Mental Health and Cycling

[anth]

I've been making a point on here of not linking to articles I've done on citycycling - all a little too 'self promotion' that I used to indulge in a fair bit, but over the last couple of months I've been in touch with a few people who brought about the article linked to below - Simon, a manic depressive for whome cycling really has changed his life, and the good folks at Mind/Time to Change who are looking to change the stigma associated with depression and so on.

I like this piece. Not for anything I've done, but for the honesty in it, and the utter truth.

Downward Spiral, Upward Cycle

[oncemore]

A nice and pretty well informed read. Substitute alcoholism for depression (NOT depressed, a totally different thing) and much of it could be applied to me (and, from other stories elsewhere on here, others).

In particular: "... the exertion just needs to become as essential as breathing itself. Cycling (EXERCISE) is not something you can do until you are better and then stop, it needs to become as important to you as eating and breathing. It can't be a temporary fix for me it was about overhauling my life completely."

Cycling wasn't the reason "...I stopped drinking...." and I sure ain't stopped "...smoking..."! But it has played a large part in helping me stay dry - over 6 1/2 years and not a single drop or dram.

I hope that your article helps others.

[gordon taylor]

Cycling certainly helps me.
That's a good link, thanks.

[TimO]

I don't think I'm what the average person would call depressed, but I definitely have my low points.  When I'm cycling regularly, generally commuting, I feel a lot better.  I guess it's partly the exercise, the endorphin rush you get from it, but I definitely feel happier overall when I'm cycling.  Of course going out on group rides is also great, since it gets you out and about other people as well, which is always a good things (well for me anyway!)

[cyclone]

Definately agree with the other posters, regular excercise definately makes me feel happier and more at peace. Thanks for posting, good to know that there are others "out there".

[teethgrinder]

Exercise itself will help depression. Add to that the enjoyment of cycling and it only makes sense that cycling will help.
Maintaining a daily routine and having a reason to get out of bed also help. As does socialising. So if you start a daily routine which ncludes cycling and joining or organising regular cycle rides with friends, then you're on to a winner.
On solo rides, maybe listen to comedy, audio books or your favourite music on the radio or MP3 player.

[nightrider]

A very good link,its nice to here of orther people suffering from this terrible illness.I was first diagnosed 10 years ago after the death of my wife.Cycling has definitely helped me.

[Chris S]

I have had on-and-off issues with the Big D (as opposed to the Big C) over the years.

A fellow audaxer (who was not in a happy place mentally at the time) opined, whilst we were riding a 200 together, that audax is a form of Self Harm. Amusing perhaps, but there could be something in that.

I find great solace in cycling. The endorphins do their thing, and a 30km bike ride at lunchtime on a sunny winters day can do wonders for S.A.D.

Great link - thanks for that.

[LindaG]

Yep.  Cycling definitely helped get me over Depression, along with a long time in therapy and the love of (incredibly tolerant) friends.

I don't have Depression now, but still I have cycling and friends.  A normal, ordinary day with things to do and a bit of laughter, is a precious precious thing.

The Time to Change campaign is a Good Thing.  Nobody I work with knows that I was in a psychiatric hospital for a month.  Not that it's a secret, but I am very careful about disclosing.  Mental illness carries terrible stigma and I know it would change relationships if people knew.

Sad to say, people with mental health problems often get the shitty end of the stick from healthcare professionals.  Some of the stories on the Time to Change website make me ashamed to call them colleagues.

I do feel able to model a positive attitude to our clients with mental health problems, and to challenge negative assumptions when people express them.  Disclosing - that's much harder.