADHD and tourette's. There is never a dull moment.!I do agree  that physical activity does seem to help him get his grip! GO SPORTS!!!!

Edited by bennett55434 2010-07-15 4:59 PM

I've dealt with depression since i was 12, i started taking paxil when i was 13. 11 years later the only real fix ive found is exercise. A) because it counter acts my completely destructive mental image B) like another poster said its like checking out, I feel very meditative, some times i feel drugged while running. My brother said my eyes go "blank" when i run. I love it

Here's the link that this article. I personally totally buy it. I don't know that I'd say I have ADHD, but I'm definitely more focused after a workout.

http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/riding-my-ritalin?page=0,0

Dave

It is an either or for me.

Either buy a sailboat and visit people like TriAya around the world or take short trips on my legs, my bike or swimming through the water.

I can't afford a sailboat.